Understanding How Microneedling Works

Microneedling has become something of a buzzword in the beauty industry over the last few years. You will see it in magazines, talked about in YouTube videos and see people posting about it on Instagram. But what exactly is microneedling, and what do you need to know about it? 

Background

While you may think of microneedling as a ‘new trend’ because of its seemingly rapid growth in popularity, the treatment has actually been around since 1995. In Philadelphia, American skin expert Dr Desmond Fernandes used microneedling, as we think of it today, to treat wrinkles and scars.

He developed a small needle stamp for his treatment, but there is evidence of a similar version of the treatment being used even earlier. 

In 1905, a German dermatologist called Ernst Kromayer treated scars, birthmarks and hyperpigmentation with a form of microneedling treatment. Kromayer used dental burs which were powered by a motor-driven flexible cord to treat his patients. There is also some suggestion that the idea behind microneedling links back to the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture. 

How does it work?

Microneedling, as you can probably tell from the name, uses needles to create tiny punctures in the skin to the epidermis. By doing so, the body is stimulated to naturally heal itself in the area which has been treated.

Some beauty clinics will offer a face peel before the treatment to prepare the skin. It is possible to conduct microneedling at home with the use of a dermaroller. However, if you have the treatment done at a beauty clinic, they may use a powered microneedling tool. 

What are the benefits?

The reason microneedling is effective is that it stimulates collagen production. Collagen is an essential protein which is necessary to keep skin looking youthful and to keep up its healing properties.

As we age, collagen production can reduce, so stimulating the skin with microneedling can help to produce more collagen. Some of the benefits to this include effectively treating scars and wrinkles along with targeting stretch marks, hyperpigmentation and sun damage. 

While you should be advised to stay out of direct sunlight for a few days after your treatment along with avoiding applying makeup to the treated area for 24 hours, the recovery time after microneedling treatment is very quick.

The treatment itself is also very quick, with it taking anywhere up to an hour. The number of treatments needed can vary between 3 to 6, but the effects of microneedling will continue to improve after the treatments have stopped.

Despite some misconceptions, microneedling is also safer to use on any skin colour but should always be carried out either by professionals or by following the guidelines set out for home use. 

Overall microneedling can help both men and women who may be struggling with a variety of skin conditions or the ageing process we all go through in life.

There are lots of experienced skin experts available for you to talk to who will be able to provide you with advice on if microneedling might be right for you. If you’re interested in microneedling London then you could get in touch with Aesthetics Lab who are a multi award winning cosmetic clinic and highly experienced when it comes to microneedling.