What does Micro Needling do for your skin?

What Is Microneedling?

Microneedling is a procedure that uses a bunch of tiny needles to puncture the very first layer of skin. This process works to rejuvenate your skin by boosting collagen production, which in turn reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and elevates the overall texture of your skin.

The particular microneedling treatment I underwent was done with a tool called the Vivace (in my particular experience, we used the microneedling device in tandem with a laser, which is more intense than microneedling alone). “What excited me about the Vivace was, of course, the combination of radiofrequency and microneedling, but more so how precisely, cleanly, and deeply it could deliver both. Finally, you add in blue and red LED, and you have a trifecta of modalities to treat multiple skin concerns,” explains Lubin. Physicians can select the exact depth best for each patient’s skin type and condition and use robotic precision delivery to go as deep as 3.5 millimeters at 0.1-millimeter increments—no other device can.” Blue light is helpful for those who suffer from acne, as the light and heat target bacteria that cause breakouts.

[Editor’s Note: This illustration features a derma-roller, a tool that penetrates skin more superficially than a professional microneedling pen, making it safer for at-home use.

Benefits of Microneedling

• Enhances texture of skin
• Stimulates collagen production
• Can help reduce scars and hyperpigmentation
• Can reduce the appearance of wrinkles²

Shah, who performed my procedure, told me the biggest benefit of microneedling is its ability to radically enhance the texture of your skin. “Microneedling is a collagen-stimulating treatment great for general skin rejuvenation. It treats textural issues dealing with pores, acne scars, wrinkles, tightening sagging skin, and more,” Shah explained to me while my numbing cream settled in. Then I lay down to begin the treatment.

How to Prepare for Microneedling

If you’re using any intense topical treatments (such as those containing retinol), you’d be wise to discontinue use a few days before your microneedling treatment. Harsh products could aggravate the skin, so milder is the key. “In addition to having a cleansed and toned face, you should also avoid using retinol at least 48 hours prior and avoid direct sun exposure for about three days prior and three days following,” notes Josie Holmes, esthetician at SKINNEY Medspa. “I would also advise against using any aggressive acids within the week of the procedure.”

You should arrive to your appointment with clean, dry skin (if not, the technician will wash your face so it’s clean before the procedure). Next, you’ll likely be slathered in numbing cream, so the pain won’t be quite so intense.

What to Expect from Microneedling

Does it hurt? After letting the numbing cream seep into my skin for a half-hour, having a bunch of needles continuously puncture my skin was honestly an easy process. So to definitively answer that, it doesn’t hurt, but it doesn’t feel good. In terms of pain, I experienced a tolerable treatment that lasted all of 20 minutes. To be real, it felt like five minutes, and by the end of it, I was fine. My forehead, hairline, and jawline areas were more sensitive than other areas. I barely felt the tool when it passed over my cheeks, which Shah surprisingly confirmed was the deepest level of depth. 

After the microneedling, the procedure was followed up with a soothing serum and hydrating face mask that honestly felt like heaven. Ironically, even after the numbing cream wore off a couple of hours later, it didn’t feel like I had just been poked hundreds of times. Contrary to how scary this sounds, I experienced no pain whatsoever. 

“The great thing about this treatment is there’s really no significant downtime,” says Shah. “Afterward, there’s a little bit of redness and might be some areas of pinpoint bleeding, but really, it’s a no-downtime kind of treatment, so most people leave here a little bit red. A couple of hours later, you’re pretty much back to normal, and the next day, you can resume your normal skincare and normal activities.” 

All credits go to: https://www.byrdie.com/microneedling-side-effects