What Is Microneedling?
Microneedling is a cosmetic procedure. It involves pricking the skin with tiny sterilized needles. The small wounds cause your body to make more collagen and elastin, which heal your skin and help you look younger. You might also hear it called collagen induction therapy.
Collagen Induction Benefits
Skin Needling may help with issues like:
- Acne
- Hair loss (also called alopecia)
- Dark spots or patches on your skin (hyperpigmentation)
- Large pores
- Reduced skin elasticity
- Scars
- Stretch marks
- Sun damage
- Fine lines and wrinkles
Skin Needling is less expensive than laser treatments, which can cost about four times as much. Collagen Induction Therapy may work better for people with darker skin tones because it doesn’t involve heat the way laser treatments do, which can affect your skin’s pigmentation, or color. Ask your skin therapist, Melissa Meltingtallow what’s best for your skin — and your budget.
Microneedling Healing and Risks
Some things to think about before deciding to try it:
It’s not a quick fix. It takes time to notice a difference. That’s because your body is healing itself. Most people need a few treatments before they see any change.
Healing time. It may take days or weeks to heal, depending on how deep the needles pierce your skin.
Pain and redness. You may have some minor pain after the procedure, and your skin may be red for a few days.
Peeling. Your skin may feel tight and flake a bit while it heals.
Bruising and bleeding. There’s usually no bleeding during microneedling. But deep microneedling treatments may cause the skin to bleed or bruise.
Possible scarring. Microneedling isn’t a good idea for people who’ve had keloids, scars that look like large bubbles on the skin. It could make the condition worse.
Infection. Microneedling creates tiny holes in the skin, which could let germs enter, especially if the equipment isn’t cleaned well. But the risk of infection is very low. If you’re healthy, an infection from microneedling is unlikely.
Microneedling is a cosmetic procedure, so insurance doesn’t cover it. Your doctor will tell you how many treatments you need, and give you an idea of how much they’ll cost.
Microneedling Safety and Costs
Microneedling is considered safe. But like any procedure, it has risks.
You could have an allergic reaction to the cream or serum that goes on your skin after the microneedling. And the wounds might get infected if you don’t keep your skin clean. You should stay away from places that could have lots of germs, like swimming pools, lakes, rivers, and oceans. And don’t use irritating soaps and lotions.
