If you suffer from a skin condition like excessive scarring or acne breakouts or are looking for rejuvenation therapies, you might have heard of microneedling. It was first introduced in 1995 as a treatment for wrinkles and scars, but recent advancements in cosmetic treatments and dermatology have shown that microneedling benefits the treatment of sunspots and other skin imperfections that are either a product of an outside factor (like burn scars) or genetics (like acne and hair loss).
Zap Laser Center has developed this guide to walk you through what this dermatological treatment is, how it works, and what are the microneedling benefits that might encourage you to try it as an alternative treatment for your skin conditions.
What Is Microneedling?
Microneedling, also known as Collagen Induction Therapy, is one of the latest techniques in dermatology to stimulate skin rejuvenation and tissue growth. This technique involves inserting tiny needles into the first layer of the skin with a pen-shaped device, leaving micro-injuries on the skin that leave no scars behind. The small amount of cuts in the skin stimulates natural skin repair through a process called dermal remodeling by stimulating collagen production in the treated areas.
The rate and process in which your skin heals from a microneedling procedure depends on your age, the location of the microneedling, your ethnicity, your skin type, and the technique your dermatologist uses. Microneeding’s ability to focus on particular areas of the skin has proven beneficial in diseases and injuries that cause inflammation, skin discoloration, and sun damage.
How Do Microneedling Treatments Work?
The basis of microneedling is the induction of micro-traumas on the skin’s surface. By protruding the dermis layer, the penetration of the small needle induces regeneration of the affected areas without any visible scarring. The minimal damage that the microneedles leave behind stimulates the production of substances like collagen and elastin and the release of growth factors that promote collagen deposition on the dermis.
In other words, the cuts introduced in the surface layer of the skin induce an inflammatory response, which stimulates the skin to produce collagen and elastic fibers that make the skin look younger and tighter. This is especially helpful for rejuvenation therapy when collagen is lost through aging.
What is microneedling applied to?
Microneedling first started as a procedure to treat scarring and wrinkles and improve the look of the skin. Today, this popular cosmetic treatment has applications beyond cosmetics and can be used to treat other serious conditions.
Burn Scars
Generally, burn victims tend to develop hypertrophic scars, which are red, raised, and rigid and cause itching and other bothersome symptoms. Routine application of microneedling on burn scars can help improve color and size by the induction of a small skin repair process by removing the damaged collagen and replacing it with a new cluster of growth factors.
Acne
By promoting new skin cell growth and increasing blood coagulation on your glands, microneedling can help treat acne scars and stop them from forming by diminishing sebum production. This oily substance produced by your skin helps keep your skin moisturized, but the greasy and sticky quality increases acne production. Reducing sebum can also lead to fewer black and whiteheads and chronic cystic acne.
Hyperhidrosis
Excessive sweating can affect the quality of your life. It increases your discomfort and diminishes your desire to perform daily activities. Microneedling destroys the sweat glands responsible for excess sweat production. Studies have shown that up to 95% of patients who have undergone microneedling for hyperhidrosis have shown improvement in their symptoms.
Stretch Marks
When your skin stretches and shrinks quickly, stretch marks tend to appear. They are common in pregnancy or people who have recently gained or lost weight. Stretch marks tend to be stubborn and challenging to get rid of, but through that same process of collagen stimulation, microneedling has proven to fade stretch marks over time.
Rejuvenation Treatments
Dermatologists may recommend microneedling to reduce wrinkles, sunspots, and other signs of aging. Stimulating growth factors, collagen, elastin, and other substances produced make your skin look younger since old collagen and other dermal proteins are replaced with new ones that rejuvenate the skin.
Hair Growth
Evidence suggests that through the production of stimulating substances, microneedling can help a condition called alopecia areata (hair loss caused by self-inflicted attacks from your immune system) and androgenic alopecia (genetically predetermined hair loss). Through stimulating stem cell production on the skin, microneedling can induce hair growth in the follicles.
Microneedling Benefits
Aside from aiding in treating the conditions mentioned above, microneedling also has several benefits that patients may find enticing. If you’re interested in microneedling, consult your dermatologist to check if you’re a candidate for this treatment.
Safe
The side effects of microneedling are scarce and minimal. Some mild bleeding and inflammation may arise after the procedure, but detrimental adverse effects are not expected when the procedure is performed by a medical professional.
Cost-effective
Unlike other dermatological treatments and cosmetic procedures, microneedling is a cost-effective alternative for scar treatments, rejuvenation therapy, and acne removal.
Minimally Invasive
Though the process involves creating minor cuts on the skin’s surface, the needles don’t penetrate beyond the dermis, leaving small incisions (1mm) that are not visible to the naked eye. They heal quickly and without any scarring.
Low Recovery Time
Healing from a microneedling procedure doesn’t take more than 24 hours, so you can get your microneedling treatment done and be up and running the following day.
Microneedling Benefits Many Skin Conditions
Patients who suffer from acne breakouts, stretch marks, hair loss, or hypertrophic scars or seek reliable rejuvenation treatments are all candidates for a microneedling procedure. This advancement in cosmetic therapy is safe, cost-effective, and minimally invasive. It has a low recovery time compared to other dermatological treatments. Studies have shown that stimulating collagen and other growth factors induces healing and the production of new substances that heal your skin over time.
Want to know more about microneedling?
Has your dermatologist walked you through all the microneedling benefits, and you’re looking for a reliable rejuvenation clinic in Aurora, Colorado? Contact Zap Laser Center today and ask about our microneedling treatments. Call (130) 353-91395 today and book an appointment with us.
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