Micro needling | Its effect on facial rejuvenation
Take care of your skin after Micro needling at home
In recent years, methods such as micro needling at home have become popular for skin rejuvenation. Inspired by the ancient Egyptian method of “micro needling”, it seems to have been designed by scratching the skin with harsh masks, such as marble powder, which was in fact a kind of skin exfoliation or “abrasion”, and somewhat easier to achieve the skin become and stay as young as possible. Join us, in this article you will be fully acquainted with the micro needling at home method.
The dream of having smooth, young, and beautiful skin does not belong to today or yesterday. FROM the instructions of Abu Ali Sina – foremost Persian doctor, philosopher, and scientist who was born in a small town near Bukhara 980-1037 AC – in the book “Law” to have beautiful and fresh skin TO the colorful instruction of the Egyptians, Indians and ancient Romans to keep the skin young, all show that the desire to have a young and beautiful skin – free of any blemishes – from the beginning, it has been a human concern.
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Chapter 1
What is micro needling?
“Micro needling” is one of the newest methods of skin rejuvenation. In this non-invasive method, small and superficial holes are created in the skin with the help of small needles, and thus the skin cracks that have been created on the skin due to childbirth, obesity, and puberty are eliminated. With this method, it is possible to treat burns, close the open pores of the skin, treat skin blemishes, remove wrinkles and eliminate scars, sutures and also eliminate pimples.
How does micro needling work?
The method of micro needling is such that a device called “derma roller”, which is a roller consisting of a rolling pin covered with tiny needles made of titanium metal with a diameter of half or at most two and a half millimeters. It is pulled on the skin and thus penetrates the needles. In the middle layer of the skin or “dermis” a small wound and a small amount of bleeding occurs in the skin to which the body reacts and begins to repair and regenerate that area.
In fact, the micro needling at home or in a clinic is a method that works in such a way that when the roller with the needles is moved on the surface of the skin, the tiny needles, depending on the depth and speed determined by the doctor, enter the second layer of the skin or dermis at the same time (depth and the speed of the roller are determined by the doctor; according to the type of skin and how the target is).
During this process, collagen and elastin, which are the two main and important elements for the skin, are produced. By producing collagen and elastin, wounds and pimples and other skin conditions heal over time.
Micro needling is a completely painless procedure, but in most cases, an anesthetic cream is used before starting treatment. In micro needling, unlike other methods such as “laser”, the “epidermis” layer is not damaged. It is worth knowing that the “micro needling” method is also used for hair regrowth in modern hair transplant methods. According to dermatologists, if micro needling is performed in a doctor’s office or specialized clinics, it can be effective in solving many skin problems.
There is a big but…
However, like other skin treatments, this method is not 100% and equally effective on all people and may be ineffective in solving some people’s problems or at least not achieve the desired result.
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Chapter 2
How is micro needling done?
Microneedling is a non-invasive method of treating skin problems, and the treatment process usually takes several sessions to get a better result. The time of each treatment session is between a few minutes to an hour, depending on the severity of the skin problems.
The method is that holes are made on the skin of a person using a needling tool and according to a special pattern. For best results, the needling tool moves several times on the desired surface in different directions. For better micro needling results, some doctors use products that stimulate collagen production, such as hyaluronic acid or vitamin C serum, as well as skin lighteners, to create these fine holes. After micro needling, small wounds appear on the skin, which stimulate collagen production by the skin.
Typically, doctors recommend that for best results, it is best to take at least four to six weeks between micro needling sessions so that the skin has enough time to produce collagen. Four sessions are usually prescribed for micro needling to heal the pimples and five sessions for burn wounds. The micro needling method, which is ironically suitable for all skin types, can also treat sensitive and fragile areas of the skin, including the eyes, neck, and back of the hands, which cannot be treated with other methods.
Pre-micro needling care
If you want to do micro needling at home or in a clinic, you should take good care about the issues below:
- Before micro needling, clean the skin from any creams, lotions, and cosmetics.
- If you are taking certain medications or have any skin conditions or lesions such as herpes, be sure to tell your doctor before having micro needling.
- If you have used other treatments to rejuvenate your skin, be sure to talk to your doctor.
Post-microneedling care
Micro needling is a rejuvenating and healing method with a short recovery period, but following some tips will help the skin to heal faster after micro needling.
- After micro needling at home or in a clinic, the skin becomes inflamed, red, and sometimes bruised. Although this inflammation heals in a short time (12 to 48 hours), it is best not to irritate the skin by touching it. Eating fruits such as pineapple helps speed up the healing of inflammation and bruising of the skin.
- Never use anti-inflammatory drugs such as Advil or Ibuprofen to reduce inflammation and redness of the skin and allow it to recover by itself.
- Do not bathe for 24 to 48 hours after micro needling, avoid exercise and activities that cause the skin to sweat, and avoid sun exposure for at least three to ten days after micro needling, unless absolutely necessary.
- If you have to go outdoors, be sure to use the best sunscreen for your skin that contains zinc.
- If your face becomes flaky after micro needling, do not manipulate them at all and use moisturizing creams to heal faster.
- It is best not to use AHA (glycolic acid), retinol and acid-containing or activating products for 2-3 days.
- Because doctors do not consider this treatment to be suitable for everyone, it is best to explain all of your treatment history to your doctor before performing this treatment.
What should be considered before micro needling?
The most important thing to consider before micro needling is to observe hygienic issues. Instead of hairdressers and beauty salons, micro needling should be done in a doctor’s office or specialized clinics. Make sure the needles are hygienic and disposable.
Using a common needle (cartridge) for different people and even using one cartridge for one person in several sessions can cause tissue damage and infection due to the slowing down of the needles as well as contamination and cause irreparable damage to a person’s health.
In recent years, the use of disposable cartridges for micro needling has become popular, but note that only the use of disposable cartridges will not guarantee your safety and health, because the prerequisite for a safe and secure micro needling is the standard and sterile cartridges that is a protective membrane to prevent blood, lymph and body fluids from penetrating the cartridge into the handpiece.
To do this, standard cartridges use a special type of elastic gasket called a “membrane” that prevents the secretion and transfer of healing materials, blood and lymph fluid from the cartridge into the handpiece.
Remember that the lack of a protective membrane in the cartridge and the transfer of fluids into the handpiece will greatly increase the chances of transmitting hepatitis and AIDS viruses to other people. For this reason, if you see a metal spring inside the cartridges instead of “plastic membranes”, you should know that this cartridge is not insulated and is not safe at all.
Advantages and disadvantages of micro needling
Because microneedling is a non-invasive method for removing skin blemishes, except for cases such as hives and bruising (hematoma). Skin sensitivity for those who are allergic to metal is common and no other serious complication has been reported, but micro needling is a safe way to treat skin problems. Some benefits of this treatment are:
- Production of collagen and stimulation of blood flow, which causes skin rejuvenation;
- Skin tissue regeneration in cases such as burns, wounds, pimples, fine lines, and wrinkles;
- Treatment of skin problems A variety of skin color ranges, even dark skin, that do not respond to treatments such as lasers;
- The use of micro needling is very effective in treating problems in sensitive areas such as the neck, around the eyes, mouth, and those that cannot be treated with methods such as deep peeling and expensive lasers.
- The material of micro needling needles is “titanium”. Titanium is one of the metals that does not generate heat, does not heat up and does not burn the skin during frictional or reciprocating motion.
- Microneedling is done to remove skin imperfections on small, angled areas of skin such as the nose, around the eyes, upper lip, and lower lip, but lasers do not.
- The cost of micro needling is much lower than methods such as lasers, and in addition, it does not have the damage caused by laser heat on the skin.
Who should NOT do micro needling?
- People with open sores, cuts or abrasions on their skin;
- Those whose skin has undergone radiation and radiation therapy over the past year;
- People who have any skin infection, complication, or herpes in the area;
- Women who are pregnant and breastfeeding;
- Those who have a history of colloids (raising excess meat at the site of the complication) or whose wounds heal too late;
- People with skin infections, skin diseases and herpes simplex;
- People who have been treated with ecotan (isotretinoin) for the past three months;
- Patients with hemophilia and those taking aspirin and anticoagulants.
Chapter 3
Micro needling at home
Micro needling at home can reduce scars, blemishes, and lines. Of course, most micro needling is done in offices and by doctors.
Home remedies are rarely done in-depth, they do not have significant results for the skin, but they can increase the exfoliation and absorption of the product. Doctors believe that patients who receive home remedies over a four- to six-month period can definitely make progress.
But on the other hand, micro needling treatment in the office has many benefits, which include:
- Increase skin thickness
- Reduce wrinkles and stretch marks
- Healing acne scars and changing its color
- Skin rejuvenation for tissues and face
But for those who have micro needling at home, they need to know more about choosing a roller and ways to prevent infection.
Choosing the right roller for micro needling at home
Studies have shown that some people can make significant improvements to the skin after two or three sessions of using 1.5 mm needles, but these are usually done in the office. To begin this process at home, it is best to start with small needles, usually less than 0.15 mm.
A larger needle does not mean a faster result. Patience in micro needling at home is very important. If the treatment in the office fits your budget, you will get better and faster results and more reliable results because they will probably use longer and sharper needles.
A series of invasive treatments can provide similar results to deeper laser treatments. Results are usually seen after one to four sessions. People who try to roll the skin at home have to wait longer for better results! The small damage done by fine needles is a process of producing new collagen to the skin. New collagen synthesis may take three to six months.
Micro needling at home steps
Safety will be the first concern when one does micro needling at home instead of the doctor’s office. If the patient wishes to receive treatment at home, he should carefully clean the skin beforehand and disinfect his micro needling tools. They should also be careful not to put too much pressure on the needle machine as it can cause sores. Allergic reactions to products applied after acupuncture have also been reported with inpatient and home remedies.
Now the micro needling at home begins!
Disinfect the derma roller. Always start by disinfecting the derma roller, letting it soak in 70% isopropyl alcohol for 5 to 10 minutes before starting.
Wash your face. Cleanse your skin with a mild, pH-balanced cleanser. Also gently cleanse your face with 70% isopropyl alcohol. If you are sensitive to pain, consider an anesthetic cream after washing your face. If you use longer needles for your treatment, you should definitely use an anesthetic.
Apply anesthetic cream if necessary. Depending on the depth and caliber of the needles used, micro needling can therefore be unpleasant. Before you start, divide your face into four parts, and avoid micro needling around the eyes. Gently and firmly roll over an area two to three times in one direction (vertical or horizontal) and be sure to lift it before each roll.
Start vertically. After covering one part, move the roller slightly and repeat this to cover the whole part in one direction. Then, go back and repeat the whole steps in that section, but this time wrap horizontally using the cross-hatch pattern. Just wash your face with clean water and dry it with a pad.
Clean the derma roller. First, wash the derma roller with dishwasher soap. Then soak it again in 10% isopropyl alcohol for 10 minutes and put it back in its container.
Note that…
You will need to replace your current roller with a new one after 10 to 15 uses, so if you use it a few days a week, you may need a new roller every month.
Micro needling tools at home include:
- Roller
- Detergent
- Facial serum (For cleansing the face)
- Anesthetic cream
- Isopropyl alcohol 70%
Chapter 4
How to choose a micro needling at home serum
One of the biggest benefits of micro needling is its ability to use products such as serums and moisturizers to penetrate deeper and more effectively into the skin. micro needling does improve serum absorption in deeper layers. Permeability (Penetrability) is essential if you are using skincare products, which means you have to be very careful about the products you use.
Doing micro needling at home should be wise. One of the biggest problems with micro needling at home is the use of topical or chemicals that should not penetrate too much into the skin.
Accordingly, it is better to choose a serum that consists of the following ingredients:
Vitamin C
Finding high quality serum is very important to brighten and strengthen skin collagen. There have been reports of granulomas (firm lumps), and people should use topical vitamin C, which contains ingredients that cause skin reactions. Also, the sterility of the needle is more important to prevent infection.
Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid absorbs and retains moisture, so using it after micro needling can help the skin to accumulate and hydrate.
Peptides
Peptides are natural copper accumulated in the skin and when used topically are useful for increasing collagen production.
Growth factors
Growth factors are proteins that produce healthy cells and tissues. They attach to skin cells and repair and rejuvenate the skin. For micro needling, they help thicken the skin.
How many times can micro needling be done at home?
The number of treatments depends on the length of the roller needles and the sensitivity of the skin. If the needles are shorter, you may be able to do them every other day, and if the needles are much longer that penetrate deeper into the skin, you may need to have treatments every three to four weeks.
If you are really looking for better results on your skin, you may want to add additional skin care treatments to your micro needling at home sessions. Microneedling and chemical peeling work better as complementary therapies if used within 4 to 6 weeks.
If the skin tolerates it, other treatments, such as acupuncture, may accelerate the results with micro needling.
Does micro needling hurt?
Micro needling is the use of natural skin collagen to treat skin diseases. In this method, a needle is used to make “micro” holes, which in turn produces collagen and improves the skin. Micro needling can help reduce acne scars, hyperpigmentation, sun spots and even wrinkles. Microneedling, as a collagen induction therapy or percutaneous collagen production, is an invasive cosmetic procedure.
The purpose of micro needling is to pierce the outer layer of the skin and create a healing process. This causes the production of collagen and the circulation of new skin cells.
The whole process takes about 2 hours. A dermatologist or plastic surgeon performs this procedure. In some cases, cosmetologists may also perform this procedure.
The solutions to reduce pain in micro needling at home
Although micro needling is a relatively painless procedure, you may still feel uncomfortable. There are several things you can do before and after surgery to minimize the pain you may experience.
- Avoid using any product on the skin that increases sensitivity, such as retinoids or exfoliators.
- Avoid laser treatments or overexposure to the sun before treatment. This can damage the skin and increase sensitivity.
- Before micro needling at home avoid shaving and waxing to remove excess hair. This can lead to increase skin sensitivity. Studies suggest that you prepare your skin with a combination of vitamin A and vitamin C to help produce collagen.
To minimize pain after micro needling at home
- Follow all postoperative instructions by your doctor.
- Use any topical cream or lotion prescribed or recommended to keep skin moisturized and reduce inflammation.
- Do not wash your face with anything other than lukewarm water and mild cleanser for 48 to 72 hours after the operation.
- Avoid makeup for at least 48 to 72 hours after surgery. When applying makeup, use only clean makeup brushes.
- Avoid direct sunlight for 48 to 72 hours after surgery. If you plan to go out, do not forget to use sunscreen.
- Do not use harsh detergents or peeling after the procedure. They can cause more irritation and inflammation in the skin.
The size and length of the microneedles may affect the level of discomfort. Reliable researches show that the type, length, and number of micro-needles affect the amount of pain. “Longer micro-needles can increase pain sevenfold, while more microneedles can double pain”, researchers say.
If you are worried that this procedure will be painful, contact your healthcare provider to discuss your concerns. They can give you information about the tools they are using and also suggest steps you can take before the operation to minimize pain.
Chapter 5
What are the types of microneedling devices?
Home micro needling device is used to rejuvenate the skin, which has been able to attract many fans. With this device, many skin problems can be treated or reduced. This device has been able to achieve a good reputation among skin rejuvenation methods.
Micro needling can be done both at home or in the hairdresser. Buying a home micro needling machine is much cheaper than going to the hairdresser and paying huge fees every time you do it. Ladies and gentlemen who care about the beauty and smoothness of their skin and do not like to see wrinkles on their skin can buy these devices and use them easily at home.
Derma Roller
At first glance, the derma roller looks like a small roller brush that paints hard-to-reach corners of the building! At the head of these tools is a round cylinder that rotates around a horizontal axis and at least 200 very fine needles are placed on its rotating surface. There is also a handle on the top of the derma roller that is used to move the roller on the surface of the facial skin.
The doctor rolls this roller-like device with slight pressure on the skin of the face, and as a result, the derma roller makes hundreds of tiny holes in the skin along the way. Although some people also use this device as a home micro needling device, doctors advise that it is better to do this in a doctor’s office and specialized centers.
Before choosing derma roller…
Before choosing a derma roller, you need to know how to use it and what the treatment process is. This type of treatment is basically through the needles that are gently rubbed on the skin and can cover areas of the skin.
The head of this device is made of heavy plastics that have about a thousand tiny needles on its surface and these needles are made of steel or titanium. And different rollers have different needles and ideally there are between 90 to 450 needles in this machine and the size of these needles is between 0.25 to 3 mm.
This treatment process – which is widely performed – is a cosmetic process and this causes the blood flow to be stimulated and peeling to take place, and this device can also be considered a type of facial massager.
Derma roller benefits for the skin
As mentioned before, derma roller is a device by which you can do micro needling at home with ease. Here are some beneftis of derma roller:
- Skin problems such as wounds can be treated with a derma roller, which helps stimulate the elastin and collagen in the skin.
- It Increases the production of collagen in the skin and elastin, which makes the skin smoother with a natural appearance. The time to observe changes and improvements in the skin depends on the severity of wrinkles.
- The sun’s harsh UV rays constantly damage our skin, and derma roller can help repair damaged areas of the skin by stimulating collagen, which revitalizes it, allowing the skin to heal quickly.
- Hyperpigmentation is often only on the surface of the skin, which can be done with a derma roller, and this method normalizes and balances melanocyte cells and causes peeling, and also helps the skin to absorb light and natural substances. It also has an effective role in reducing skin wrinkles.
- Acne is another skin condition that can be healed with a derma roller, although you should take care of your skin afterward because the bacteria spread quickly in this condition.
- Some derma rollers for the skin may also be more likely to relieve skin inflammation, dryness or roughness, and redness.
Derma roller and micro needling at home
The size of the needles should be changed according to the skin condition of each person, for example, it should be seen whether the person uses this device for facial wounds or has another purpose.
Now, according to individual needs, needles should be selected, for example, for mild acne, you should use needles with a size of 0.5 mm, while for large cavities, the dermatologist uses needles with a size of 2 to 2.5 mm.
Since we all have different skin and its type, tonnage and condition are different from each other, no exact time can be announced to see the results. Some people see the results of this treatment within a week and some even after two or three months.
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Chapter 6
Derma Pen
The derma pen looks exactly like a round-tipped pen with tiny needles on the tip. The tip of the device and its needles are driven by a small electric motor. When derma pen needles move, like a self-sealing needle, they go into and out of the skin, leaving a large number of tiny holes in the skin. Some people also use this device at home, which does not seem to be an interesting and safe idea. In general, both derma roller and derma pen are used to stimulate the skin to make collagen naturally.
What are the uses of derma pen?
Derma pen needles are disposable and the number is adjustable, and depending on the number of needles and the speed of the device, 300 to 1000 holes per second are created on the surface of the skin. Here are some uses of derma pen in micro needling at home procedure.
Treatment of scars caused by pimples
Treatment of pimples and scars of chickenpox and leishmaniasis are among the cases that can be treated with micro needling method, which helps to smooth the skin by increasing the production of collagen and elastin by stimulating fibroblasts in the dermis. For greater effect, hyaluronic acid mesotherapy solution is used simultaneously with micro needling.
Treatment of sagging skin
Derma pen helps reduce sagging skin on the face, hands, and body. Lifting in the abdomen after pregnancy is due to the lack of complete return of the abdominal muscles to their original position, and micro needling does not help much.
Treatment of stretch mark
These cracks are actually a type of skin tear that affects the deep layers of the skin and can not be completely cured by any method such as CO2 laser. However, micro needling is significantly effective in coloring these lesions with normal skin and improving its consistency and size. If micro needling at home is combined with PRP, its effect will be more. The number of sessions required for stretch mark treatment is 4 to 6 sessions, which are done one month apart.
Resistant skin blemishes
These spots are caused by the excessive production of melanin in the skin. The cause of overproduction of melanin can be different such as sunburn, acne, cuts, or insect bites.
If melanin is located in the deep layer of the dermis, exfoliating acids cannot reach it, but with micro needling, the dermis layer is well available, and in addition, the penetration of anti-spot mesotherapy drugs that are sprayed on the skin at the same time eliminates deep hyperpigmentation lesions. The use of sunscreen after treatment is recommended to prevent the recurrence of lesions.
Skin wrinkles reduction
Reduction of skin wrinkles is due to increased production of collagen and elastin and improved blood supply to the skin. The advantage of reducing wrinkles with micro needling compared to Botox and hyaluronic acid injections is that the micro needling method achieves a longer shelf life and no foreign substance enters the body and there are no side effects, in addition, it may rejuvenate the skin of hands, neck, and face.
On the other hand, the above substances are metabolized by the body after a few months and need to be re-injected. In addition, in micro needling, the pores of the skin gradually close and the quality and consistency of the skin improves.
Treatment of scars caused by previous surgeries, burns and infections
With the activation of fibroblasts and stem cells and the release of platelet growth factors, skin roughness gradually disappears and the scar disappears significantly. Depending on the size of the scar and its depth and skin type, the number of treatment sessions is determined, which is usually 7-5 sessions. Burn scars respond to treatment with a delay and can last between 6 months and a year.
Chapter 6
Derma Stamp
Another device that may utilize in micro needling at home procedure is derma stamp. Derma stamp is very similar in appearance to derma pen; the difference is that the size of the tip is bigger and the number of needles is larger as well.
This device can be moved by a human or electric motor. The function of derma stamp is similar to that of derma pen in the form of a seal. In this way, it does not roll on the skin, but small needles are inserted into the skin in a movement similar to sealing.
The method of working on a stamp is similar to that of a tattoo machine, but the difference is that instead of one needle, many small needles are inserted into the skin at the same time, and of course there is no color or ink of the tattoo.
Micro needling device with diode and LED lights
This micro needling device uses a system of diodes and LED light to rejuvenate the skin. However, definitive researches have not yet been reported on the better performance of this device than the ones mentioned above.
Micro needling device with radio frequency
The latest micro needling device works by inserting fine needles through which radio waves are exchanged into the skin, which transmits radio waves, creating heat under the skin and resulting in collagen production. In this case, too, no reliable results have been reported that these devices are more effective in skin rejuvenation than older devices.
Last words
Micro needling is a great way to treat all skin conditions that you can benefit from. It is also very affordable. Micro needling at home is proper for:
- Stretch marks caused by obesity or pregnancy
- Dimming under the eyes
- Open pores of the skin
- Blackheads
- Hair loss
For those who like to do it themselves, there are products available that allow them to micro needling at home (No need for a doctor), but these products are weak and only do this superficially. Because experts do this more deeply, they use longer needles that involve the underlying layers of skin which are not available at home.
FAQ
Does Microneedling at home really work?
Patients who are consistent with home treatments over a four to six month period can definitely see improvements.” As far as office-based microneedling treatment, the potential benefits include: improvement of acne scars and discoloration. reduced wrinkles and stretch marks.
Can you do your own Microneedling?
How long do micro needling results last?
Microneedling results how long? The results from your first round of treatment will last between four and six weeks after they have finalized. Thus, you should expect to come in for a follow-up treatment eight to 12 weeks after your first treatment. Keep in mind, however, that you may not need to come in so soon.
Is micro needling better than Botox?
Both microneedling and Botox injections are safe and effective for patients with all skin types. Depending on patient needs, you may even recommend both, using microneedling to improve the surface and deeper condition of the skin, with Botox injections to help improve results longer term.
Does Microneedling help forehead wrinkles?
Microneedling reduces the unwanted appearance of forehead lines and frown lines. ... With its power to activate the production of new skin cells, after a few sessions of microneedling, you will already start to notice fine lines and deep wrinkles reduced that are located on the forehead.