Why choose microneedling
Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies and the building blocks to radiant skin. Unfortunately, our production of this crucial protein begins to slow with age, leading to wrinkles, lax skin and other signs of ageing. In fact, once we turn 20, our bodies produce one percent less collagen each year.
Microneedling treatments at Skin Confidence are designed to puncture the skin using tiny, sterile needles. This creates a physical trauma that prompts the deeper layers of the skin to rebuild. Also known as collagen induction therapy, microneedling stimulates the production of collagen to repair the skin and restore a more youthful appearance.
How does it work
Microneedling treatments work by rolling a device embedded with tiny, sterile needles over the skin to create small perforations, or micro-channels, in the treated area. While these punctures are too small to damage the tissue, they are enough to stimulate the body’s natural healing response. As the production of collagen increases, signs of age are diminished. In addition to reversing signs of age, microneedling treatments can help repair surface textural concerns, such as acne scarring and enlarged pores.
Furthermore, the micro-channels created during a microneedling treatment allow for better penetration of active skincare ingredients. As such, we recommend nourishing your skin with active ingredients following a microneedling treatment to deliver more powerful results.
What to expect
Prior to your collagen induction treatment, we recommend having a consultation at Skin Confidence to discuss your skin concerns, after which we can create a treatment plan tailored to you.
On the day of your microneedling treatment at Skin Confidence, we will first apply a numbing cream to your skin to ensure your comfort during the procedure. We will then pass the microneedling device over the skin to create micro-wounds in the skin. Thanks to the numbing cream, you will not experience any discomfort or pain as the needles penetrate your skin. Expect your treatment to take around 30 minutes, depending on the size of the treated area. Following your treatment, you are free to resume all regular activities immediately.
Microneedling treatments can help repair
surface textural concerns, such as
acne scarring and enlarged pores.
The science behind Microneedling
As mentioned, microneedling works by stimulating the body’s natural ability to renew and repair in reaction to damage. This is why the treatment is frequently referred to as collagen induction therapy. More specifically, the wound repair process follows three key phases:
1. Inflammation
As the microneedling device punctures your skin, the body encourages your immune system to clean the wounds and remove debris whilst simultaneously releasing natural growth factors and increasing blood flow to create new tissue.
2. Proliferation
The proliferation of the body’s tissue causes the continued release of growth factors. The controlled wounds are repaired with new granulation cells, and a new network of blood vessels are also formed.
3. Remodelling
The last phase of collagen induction therapy is the tissue remodelling process, in which the wound is replaced with new dermal tissues and blood vessels. It is in this phase that your skin is revitalised and tightened.
What can be treated with microneedling
Some of the skin concerns that can be treated with collagen induction therapy include:
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Acne and surgical scarring
- Pigmentation
- Stretch marks
- Skin laxity
- Sun damage
- Enlarged pores
- Poor skin texture
Microneedling treatments at Skin Confidence are designed to puncture the skin using tiny, sterile needles.
Ideal candidates for microneedling
Microneedling treatments are suitable for all skin types, including darker skin tones. As such, anyone who is looking for an effective, non-invasive and convenient skin rejuvenation treatment could be an ideal candidate for microneedling at Skin Confidence.
Of course, there are some exceptions to this. Unfortunately, microneedling is not suitable for people with active acne, an active skin infection or keloid scarring. The best way to determine whether microneedling is a suitable treatment for you is to have a consultation at our clinic.
Microneedling results
Results will vary from patient to patient. Collagen does take time to rebuild, meaning that it can take several months for full results to appear. While results will appear gradually, many patients experience a plumped, glowing appearance in the days after their treatment as the healing process begins.
Keep in mind that, in time, collagen production will slow again, and the skin will begin to age once more. For this reason, we usually recommend follow-up treatments to maintain results.
How many treatments will I need?
While a single treatment may create subtle results, we generally recommend a course of treatments to achieve the greatest difference. To optimise results and continually build collagen, we typically suggest having three to six treatments spaced four to six weeks apart.
How does microneedling help with scarring?
Scars develop on the skin when the body produces too little collagen during the healing process. Whether you are looking to fade acne scars or surgical scars, collagen induction therapy is the ideal treatment. Microneedling works to break up the scar tissue and causes collagen to rebuild under the skin, helping you restore a smoother, more even skin tone.
Will I need an anaesthetic for my microneedling treatments?
This is ultimately up to you. We do offer a topical anaesthetic to all of our patients prior to their microneedling treatment; however, some patients choose to forgo this when treating non-sensitive areas.
When opting for anaesthetic, your microneedling treatment will feel like mild vibration at most. Without the use of numbing cream, the treatment is still quote tolerable, although it may be a bit uncomfortable in some bony areas, such as the forehead and nose.
Microneedling recovery
There is absolutely no downtime required after a microneedling treatment at Skin Confidence, meaning that you are free to resume your everyday activities immediately. Following your treatment, you may experience some redness, and your skin may feel sensitive and tight. This is normal and should resolve within 24 hours.
In the days after your treatment, you can expect some mild shedding of the skin. While your skin heals, it will be more sensitive to the sun, meaning that diligent sun care is a must. We suggest applying an SPF 50+ to the treated area daily.
Will I need to take time off work after microneedling?
Whether you wish to take time off work after your microneedling treatment is ultimately up to you. Keep in mind that your skin will look like it is heavily sunburned for the first day or two after treatment, so many patients choose to have the treatment at the beginning of the weekend or arrange leave for a couple of days.
Side effects
As a non-invasive treatment, collagen induction therapy has minimal side effects. Some of the common side effects of this treatment may include swelling, discomfort, redness, bruising, dryness and flaking of the skin.
Professional vs at home microneedling
If you are considering collagen induction therapy, you may be wondering whether an at-home derma roller is a suitable alternative. A derma roller is a hand-held, rolling pin-like device containing hundreds of tiny needles, which is rolled across the skin’s surface to create microscopic punctures. Although the principle is similar to in-clinic microneedling, there are several differences between the two options.
For one, at-home derma rollers are far less effective and often cause injury to the skin. As a circular device, they cannot puncture the skin at a straight 90-degree angle, which is required for best results. If the needles do not puncture at an angle perpendicular to the skin, this usually causes scraping and scratching, which, over time, can cause injury and scarring. Professional microneedling is far more precise and allows for controlled application of the microneedles.
Additionally, at-home derma rollers contain much shorter, lower quality needles. During a microneedling treatment at Skin Confidence, your clinician will treat different areas of the face at different needle depths in order to effectively treat your specific skin conditions. This is simply not possible with an at-home device. Ultimately, most people who use at-home microneedling devices end up causing more harm than good, as they do not have the correct device or training to produce effective results.
Should I have microneedling or laser resurfacing?
While microneedling and laser resurfacing are both designed to stimulate collagen and revitalise the skin, they work in completely different ways.
Laser resurfacing treatments use light energy to heat the skin and absorb damaged skin cells. This stimulates the production of new collagen to revitalise the appearance of the skin. As such, laser can target specific targets in the skin, including brown spots, broken capillaries, and scars, without damaging the surrounding unaffected tissue.
Microneedling, on the other hand, mechanically stimulates collagen by creating thousands of tiny injuries across the face that force the skin to heal. While collagen induction therapy cannot target specific concerns like a laser, it provides an overall improvement in the skin’s appearance. Additionally, microneedling is better suited to patients with darker skin tones, as laser can cause hyperpigmentation in such skin types.
The best way to determine which of these treatments is right for you is to organise a consultation at Skin Confidence today.
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