Do you ever wish you could press ‘reset’ on your skin? Microneedling is an excellent option for addressing just about any skin concern you might have. Get ready to explore Microneedling benefits such as:
What is Microneedling?
Microneedling is a minimally invasive treatment that creates micro-injuries in the skin to stimulate the body to repair. These tiny injuries initiate cell proliferation to rebuild the affected area. This robust production of new collagen and elastin results in dermal tissue remodeling and ultimately improves overall skin quality.
Horizon Medical Spa utilizes SkinPen and Morpheus8 for our microneedling services. Morpheus8 is microneedling with radiofrequency, and SkinPen is microneedling without radiofrequency. We are going to focus on the impressive benefits of Microneedling just by itself.
How does SkinPen work?
SkinPen is a handheld device containing 14 precision medical grade needles that makes microchannels in the skin at a rate of 1600 per second. To some that might sound scary, but after the use of a topical numbing agent you can rest assured that not only is the treatment completely painless, most consider it to be relaxing and enjoyable. Visits typically include 30-45 minutes of numbing followed by a 30 minute treatment. After the numbing has worn off it may feel like a mild sunburn with redness the gradually lessons over 2-3 days. Some mild swelling is possible and it’s important to not apply anything other than what is in the aftercare instructions for the next 24 hours.
How Microneedling Benefits Skin Health
Stimulates Collagen Production
I’m sure you’ve heard of collagen, but do you know what it is and what it does? Collagen is a protein in the human body which makes up roughly one-third of total bodily protein. It is widely accepted as a “building block” for everything from bones and muscles to connective tissue and skin. Collagen is what provides skin with structure, elasticity, and resilience.
In a child, collagen production outpaces its destruction. However, as early as age 20 most people will begin to produce 1-2% less each year. This means that by as early as mid- 20’s you are likely beginning to notice the signs of aging in the skin in the form of decline of elasticity, skin tightness, and overall texture.
Microneedling involves tiny needles entering the first two layers of the skin to create microscopic holes called microchannels. These microchannels stimulate the body to create collagen and elastin to deliver dramatically more renewed and youthful skin.
Reduces Pore Size
Pore size is a common complaint of the aging (and young) person, so if enlarged pores is one of your biggest concerns, microneedling is the best solution. As the strength and quality of skin improves, the pore is more supported and therefore appears smaller and less noticeable. This reinforcement surrounding pores also reduces the risk of becoming congested and enlarged.
Oil Reduction
Microneedling has also been found to aid in oil regulation. Oily and acne prone individuals make excellent candidates for microneedling, and unlike dermaplaning and other facial treatments, Microneedling is safe to perform over active acne. Overactive oil production is a common cause of large pores which can be improved by microneedling. Microneedling balances sebum (oil) production and increases cell turnover which studies have shown to reduce black heads, pore size, and active acne.
Improves Scarring and Overall Skin Texture
Microneedling can also be used as a corrective option. Uneven skin texture, acne scars, wrinkles, and rough patches can be difficult to treat with topical skincare alone and that’s where Microneedling can really shine.
Acne scars form when a pore becomes occluded and damaged deep within the skin. These lesions created by acne can become inflamed and lead to uneven tissue repair and an unsightly appearance. Microneedling works to correct scars by using tiny needles to break up and disrupt the poorly formed connective tissue. By disrupting the irregular scar tissue, the body triggers a wound-healing response in the skin which can help restore and strengthen the skin’s structural framework. Healthy, youthful-appearing skin is what you’re left with.
Over time, this natural boost plumps the skin as a non-surgical option for treatment of fine lines and wrinkles. Because microneedling relies on your own body to heal and improve skin quality, improvements look subtle and natural. Each session of microneedling builds on the last, meaning consistency will produce the best results.
Reduces Hyperpigmentation & Evens Skin Tone
Hyperpigmentation is a condition where areas of the skin become darker in color than
the surrounding skin. Examples of this include sun spots, age spots, freckles, scars, and redness which all can be caused by a number of things. Whether from sun damage, a post-inflammatory response, or melasma, microneedling can help to improve evenness and overall tone.
Deep within your skin are tiny pigment factories called melanocytes. Sometimes these little pigment-producing cells get overly excited and start working overtime pumping melanin in uneven patches to the surface of your skin. Microneedling works to disrupt this uneven pigment and increase cell turnover, pushing the melanin to the surface of the skin where it can be sloughed off. Speeding up cell turnover at a deeper level helps fade dark spots, sun damage, and discoloration.
But wait! Theres more…
Microneedling has more applications such as treating hair loss, reducing stretch marks, and addressing rosacea. It is commonly combined with PRP (platelet right plasma), Exosomes, Botox and other topicals to achieve a specific outcome and a more overall impressive result.
Frequently Asked Questions about Microneedling
Is microneedling safe for all skin types?
One of the biggest advantages of microneedling is its versatility and safety. Treating dark spots and melasma can be very challenging as treatments including lights and lasers are often specific to certain skin types and cannot safely be used on Fitzpatrick Skin Types 5 and 6. These lasers and lights, on the wrong patient, can lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or scarring. However, microneedling is seen as a universally safe option for skin rejuvenation of all skin types.
Does microneedling require any downtime?
Downtime is also a limiting factor for many clients in regard to aesthetic treatments. Microneedling requires very little downtime, making it an ideal treatment for patients with busy lifestyles.
How long do the results of microneedling last?
This answer is pretty variable depending on what skin concern we are talking about but the results are essentially indefinite and here’s where. Remember how we talked about how microneedling stimulates our body to create its own collagen? When we are making changes to the skin utilizing this process as opposed to using a medication (like Botox or Filler), it technically never “wears off”. As an example, Botox works quickly but wears off completely in a number of weeks and at that point, everything goes back to the way it was.
With microneedling, we see continued collagen production and continued improvements in the skin for longer than two years after the treatment, and it doesn’t stop there. Since we know that collagen does decline with age, it is highly recommended that you have annual maintenance treatments to not only keep your results, but to see even more improvement.
Hopefully, we've answered some burning questions about microneedling and expanded your knowledge of all it can do. If you want to give it a try, schedule a consult to see if microneedling is right for you! Hint...it is. It's for everyone! And you are going to love the results. Book your microneedling session today and unlock radiant skin!
MicroneedlingBefore and After
Check out these photos of our clients' before and after microneedling!
Kimberly Losik, a board certified nurse practitioner, is the Founder, Owner and Medical Director of Horizon Med Spa and Wellness. Kimberly has earned multiple degrees including a bachelors in Kinesiology, a bachelors in Nursing, as well as a Masters in Nursing. For over a decade, she has earned experience in Orthopedics, Geriatrics, Internal medicine, Medical weight loss, aesthetics and anti-aging medicine. Her passion to help patients look and feel like the best version of themselves was the foundation of Horizon, which began in early 2020. Since then, she has attended numerous trainings, conferences and seminars to continue to offer patients the best solutions and aesthetic and antiaging medicine. Additionally, she is a clinical trainer for the company Inmode, an internationally recognized leader in the aesthetic industry.
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