Have you noticed that your skin has started to lose its volume? Perhaps your skin has begun to sag and not as elastic it once was. Both can be attributed to the natural aging process, and as we grow older, our skin produces less collagen – the building book of protein that keeps our skin cells healthy and bonds them together. Gravity then takes over and causes all sort of unsightly skin problems — droopy skin, wrinkles and age lines to mention a few.

Having said that the problems mentioned above are the natural consequence of ageing, does this mean that there’s nothing we can do about it? Well, not entirely, and this is where a skin resurfacing technique called microneedling comes in.

Microneedling – what’s that?

If you are always on the lookout for the latest skin rejuvenating and anti-aging treatments on the market, then you probably heard all about microneedling. Also known as “collagen induction therapy”, the latter involves pricking your skin hundreds of times with tiny needles. You might be wondering though — how does that help with your skin problem and aren’t you just hurting yourself?

Interestingly, the injuries caused by products like Dermapen 4 for skin needling are so small that the naked eye can not see it. That said, the micro-injuries are enough to trigger the skin’s regenerative process, which forms the basis for microneedling as a skin resurfacing treatment.

How does micro-needling help with skin problems?

Whenever the skin goes through its’ regenerative healing functions, it forces the body to create more collagen to replenish the skin’s dwindling supply. This results in significant improvement in skin texture and removes unsightly imperfections such as wrinkles and stretch marks.

How soon patients can see an improvement in their skin depends on two factors — the extent of rejuvenation that you want to achieve and the area of the skin that require treatment. For cases such as wrinkles, age lines and crow’s feet, 2 or 3 sessions will typically suffice. For more, extensive therapies such as stretch marks, it can take up to 8 sessions to obtain optimal results.

Are there any side effects that you need to be concerned about?

The use of some of the best microneedling pen in the market is generally safe for as long as a qualified skin care specialist performs the procedure. The injuries sustained through skin needling are far too small to present any real risk of infection or scarring. Some patients may experience dryness and irritation following the procedure but should disappear in less than a week.

Of course, microneedling is not for everyone, and there are some contraindications that people need to know about. For one thing, skin needling should not be attempted on people with a history of diabetes and chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis, herpes simplex, actinic keratosis and eczema. The same is true for people with immunosuppression, blood clotting abnormalities and cardiac problems.

If you have doubts about whether skin needling is for you, then the best way to find out for sure is to discuss the matter with your skin doctor. You will find that there are plenty of options for restoring the youthful appearance of your skin and microneedling is undoubtedly one of them!