The concept of puncturing the skin to create a “healing” wound response is not a new concept. It was originally tried back in the 50s, but there were some issues with infection. It returned in the 90s with the use of tattoo guns, minus the ink, to lessen the appearance of post-surgical scars.
Today, we call it microneedling and at Northcoast Laser we use it to improve skin texture and firmness, and to reduce scars, pore size, and stretch marks. The goal of microneedling is to create new collagen and elastin, making the skin younger looking.
How is it done?
The secret to microneedling is to create controlled micro-injuries to the skin. At Northcoast, we use the Eclipse MicroPen to do this. The pen has 12 tiny needles whose puncture depth can be adjusted. The pen is moved over the target areas of the skin and the needles create microscopic punctures, also known as channels, down into the skin. Despite the punctures being very tiny, the body reacts as if wounded. It produces new collagen and elastin to repair the injury.
A side benefit of microneedling is that we are able to apply topical gels, creams, and serums to the skin, which are better absorbed through the micro-channels created by the pen. We can combine your microneedling with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) to add the infusion of some essential growth factors to further improve the skin.
Microneedling is a pain, right?
You would think puncturing your skin with a series of 12 needles over and over again would hurt. But the reality is that it doesn’t hurt at all. We apply a topical numbing cream prior to your microneedling session and that’s all you need.
What we treat with our 12 tiny needles
Unlike laser skin treatments and some deeper peels, microneedling can be done on all skin tones, without causing hyperpigmentation. It can be done anywhere on the body, as well.
Here are the conditions we treat with microneedling:
- Wrinkle reduction
- Improvement in the skin’s texture and tone
- Improvement in pigmentation issues
- Softening of scars (both acne and traumatic)
Interested in microneedling for better skin? Call us at 440-NEW-FACE to make your appointment.