Microneedling (also known as collagen induction therapy) involves using fine needles to create hundreds of tiny, invisible puncture wounds in the top layer of skin. Sound appealing? Not so much. But this minimally invasive treatmentโwhether itโs done in-office by a trained aesthetician, dermatologist, or plastic surgeon, or at home using a dermaroller (a small, handheld paint roller coated in tiny needles)โis virtually painless and incredibly effective. โThe micro-injuries you create stimulates the bodyโs natural wound healing processes, resulting in cell turnover and increased collagen and elastin production, therefore reversing as well as preventing signs of aging,โ says board certified dermatologist andย RealSelfย contributor Sejal Shah, MD. (It works the same way lasers do, only youโre injuring the skin mechanically instead of using heat or light.) Believe it or not, microneedling has become hugely popular among skincare fanaticsโVogueย is calling it the next big thing in anti-aging. (Check out theseย game-changing anti-aging ingredientsย taking the skincare world by storm.)
Microneedling reduces fine and deep wrinkles
The primary appeal of microneedling is its ability to stimulate growth of collagen and elastin, which is the key to new, youthful-looking skin. Someย doctorsย would even go so far as to say that the procedure is the most powerful way to stop aging in its tracks and prevent new fine lines and wrinkles from forming. With its ability to trigger the generation of new skin cells, just a few sessions of microneedling will noticeably reduce fine lines, crowโs feet, and deep wrinkles on the forehead. โThis is one of the reasons I like microneedlingโbecause itโs able to utilize the bodyโs own natural healing mechanisms, so the results are very natural,โ Dr. Shah says.ย โAlso because thereโs minimal downtime with it, I often recommend it as a maintenance for people who are trying to stave off the signs of aging.โ To treat wrinkles, a needle length no greater than 1.5-mm should be used. (Check out the before and after pictures of microneedling onย RealSelf.com.)
Microneedling repairs visible scars
In a 2009ย studyย on the effects of microneedling, nearly 100 percent of acne-scarred participants reported a markedย improvement in the visibility of their acne scars. With at-home microneedling, a 1.5-mm handheld roller is long enough to improve the appearance of acne scars. However, for severe acne scars, you may need even longer needles for maximum results, so youโll want to find a dermatologist or facialist who performs microneedle therapy treatments. Professional grade microneedling devices can be as long as 3 mm, which is twice as effective and will treat deep acne scars that occur beneath the surface of the skin. In case youโre wondering how microneedling compares to fractional laser treatments when it comes to resolving acne scars, aย head-to-head comparisonย published in the journalย Dermatologic Surgeryย in 2016, found both treatments to be comparable and effective, but gave credit toย microneedling for being better tolerated, with fewer side effects and less downtime. These are theย secrets your skin wants to tell you.
Microneedling reverses sun damage and pigmentation
Once again, collagen is arguably the most vital way to improve the look of skin, and this goes far beyond reducing wrinkles. By stimulating collagen growth with microneedling, you can also reverse sun damage and discoloration, including the hyperpigmentation that comes with melasma. A 2015ย studyย showed microneedling to be a promising treatment for the blotchy, brownish facial pigmentation that comes with this chronic condition. To improve extra pigmentation from sun-damaged skin, your dermaroller needles should range between 1.0 mm an 1.5 mm in length. Beauty guruย Rachel Zoldanย writes that after only a few microneedling sessions, her skin was clear and glowing despite too many summers in the sun. (Hereโs whatย skin cancerย looks likeโdo this mole check now!)
Microneedling helps aging skin
On top of microneedlingโs ability to smooth and correct damaged skin, it also has the added bonus of tightening loose skin, which makes it great forย older men and women. (Remember: The older you are, the less collagen youโre naturally producing.) A 2015 study inย theย International Journal of Dermatologyย confirms that microneedling is a new way to achieve โskin rejuvenation, tightening, and scar remodeling,โ and that it offers a โsimple and effective treatment for photo aged skinโ with minimal side effects and downtime. Older skin can also greatly benefit from the right fuel, so add theseย beauty foodsย to your diet to get that glow.
Microneedling shrinks pores
Itโs a bit counter-intuitive, but microneedling doesnโt actually enlarge pores as you might imagine piercing your skin hundreds of times would. Rather, one major benefit of using a dermaroller is that it helps pores appear much smaller. Microneedling stimulates collagen in and around your pores, which causes them to plump and appear shrunken, if not closed. And letโs be honest, who doesnโt want smaller pores? Watch out for theseย bad habits that keep clogging your pores.
Microneedling makes your products work better
Did you know that onlyย 4 to 8 percentย of that expensive serum youโre using on your face actually penetrates your skin? One ofย microneedlingโs additionalย appeals is that it improves product absorption tremendously.ย Studiesย confirm that the treatment can actually help topical medications penetrate skin more efficiently, allowing you to reap the full benefits of any product. This makes total sense considering the fact that microneedling creates thousands of invisible holes in your skin that are ready to absorb products in a way clogged pores canโt. โThe tiny punctures actually act like little channels, allowing topical products to penetrate better and work more effectively,โ Dr. Shah says.
Microneedling can be done all over your body
Finally, an awesome benefit of microneedling is that this treatmentย isnโt exclusive to the face. It can be done on any area of skin that needs to be repairedโparticularly areas that display stretch marks or acne scars, like the legs, chest, back, and butt. As few as four to six sessions could make a difference in these problem areas.
