Learn How to Treat Wrinkles With Skin Needling
Skin needling, also known as dry tattooing or micro needling, was developed in the late 1990s. It sounds strange and uncomfortable, but has become a viable, credible and painless treatment for wrinkles, acne marks and surgical scars. Needling can also help restore skin texture and tightness.
Who Benefits From Skin Needling?
Since this treatment does not use lasers, patients experience less skin pigmentation changes when compared to laser procedures. This factor especially benefits people with darker skin or olive coloring. Patients with wounds, sun-burnt skin or open cuts can’t undergo this procedure. The same applies to pregnant or lactating mothers.
How Does Skin Needling Work?
This procedure, performed by a board-certified dermatologist, uses minute punctures applied in a crisscross motion via medical micro needles that are attached to a highly sophisticated roller tool. Since the needles inflict thousands of micro injuries when rolled over the skin, the tissue responds naturally by producing new collagen for up to a year after the treatment. This new collagen growth activates the body’s natural healing process and hence leads to skin repair.
What Can Patients Expect During a Skin Needling Procedure?
Treatments usually begin with some type of anesthesia to numb the treated areas. Depending on the problem area this could include application of topical anesthetic cream, local injections, light intravenous sedation, or a combination of these. Once the area is sufficiently numbed, the needling roller is passed over the skin surface several times. The treated area will be covered with a dressing, which the patient can take off after 24 hours. Recovery takes about a week, and it takes usually three to eight treatment sessions to achieve optimum results.
Some mild swelling, peeling and redness right after the treatment can be expected. These effects typically disappear after three days. Patients usually notice skin improvement within two to four weeks, and skin can continue to improve in appearance for up to half a year.