I’m sure a lot of you are asking ‘micro-what?!’ and wondering why you should be putting a ton of needles in your face. Lucky for you, I’ve put together information so you can find some ease in knowing what it is before you actually try it.
Microneedling – also called Dermarolling – is a minimally invasive procedure that creates super tiny micro-injuries in the skin with what we call a Poofer (pictured below). The skin then – as a natural response – releases collagen to heal these injuries and as a result heals the general skin; fills up acne scars, helps pigmentation, discoloration, large pores, wrinkles and gives your skin a serious glow.
A small paint roller with titanium needles on i? Yes, that's a dermaroller:
Apart from stimulating collagen production, Microneedling also greatly enhances product absorption, meaning that whatever you apply after Microneedling your skin will be more effective than if you had applied it on a regular day.
Some good serums to use afterwards is Vitamin C. Vitamin C further boosts collagen production and hence, complements the Poofer beautifully. You can also use a Niacinamide serum but be warned, it will sting a little and people with sensitive skins should avoid it. Lastly Hyaluronic Acid works well too!
Our Vitamin C serum comes with Hyaluronic Acid and is made from a very gentle, stable form of Vitamin C serum called Sodium Ascorbic Phosphate. Check it out here:
Dermarollers come in different sizes; 0.25mm, 0.5mm, 1mm etc. Any size up to 1.5mm is safe to use at home.
0.5mm: The gold standard in dermarollers is 0.5mm because it targets a lot of problem areas with minimal discomfort. Use this for anti-aging, enlarged pores and fine lines, especially around the eyes.
1mm: This targets most of what 0.5mm does but it does more for your acne scars. Use this for mild acne scars, chicken pox scarring, even surgical scarring, light stretch marks, lines and wrinkles.
Now you’re probably wondering how to go about it. Well, here’s a step by step guide for you to read:
Step 1: Clean the derma roller by soaking in rubbing alcohol for 5-10 minutes. Let it dry.
Step 2: Cleanse your skin.
Step 3: Using even, gentle movements, guide the roller up, down, and diagonally across the skin, always lifting off the skin before changing directions.
Step 4: Apply a Vitamin C or any other repairing serum
Step 5: Clean the Poofer with rubbing alcohol before storing it back.
What to avoid: Circumstances in which you shouldn’t demaroll include active acne, active herpes or other local infections, history of keloids or hypertrophic scarring, and immunosuppression [poor immune system].
Things to remember:
Less is more: As tempting as it may be to do it all the time, spacing out treatments will give you better results in the long run!”
Avoid the sun: Make sure to avoid the sun and wait until all traces of a suntan have faded before dermarolling in order to reduce your risk of hyperpigmentation post-treatment.
Always disinfect your Poofer: Always remember to disinfect your dermaroller by letting it soak in the 70 percent isopropyl alcohol for ten minutes after each use.
At-home Microneedling is an affordable way of giving yourself what's normally a Rs 15000 in-office dermatologist treatment. However, remember – it is not a magical device. It requires commitment in terms of time and effort. You should be able to see temporary results the day after. The skin will be plumper, maybe softer, acne scars filled up, cheeks rosy. However, you should allow yourself 3-6 months before you see permanent results in terms of changing skin texture.
Lastly, good luck to you!