Looking for a multi-tasking treatment to address a wide variety of skin care concerns including sun damage, fine lines and wrinkles, scars and stretch marks? Microneedling may be exactly what you’re looking for.

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Don’t let the name scare you. Yes, needles and numbing cream are involved, but the procedure comes with a host of skin-boosting benefits that go beyond a basic facial and the pain is minimal at most (think slight sun burn). Remember, numbing cream is used before the procedure begins.

 

What is microneedling?

Microneedling is a minimally invasive procedure that uses tiny needles to puncture the skin that spurs natural healing. This in turn:

 

•  Helps produce collagen

• Reduces fine lines and wrinkles

• Reverses sun damage

• Tightens loose skin

• Reduces the appearance of acne scars

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In addition to the multitude of benefits it provides, it’s also popular because it’s appropriate for all skin types and can be used anywhere on the body, not just the face.

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There are little to new side effects or required downtime, also making it a popular corrective facial procedure. 

 

How it works:

Your body treats a small wound the same way as a large wound, and sends fibroblasts to create more collagen in the affected area. The tiny needles puncturing the skin are basically tricking your skin into thinking it has been wounded, but as a result, your skin thickens and the overall texture is improved.

 

What Happens During a Microneedling Treatment?

The treatment begins by first cleansing the face, then applying a topical numbing cream. Once that takes effect (typically about 10 to 20 minutes), a serum is applied to the skin to promote skin repair and heeling. A microneedling pen is then passed back and forth all over your face. Our aestheticians use the SkinPen, a state-of-the-art microneedling medical device and the first to receive FDA clearance

 

As the Skin Pen passes back and forth across your face, the needles are moving up and down, in order to “needle in” the serum. Once the procedure is completed, another layer of serum is applied and, depending on your particular skincare concerns, a mask or other products may be applied.

 

Does Microneedling Hurt?

If the idea of tiny needles piercing your skin sounds like it would bring with a serious ouch factor, you don’t need to worry. Not only does the numbing cream help take away what experts agree is minimal pain during the procedure, but what you can expect post-procedure is a bit of pinkness, kind of like a sunburn. At the very worst, a few tiny punctate scabs may pop up, only to fade in a few days.

 

How Often Should I Get Microneedling Done?

It depends on the severity of the skin issue you're looking to fix. If your skin is generally fine and you take care of it, you can microneedle every three to six months, but someone with dramatic acne scarring should plan to do one session per month for four to six months.

 

After that, once a year is typically good for overall maintenance or touch ups.

 

What kind of downtime or after care is required?

Right after your treatment, your skin will be red and sensitive so using a broad-spectrum, chemical-free sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30 is crucial during the weeks after your procedure. But, let’s face it, you should be doing that anyway, right?!

You should also avoid retinol and acids like glycolic and salicylic as they can irritate the skin. Make sure you also keep skin hydrated by applying a mild hydrating serum and use a mild cleanser, taking care to avoid exfoliating scrubs in the days immediately following the treatment.

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Ideally, you'll also want to avoid putting on makeup for the rest of the day, but if you have prior commitments, it's totally safe to wear later in the night.