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What is Microneedling? Why People Do It? Does microneedling really work?

microneedling

Microneedling is a treatment that is growing more and more popular in the recent years. This treatment targets just about everything – from hair loss all the way to acne scars. If you’ve never heard of microneedling, you’re missing out! There are so many different reasons why it could be good for you and for your skin. After all, it’s a treatment that is so effective it has experienced a huge surge in popularity. If you are looking to improve the appearance of your scars, or if you want to boost your collagen, or even if you want to encourage the growth of your hair, microneedling at home is quite an affordable option.

At home, you ask? Indeed, it is possible for you to get amazing microneedling results right from the comfort of your own home. It’s true that this treatment can be really effective, but until recently it was only available in dermatologist’s offices. Now, with the advent of face needle roller products, you can skip the exorbitant dermatologist prices. You can experience microneedling benefits doing your own treatments.

In today’s article, we’re going to talk about everything there is to know about microneedling. We’ll discuss how it works, the tools needed for it, its benefits, and how you can do it all yourself. If you’re ready, so are we. So let’s jump right in!

dermaroller microneedle

What Exactly is Microneedling?

Microneedling is also known as collagen induction therapy, usually abbreviated as CIT. You would be surprised to find out that this practice has actually been around for a quarter century. Yes, it’s true! The use of a face needle roller began around 1995, a good twenty five years ago. Like we’ve mentioned, this minimally invasive procedure has recently begun to gain a lot of traction, especially on the internet. This is all thanks to dermapen microneedling products being promoted by YouTube stars and Instagram influencers.

There are a ton of products becoming more and more available worldwide. You’ll see a dermaroller for acne scars among many other face needle roller products being advertised for sale. It’s unclear whether all of them are effective, so before you invest in any one product be sure to look at derma roller reviews. This way, it’ll become easier for you to find the best microneedling pen for your needs.

How Does Microneedling Work?

To put this simply, CIT or microneedling (whichever way you want to call it) is a facial treatment. It is done by inserting very fine, very thin, and very short needles into your skin. Generally, it’s done for rejuvenating your skin, but it offers plenty of other benefits. Don’t worry – we’ll get to discussing microneedling benefits in a little bit!

Microneedling for acne scars or for anti-aging purposes is done using a dermaroller, which is basically the most popular method (and also the most affordable and cost effective as well). Dermarollers are made up of tiny needles in a micro-fine size. The diameters of these needles can go anywhere from 0.5 mm all the way to 2.5mm – all extremely thin, so there’s no reason to get scared.

We know that needles getting pressed to your face can feel quite ominous. Many people would balk at the idea of getting pricked by countless tiny needles, after all. But there’s really no need to worry. You can take comfort in the fact that these punctures are not deep – they’re only pin-pricks that only go on the surface of your skin. Many people who have done CIT in the past report that the experience is generally painless, with at most a feeling of gentle pricking here and there.

What Happens When You Do Collagen Induction Therapy?

Microneedling results are generally pretty immediate, so you’ll start seeing results pretty quickly. One treatment will leave you looking luminous, with your skin pink and plump – an effect lasting a good couple of weeks. In the short term, your skin becomes more plump and more radiant. This usually results from surface swelling and some slight inflammation after the treatment. However, these short-term results are not all that you can expect.

If you continue using your microneedling pen regularly, you’ll see more results long term. In fact, a study was done in 2008. Skin was treated four times with CIT sessions performed a month apart. The result was about a 400% increase in the levels of both collagen and elastin, which was discovered 6 months after the treatment sessions were completed. And so, with continued use, you can expect that your skin will have improved elasticity in the long term.

CIT is most commonly done on the face. Here are just some of the microneedling benefits you can expect with regular at-home treatments with your dermaroller:

  • You can expect your skin to be brighter and more radiant overall.
  • With increased levels of both collagen + elastin, you can expect some of your fine lines to go away. You can also expect that some of your deeper wrinkles will fade to an extent. However, don’t expect this treatment to work miracles.
  • If you have acne scars, CIT will serve to help resurface your skin in order to help fade them away.

Other Benefits of Microneedling

The bullet points listed above are all fantastic benefits on their own, but there are so many other benefits you can expect from this little device. The fact is, collagen induction therapy offers a ton of other benefits for your body, too. In recent years, dermatologists and skin experts have begun using this therapy to treat a bunch of other issues. With the right microneedling pen, you can replicate these results in the comfort of your own home.

Here are some of the ways in which a dermaroller can help you:

Hair

If you have issues with thinning hair, a dermaroller might just come in handy. Dermatologists have been suggesting the use of this device for stimulating hair growth. Those with alopecia may find themselves rejoicing for a new method to help them regain their hair. Dermarollers are a less painful way to stimulate hair growth, and it’s minimally invasive too. There’s no need for multiple painful injections on the scalp. Surely, this may come as a relief for many.

With the stimulation that microneedling can provide to the hair follicles, new hair growth may be the result. A study was recently conducted where 100 subjects were split up into 2 groups. One group (A) was given treatment by Minoxidil lotion, a common hair loss strategy. The other group (B) was given treatment of Minoxidil, PLUS microneedling sessions. At 12 weeks, 82% of group B reported an improvement of 50%. In contrast, group A only observed a 4.5% improvement. Needless to say, microneedling makes a huge impact in this regard.

Cellulite

You would be surprised to hear this, but the fact is you may actually notice some improvement in your cellulite with dermarolling treatments. There are amazing new microneedling machines being released on the market today that are specifically made for treating cellulite. One such product is the Profound, by the company Candela. Now, this isn’t exactly a machine you can purchase or use at home. However, there’s no harm in trying out a dermaroller on your cellulite at home – you might just notice some microneedling results there too.

Boosting Skincare

Most everybody who cares about their skin has a rather involved skincare regimen. What you might not know is that a microneedling pen can help you to boost the effectiveness of your at-home skincare routine. Using a dermaroller with your topical creams and treatments allows the products to penetrate more deeply into your skin. The result is amazing skin, owing to a combination between CIT and your skincare products. Of course, you must make sure that you use products that you know won’t make you break out – so only do this with your skincare products that you are 100% confident will work for you.

Quick Reminders

Now that you know of the wonders of CIT and the microneedling benefits you can get, we want to give you a few reminders. We’ll make it quick and to the point:

  • Don’t go all gung-ho on dermarolling right away. Start with 1 treatment a week, or every 2 weeks, depending on how your skin reacts. Do a patch test before you treat your whole face, and make sure you follow all of the instructions that come with the roller. If you want more treatments per week, gradually increase your frequency, until a max of 3-4. Do your best to give a day between at minimum.
  • Sanitize, sanitize, sanitize! It’s important to ensure that you keep your roller clean at all times. Store it properly, in a clean place. Sanitize it before and after use with rubbing alcohol or 99% alcohol. The last thing you want is an infection!

Final Thoughts

Dermarolling or microneedling used to be confined to dermatologists’ offices. Now, you have access to this wondrous treatment, and you can DIY with microneedling pens. Look for the best one that suits your needs, and read reviews before you commit. And remember, follow all of the instructions, give your skin time to rest and heal, and always sanitize. If you do this all properly, you’ll have amazing skin. So amazing in fact, that everyone will be asking you what your secret is!

microneedling