Microneedling the skin gives seriously amazing results! About 2 weeks after a session my skin is significantly clearer and brighter and my pores are practically not visible. Microneedling stimulates collagen and elastin production and improves skin tone, texture, scars, stretch marks, fine lines, wrinkles, and brightens and firms the skin. Microneedling sounds scary and painful, but treatment is pretty quick and mostly painless. The most recent session I had was performed by an aesthetician using the Eclipse Micropen Elite. Each disposable Eclipse Micropen Elite cartridge has 12 tiny 32 gauge needle points on it that penetrate the skin. The treatment provider uses the Hyaluronic Acid included with the cartridge as a lubricating agent to help the micropen move around the skin smoothly. The HA serum is also very beneficial once it is microneedled into the skin to increase collagen production and hydrate the skin. Hyaluronic Acid is not required for microneedling, some treatment providers may choose to microneedle with some type of growth factor serum, vitamin C, PRP, or serum.
The tiny holes caused by the micropen trigger the body to repair itself and increase cell and collagen production, resulting in a thicker more youthful epidermis. These tiny holes also allow serums to penetrate deeper and be more effective. Automated microneedling using pens is a new take on the old fashioned dermarollers. A dermaroller is a handheld roller with many needles on it. Current technology has proven that automated microneedling is more effective because the needles always enter from a 90 degree angle for maximum penetration. The needle points on the dermaroller cause more damage than necessary because they pierce the skin from all different angles. Also the new microneedling pens allow for depth control, so treatments are more customized, ususally from .5 – 2.5mm depth.
I would not advise getting any microneedling over .75 mm depth without a numbing cream. Deeper treatments are said to produce better results, your
treatment provider will recommend depths suitable for your skin.
During my most recent microneedling treatment, the aesthetician treated my entire face, neck, and chest. The numbing cream worked so well, I couldn’t feel a thing! The microneedling actually tickled on my neck. The
aesthetician worked her way over my entire face, neck, and chest first rubbing in the Hyaluronic Acid serum and then microneedling with the Eclipse Micropen. Treatment took about 45 minutes, and I didn’t feel any discomfort until the numbing cream wore off an hour after that. Leaving the spa, my skin was a bit red like I had a sunburn. I was given Hyaluronic Acid to apply for relief and it really helped soothe my skin.
After microneedling take very good care of your skin, the provider should give you a post care kit. If they don’t, simply use a gentle cleanser, a hydrating serum, deep moisturizer, and an SPF for about a week after treatment. Also avoid makeup if you can, or opt for a healthier skin soothing makeup like Oxygenetix!
It has been a week since my last microneedling session, the redness completely subsided after 3 days. My skin overall feels plumper and softer and looks so smooth.