Microneedling: The Fountain of Youth

Don’t we all wish we had the skin of a newborn baby no matter our age? Well, that’s not likely for any of us as adults, but we can take years off our appearance with the right approach. If you haven’t heard of microneedling, you’re going to love me for clueing you in. ;)  Some people are turned off by the idea due to the involvement of tiny needles penetrating your skin, but I can promise if you give it a try, you’ll be amazed by the lasting results you gain over time.

 

 

Skin needling, also called microneedling therapy, collagen induction therapy (CIT), and percutaneous collagen induction (PCI), is a minimally invasive skin-rejuvenation procedure that involves the use of a device that contains fine needles. The needles are used to puncture the skin to create a controlled skin injury. Each puncture creates a channel that triggers the body to fill these microscopic wounds by producing new collagen and elastin. Through the process there is improvement in skin texture and firmness, as well as reduction in scars, pore size, and stretch marks!  There are actually many ways to achieve the controlled skin injury. Light therapy, radio frequency and heat treatments are all thought to produce similar results, but microneedling is one treatment you can perform yourself at home at limited cost. You can also have microneedling done professionally either using a handheld unit similar to what I am pictured using here, or using an electric powered machine which should penetrate a little deeper for greater results.

 

 

In the 1990s, Montreal plastic surgeon Andre Camirand, MD, experimented with using tattoo guns without ink to treat postsurgical scars. South African plastic surgeon Des Fernandes, MD, founder of the Environ™ skin care line, introduced skin needling using a roller for treating vertical perioral wrinkles at the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) congress in Taipei in 1996.

 

 

 

1. First make the right choice of the length of the microneedle you plan to according to your skin condition. There are many vendors that sell microneedling rollers and one of the most convenient and affordable places to buy them is at Amazon.com.

 

2. Wash thoroughly your hands and face before the procedure to remove bacteria. You don’t want any germs getting into the tiny punctures created by the needling roller you’re using.

 

3. For those of you who have sensitive skin, you can use numbing cream. Application of cream anesthesia can limit treatment pain, but I will share that I don’t feel any discomfort when using the needling roller pictured above.

 

4. The microneedling roller should be used with short rolling movements. These have to be meticulously done, in an orderly manner and without leaving a centimeter of skin without rolling. Homogeneity and uniformity of strikes, all performed with same strength and pressure on the device, will assure a smooth result. Follow 3 steps of needling to enhance the forming of the micro-channels. You have to roll in 3 directions on each area of your face: Horizontally, vertically, and diagonally around 7 to 15 times on each movement. Don’t roll twice on a previously treated area on the same session.

 

5. You can apply a cool mask or cold packs after a microneedling treatment. It has the effect of easing and eliminating post-therapy redness.

 

6. Use of a moisturizing serum is advisable, especially one that has rejuvenating properties. I prefer to use Dr. Fernandez’s Environ line after microneedling at home or having it done professionally. His peptide and lactic acid serums help produce collagen fibroblasts and the tiny punctures from the treatment procedure allow for deeper penetration of the products once applied.

 

7. I recommend using a sun block cream in the 7 days after the procedure because your skin will likely be sensitive. If you need to blot the excess from your face, you can use a soft, dry towel.

 

8. Allow an interval of 4-6 weeks between the procedures to see optimal results!

Keep in mind that new collagen fibroblasts don’t develop overnight… it can take 6 months or more to begin to see results, but stay committed and consistent and you’ll be happy you did over time! :)

 

As always… love much, laugh often, fight off those smile and laugh lines with my beauty advice and look fabulous while doing it all! Love, Blair :)