Having flawless and young-looking skin is a worthy yet sometimes elusive goal. When you’ve tried almost every cream and serum that you could get your hands on and religiously had facial treatments, but the acne scars still won’t disappear, is there still a shot at having clear and smooth skin?
The truth is, when dealing with scars, coming across an effective solution is like finding the Holy Grail. Atrophic facial scars are a challenge to get rid of, especially when they’re deep-seated and all over the face. Over-the-counter remedies do very little to remedy them.
If you’re looking for an effective way to treat not just your acne scars but the fine lines and hyperpigmentation on your face, you might want to consider microneedling.
Just from the name itself, you’ve probably already arrived at the conclusion that this would involve poking your face with tiny needles in the name of beauty. Well, guess what? You’re exactly right.
As insane as this may sound, microneedling therapy is reportedly very effective in managing facial scars and achieving younger-looking skin. Even your favorite celebrities are fans!
Microneedling, An Introduction
As its name suggests, microneedling is a minimally invasive skin rejuvenating procedure that uses a device covered with tiny, shallow needles to create punctures on the surface of your skin.
Contrary to what you might think, poking holes in the top layer of your skin is actually therapeutic as it stimulates collagen production that fills in the skin, resulting to an overall improvement in both texture and appearance.
Collagen is a structural protein in the body that’s essential in achieving a firm and even-looking skin. As people age, however, collagen production slows down, and noticeable changes in the skin begin to show.
Microneedling helps counter these changes by puncturing the skin with radiofrequency-energized needles, which create micro-injuries that jumpstart the body’s wound-healing process and trigger it to produce more collagen and elastin. These tiny pinpricks also allow the skin to better absorb the topical products (usually vitamin C and hyaluronic acid) applied during the procedure.
According to experts, microneedling is the best solution for sunken scars caused by acne or chickenpox as it promotes skin rejuvenation. Also, it’s not exclusively for the face. The procedure may also be used on other areas of the body such as the arms, neck, legs, and back.
Rolling Back the Years with Microneedling
Microneedling may seem like one of the newest trends in the beauty sphere, but it has been around for quite some time – decades, honestly. Thanks to celebrities and beauty gurus, it is enjoying newfound fame, and we’re all getting to know its amazing benefits, which include the following:
Reduced fine lines and wrinkles
One of the things that make microneedling very appealing is its ability to utilize the body’s natural healing capabilities to generate new skin cells. After a few sessions, many patients claimed that they have noticed lesser lines and wrinkles on their faces.
Repair of visible scars
With consistent and regular microneedling sessions, acne and facial scars become less and less visible. Professional grade microneedling devices are said to be very effective in treating atrophic and sunken scars.
While microneedling is not the only effective dermatological procedure as far as scar treatment is concerned(Hello, fractional laser treatment!), it is said to have the least side effects and one of the shortest downtimes.
Countering the effects of sun damage
The effects of improved collagen production go beyond just reducing wrinkles and fine lines. By stimulating collagen growth, microneedling also helps counter the effects of sun damage, including skin discoloration and hyperpigmentation.
Reversing the aging process
Aside from making your skin appear clearer and smoother, microneedling also tightens loose skin. Its effects on skin rejuvenation make it the perfect treatment for photoaged skin. It’s the secret to a consistent youthful glow!
Shrinking pores
As counter-intuitive as this may sound, microneedling makes your pores look smaller. By stimulating the collagen around your pores, it causes them to plump and shrink.
Improved product absorption
Studies have confirmed that undergoing microneedling therapy helps your skin maximize the effects of beauty and skin care products. The pinprick holes created during the treatment serve as tiny channels that allow topical products to penetrate the skin better and work their wonders.
However, while most anyone can undergo the procedure, people who have lesions, active infections, or any wounds around the area for treatment are advised to proceed with caution.
Those with active acne or acne cysts should wait it out until the swelling subsides before signing up for a treatment. Accidentally microneedling over acne may cause inflammation or potentially spread the bacteria to other areas of the face or body.
What to Expect
The entire microneedling process only takes about 20 – 30 minutes, and experts agree that it is relatively risk-free when done correctly.
To keep you comfortable for the duration of the procedure, a numbing cream is applied to the area for treatment. The dermatologist may also apply a layer of water to make the microneedling device roll more smoothly on the surface of your skin.
You will feel pricking sensations as the dermaroller glides and creates tiny holes on your face or body. Your dermatologist may also apply topical products to make the procedure even more effective.
Expect some skin redness afterward. This may last for a couple of days before going back to normal. Also, do not look for instant results. Natural collagen takes weeks to grow, so it may be a while before the effects become apparent.
One thing you need to know though: microneedling is not a one-time treatment. You’ll need to do it several times depending on the area treated and the severity of the damage/scarring. Anywhere between three to six or more treatments may be required to achieve your desired results.
Oh, and by the way, if you’re worried about the pain, don’t be. The consensus is that it’s totally bearable and definitely not something to fret about unless you’re afraid of needles.
Dr. Shannon York is the Medical Director at Expert Aesthetix in Scottsdale, AZ. She has been working in the field of anti-aging and naturopathic medicine for nearly a decade now. An expert in all aspects of aesthetic medicine, Dr. York specializes in women’s health, injectables, medical weight loss, natural hormone replacement therapy, and anti-aging nutrition.
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