Microneedling Treatment Procedure:

For a procedure that is relatively easy to perform and derive results from, there are several factors that need to be kept in mind regarding equipment and technique. As mentioned earlier, microneedling involves puncturing the skin using needles moving at high speeds and penetrating the epidermal layer till a certain depth. The first step towards successful implementation of this procedure is to apply a topical numbing cream on the area that needs to be treated. Once the skin is numbed, it is advised to use a setting of 0.8 mm on the needle, which goes deep enough to generate a pink-ish inflammation without overwhelming the skin or drawing blood. This setting must be changed when going over areas that are more sensitive or that have relatively thinner skin, such as near the eyes, on the forehead and around the lips. Treatment of open pores on the face such as those on the sides of the nose are better performed when each pore is needled individually. Depending on the intensity of treatment required, the needle settings must be changed. Therefore, for self-treatment, specially designed home skin needling models with short, fine needles of approximately 0.2-mm depth are available and can be used around 2-3 times in a week to reduce pores on face, oil production, fine lines, and to enhance delivery and effectiveness of topical agents.

Microneedling Device used for Treatment:

For the purpose of professional treatment options, there are two basic categories of devices, battery-powered and cord-powered. Each design has some advantages, and personal preference of the practitioner determines their choice of device to be used to perform a treatment. Further, there are two kinds of needle tips available, flat-edged tips and bevelled tips which have a sloping edge. Available devices range from mechanical to manual models with shorter needle lengths designed for home use to rollers or stamps with longer needles designed for skin professionals only. There has been a recent increase in the number of devices and systems on the market in this treatment category that vary in the diameter and length of the microneedles, generally ranging from 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm. A vertical microneedling device with a cordless design that creates a series of vertical microscopic channels uses straight needles that vary in depth from 0.25 mm to 2.5 mm. It is also a widely accepted conclusion that 0.5 mm needles produced the best results in the shortest time, as compared to 1-mm and 2-mm needles.

Microneedling Home Treatment :

For home treatments, Derma Rollers are the best option. It is a handheld device that consists of 200 fine needles and offers a range of five needle sizes from 0.5 to 2.5 mm. This device can help create micro-channels in the skin that leads to the repair process beginning almost immediately. Delivery of topical serums using the Derma Roller enhances the skin’s absorption of vitamins, enzymes, lipids, and other ingredients. It takes only 1 to 2 hours after the application of the Derma Roller for the micro-channels to fully close up due to the body’s natural healing process, and following this, the patient’s normal routine can be resumed.

Microneedling Professional Treatment

Out of the home, microneedling can be performed in a simple office setting and does not require extensive training or costly equipment. Single-use systems are available for up to a few hundred dollars, with multiple-use devices costing roughly a few thousand dollars, depending on the make and model. It is a cost-effective procedure, and can be done on areas of skin that may not be suitable for peeling or laser resurfacing, such as around the eyes and mouth, hands, and chest. Though the procedure is well tolerated by patients, experts insist that this treatment isn’t for everyone. The positives for such treatments are that the desired effect is visible after minimal downtime and that the treatment can be easily personalized by going deeper on some areas where skin damage requires a more aggressive approach. On the other hand, the negatives that are also part of the equation are that the needles may spread bacteria for those currently suffering from acne. Further, these treatments don’t go deep enough into the skin to help reverse sun damage.

Why is Microneedling Treatment Prefered?

Microneedling is a safe, chemical-free method that triggers new collagen production and is preferred as a treatment because it can be performed on all skin colours and types without much worry about the possible downsides of burning during laser treatment or chemical pigmentation during a peeling procedure.