Skin Needling

Skin needling therapy goes by a few names; skin-needling, derma-rolling, Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT), micro-needling, dry tattooing, Percutaneous Collagen Induction (PCI), and intra-dermabrasion.

Time for a short history lesson! All the way back in the 1950s, the possibility of “percutaneous collagen induction” was discovered. It was found that skin could be stimulated with needles which made the body increase the production of collagen. Surprisingly, it took nearly 40 more years for this discovery to be applied again. In the 1980s and 90s, doctors found that skin-needling could be used to persuade the skin to produce collagen which would help to smooth out the appearance of scars without the need for any sort of lasers or chemicals.

Throughout the years, doctors have experimented with the aim of finding ways to decrease scars and have found that skin-needling is useful for treating scars and other skin perfections including wrinkles, lines, stretch marks and improving skin texture in general. Skin needling is truly an evolution in skin care.

Skin needling is a method of inducing collagen deposition in the skin, thickening and smoothing it, through multiple microtraumas.

Skin needling primarily causes the body to respond to trauma with healing, without the trauma being significant, abut also increases delivery to the dermis of skincare products, significantly improving the response to active ingredients.

It is minimally invasive, doesn’t need to involve any chemicals or artificial substances, and is suitable for a wide range of problems and patients. It is suitable for skin of any colour.

It involves penetrating the surface of the skin very lightly but comprehensively with extremely fine needles. The depth of penetration is limited to a few millimeters and generally does not create significant bleeding. Anaesthetic creams generally numb the skin adequately for comfort.

There are several methods for skin needling including mechanical roller devices and stamps, and electric needling pens. All methods induce microtrauma efficiently and facilitate the release of cytokines, growth factors and other wound healing responses from the body.

Skin needling has been used for wrinkles, thin skin, pigmentation irregularities, rosacea, scars, sun damage, stretch marks, large pores, acne, stretch marks, hair restoration and other issues.

By triggering the wound healing cascade skin needling can bring active substances and growth factors made by the body into the area to generate more fibroblasts, collagen, epithelial and endothelial cells. It also stimulates blood flow through the area. This is expected to facilitate refreshed growth of the skin with healthier, more organized cells

Skin needling may improve UV damaged skin by increasing the availability of cell nutrients and antioxidants and attracting the blood cells that remove damaged tissue, releasing epidermal growth factors and other useful chemicals including immune modulators.

It may assist with pigment abnormalities by increasing the effectiveness of skin lightening agents.

In scars and stretch marks it may break down the excessive collagen in scar tissue, replacing it with normal collagen that is organized instead of bunched up.

Skin needling is also said to stabilize and disguise surface blood vessels by strengthening collagen in the walls of the vessels and the surrounding tissue that supports them.

Skin-needling is a type of regenerating therapy that extends deep into the layers of the skin, intended to help to repair and renew areas which are distressed through ageing or scarring. The needling therapy is based on the theory that controlled minor injury will kick-start the body’s all-natural injury recovery action that happens underneath the skin all the time.

When your skin is “distressed” by the needles, its usual response is thought to be to produce and distribute new collagen that will protect and repair your skin.

The instrument we use for skin-needling is an electric pen with multiple very fine needles that go up and down extremely rapidly, puncturing the skin with thousands of imperceptible fine holes. The goal is to puncture the outermost layers of the skin, which creates small pinprick injuries which are so small that you cannot see them with the naked eye. These tiny holes are wounds, which induce the wound healing response. If your wound healing response is good this boosts collagen and elastin production, regenerating beautiful, healthy skin cells. This, in turn, would smooth the skin and promote scar or stretch mark appearance reduction.

Within an hour or so the wounds on your skin should be closed with platelet plugs, but the microchannels can remain open for 4 or more hours to allow penetration of active substances to the dermis, where the growing cells are. You won’t see a huge difference immediately, but in 6 to 8 weeks and with repeat treatments, a visible response is generally noted.

The majority of our patients at Restoration Clinic ask for skin-needling treatments on the face as an anti-ageing treatment. However, you do not need to reserve skin-needling for just the face. Other areas of your body can benefit from skin-needling, including your hands, chest and neck, back, thighs and lower legs.

Skin-needling may help with the appearance of a wide range of conditions in most areas of the body:

● Fine lines

● Wrinkles

● Imperfections such as skin irregularities or sun spots

● Scars

● Enlarged pores

● Acne or chicken pox scarring

● Sun damage

● Pigmentation marks

● Stretch marks from weight loss or pregnancy

● Skin that lacks firmness and elasticity

If you’d like to experience the most anti-ageing benefit from your skin-needling session then consider adding autologous tissue stimulating injections such as Factor 4 to your procedure. After treatment with the electric needling pen you have thousands of open micro-channels or tiny needle punctures in your skin. By including the application of natural growth factors derived from your own blood in the treatment, which can now penetrate quite deep, you may be able to boost treatment results.

A small amount of your blood is drawn and put through a patented process to harvest the most viable growth factors which are then applied topically during skin-needling, and driven into the dermis by the needling pen. Over several treatments spaced a month apart you may see increased skin elasticity and brightness as well as reduction in the appearance of scarring, fine lines and wrinkles.

You may also be able to assist in the collagen production process by taking vitamins that act as cofactors in the production of collagen. Your doctor can advise which vitamins and minerals could be useful for you.

There are other active substances that are useful to infuse during the needling treatment and these will be chosen carefully to suit your needs if appropriate.

Because the results of skin needling depend on your body’s response, these are likely to be better if you are in peak general health.

At Restoration Clinic, we are committed to delivering personalized skin and body treatments, so will work with you to establish your goals, and determine the most effective and efficient way of achieving them.

With this in mind, a thorough discussion with our patients is the first step in any of our rejuvenating skin treatments so that we can understand what you are hoping to achieve, and can help to you get there.

For best results from skin needling good preparation is essential. Often pretreatment with cosmeceuticals is useful to augment treatment results, and coming to your appointment well hydrated and rested is best.

The first step is to thoroughly cleanse and sanitise your skin. The area that will be treated is covered in a topical anaesthetic. In around 45 minutes your skin should be numb, and the procedure can commence.

Only high-quality disposable equipment is used, so the needles are sharp and sterile. You should not feel the needles puncturing your skin, but you may be able to feel the pressure and vibration of the pen.

In response to these puncture holes, your body should begin to make the healing and rejuvenating collagen which should help to reduce lines, scars and wrinkles, or to even out your skin tone. There are no added chemicals, ingredients or medicines used unless your treatment plan includes infusion of substances to assist with specific needs such as pigmentation, acne, open pores and rosacea. Your body does all the work for you.

After the procedure, your practitioner will apply a healing cream to soothe, protect and nourish your skin.

After treatment, the skin appears flushed and sometimes slightly grazed. Occasionally there is a little ooze and the skin may be puffy or feel slightly dry and tight. Makeup can be applied the next day and the skin usually looks normal within a few days, although light flaking may occur.

Infection is extremely uncommon but any concerns you have should be brought to the attention of your technician or doctor.

After your treatment, your skin may feel a little tight for a few days. This is completely normal. It might take a week for the redness to disappear if your skin is very sensitive but generally it is just flushed for the day. Many people find they have no side effects at all. Depending on the outcome you want, you will likely need more than one session. To see results, generally, it takes six to eight weeks.

It may many sessions to improve deep flaws and apparent scars, and this may require combination treatment with other procedures such as TCA CROSS(link) or dermal fillers(link). Some patients only require one or two sessions. It is difficult to give an exact number because everyone’s skin is different. Your age and the reason for your treatment will also play a factor in healing time and number of treatments necessary.

Doctors recommend leaving two to six weeks between treatments to allow your skin enough time to heal.

It may take up to five sessions to improve deep flaws and apparent scars, and this may require combination treatment with other procedures such as TCA CROSS or dermal fillers. Some patients only require one or two sessions. It is difficult to give an exact number because everyone’s skin is different. Your age and the reason for your treatment will also play a factor in healing time and number of treatments necessary.

Doctors recommend leaving two to six weeks between treatments to allow your skin enough time to heal.

At Restoration Clinic, we only use high quality equipment and safety is our main concern. However, as with any cosmetic or medical procedure, the possibility of side-effects exists, and sometimes this depends on personal medical conditions. Our medical team try to get a full picture of your health and characteristics in order to be able to perform the treatments in the way that minimizes your risks.

In general, the area that has been treated will recover rapidly because the holes are so small, and our instruments are sterile. Occasionally side effects such as leakage and swelling of the skin, redness or a flare-up of acne may be noted. More rarely, you could experience a mild skin infection. All side effects can be treated better if brought to the attention of the team as soon as they occur.

Several active ingredients are essential to healthy skin, so increasing the supply of these may promote good skin thickness, smoothness and texture. Vitamin A is the most useful ingredient for skin health, but there are a number of other chemicals that are important for the production of collagen and other structural components of the skin. These include Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids, Glutathione, Vitamin B3 and other nutrients. Some of these nutrients are best delivered topically, some orally.

Pretreatment with vitamins and amino acids topically and orally is thought to improve results, as is aftercare with these substances.

Appropriate sun protection is imperative before and after treatment, but ordinary sunscreen should not be applied for 24 hours after the treatment.

Treatments should be spaced one month apart to fit in with the healing response and collagen growth pattern. Best results take considerable time because the rate-limiting step is the body’s healing mechanism.

Generally, 6 treatments are recommended for anti-ageing and scar treatment but sometimes more are necessary.

It is important to support the in-surgery treatments with good home care including topical vitamins and other useful products as prescribed for you by your skincare professional.