Over the past few years, micro-needling has emerged in the beauty industry, as a solution for an array of concerns, spanning all skin types. Micro-needling encourages the skin’s production of restorative collagen and elastin by using microneedles to stimulate the body’s natural healing process. Not only can micro-needling target many skin concerns, it has been found that it can also be used for hair restoration!
So, in an industry where every treatment claims to be the next best thing for your skin, how do you know if micro-needling is right for you? The short answer is, it is beneficial for most people. The best option is to contact a licensed skin care specialist, to see if micro-needling can help you achieve your beauty goals.
Here are some frequently asked questions, to introduce you to micro-needling:
How Does Micro-needling Work?
According to Bellus Medical, the makers of the SkinPen, micro-needling triggers the skin’s self-repair process by creating thousands of precise micro-injuries in the dermis, stimulating new collagen synthesis without causing scar tissue formation. This process occurs in 3 phases:
- Phase I: Inflammation. The microneedles create micro-injuries in the skin, triggering your immune system to disinfect the wounds, remove debris, increase blood flow and begin new tissue synthesis.
- Phase II: Proliferation. The wound is re-built with new cells, to include collagen and elastin. Additionally, a new network of blood vessels develops.
- Phase III: Remodeling. The wound has been replaced with new dermal tissues and blood vessels. The young collagen in the newly formed tissue is replaced with stronger collagen, which contracts, producing a tightening or “shrink wrap” effect on the skin.
Who is a Candidate for Micro-needling Skin Rejuvenation?
Micro-needling has been proven safe for a wide range of skin types, even those who are typically not candidates for laser treatments. Micro-needling treatments are customized to the patient, based on their specific concerns and can treat both face and body. Micro-needling treatments can be customized to target the following concerns:
- Uneven skin tone
- Large pores and rough texture
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Acne scars
- Stretch marks
- Hair Restoration
What are the Anti-Aging Benefits from Micro-needling Treatment?
People of all ages will see results from micro-needling. For example, a patient in her 20’s may notice smoother skin texture and an overall brighter appearance and a patient in her 50’s may notice diminished fine lines around the eyes and mouth and fading of sun damage. Regardless of you age, microneedling helps to rejuvenate your skin, providing lasting benefits.
Hair Restoration: How Can I Stimulate Hair Growth?
Just as micro-needling stimulate skin cell rejuvenation, the body can be encouraged to stimulate hair cell rejuvenation. Hair restoration involves a series of injections with platelet rich plasma, a serum derived from your own body via a simple blood draw. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) provides high concentrations of the body’s own natural growth factors, which stimulate struggling hair follicles, encouraging regeneration and hair growth.
There are many micro-needling devices and treatment options available, so it is important to do your research to make sure that you choose a safe, FDA-approved treatment with proven results. Although there are many at-home options available to “do it yourself”, it is safest to consult with a medical aesthetic provider and have an in-office treatment, to ensure the safest, most sanitary, effective treatment possible.