Is Microneedling A Scam? – What Are The Benefits Of Having It
Microneedling is becoming a very popular treatment, with many clinics and aestheticians offering it, promising to reverse the signs of aging, improve the appearance of stretch marks and acne scars or just give you great looking skin.
But are any of theses claims true or is microneedling a scam?
Within this article I aim to answer all your burning questions about microneedling including what it actually does do, who can and can’t have it, is it safe and does it actually work, read on to find out more.
So firstly it’s important to understand a little about how our skin is made up and why we might need microneedling.
We have three main layers to our skin, the top surface layer called the epidermis, this itself has 4 layers the top one is actually mainly made up of mature dead skin cells but is our layer of protection.
The middle layer is the dermis, this is where we make our collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.
These are important for keeping our skin youthful but once we hit our 20’s our levels slowly start to decline by about 1.5% each year.
This will over time result in dryer dehydrated skin, sagging, loss of elasticity and firmness and lines and wrinkles.
The deepest layer is the hypodermis, this is our fat layer which keeps us warm and protects our organs.
What Is Microneedling and What does Microneedling Do?
Microneedling is a minimal invasive procedure using micro needles to create invisible puncture
wounds on the skin surface to allow the skin to generate new collagen and elastin through the
body’s wound healing process.
The procedure is used to improve acne scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, deep pores, stretch marks and pigmentation problems.
It can also help with hair loss problems.
A number of treatments are often needed to treat the skin complaint.
Often it is advised to have an interim chemical peel in between microneedling sessions.
The treatment can be carried out with a microneedling device or a manual dermal roller.
Better results are seen with the mechanical technique which uses a pen like device.
Does Microneedling Help Acne?
It isn’t recommended to have microneedling on your skin if you have active acne, however it is a really good option for when you have your acne under control to help lessen the appearance of acne scars.
Does Microneedling Work For Hair Loss?
This can be a really good option for hair loss as it is minimally invasive and a much cheaper option than surgery.
Special serums are used with a unique blend of active ingredients to promote and stimulate hair regrowth and maintain scalp vitality.
Your expectations must be realistic though, you are not going to get a full head of hair after one treatment, you should be prepared for multiple sessions to see any improvement and then maintain results.
Does Microneedling Tighten The Skin?
As microneedling stimulates collagen productions within the skin, this will plump the skin out making it smoother and tighter with fewer lines and wrinkles.
How Long Does It Take To See Results With Microneedling?
It will definitely depend on what you are wanting to achieve but typically you would expect to need about 5 sessions to see any improvement in skin quality especially where scarring is concerned.
If you are wanting better absorption of your skincare products and healthier looking more hydrated skin, you can achieve this from needling at a really shallow depth of 0.25mm and you will see results straight away but will need to maintain them.
Does Microneedling Hurt?
Microneedling can be classed as cosmetic or medical depending on the depth, the deeper your skin is needled the more painful it will be.
If you are wanting to induce collagen production you will need to be needling at a depth of 0.5mm to be getting down to that layer in the dermis where collagen is produced.
This can be a little sensitive but not painful.
For scaring your skin will be needled up to as deep as 2mm and can be painful, most practitioners will offer numbing cream to make your procedure more comfortable.
Can You Microneedle From Home?
You absolutely can but I would always say to do this with caution! I would only recommend using a derma-roller at home from a reputable company.
There are many cheap devices on the market that could actually damage your skin.
If you are needling any deeper than 0.25mm you should stick to no more than every 4 weeks and do not apply anything to the skin for the first 24 hours to allow the channels to close.
Then make sure you protect your skin with a high protection SPF.
==>> Read More About The Best Derma Roller For Home Use Here <<==
Are There Any Risks To Microneedling?
You should not have microneedling if you have any of the following conditions or on any of the listed medications;
Blood thinning medications
Pregnancy or breast feeding
Retinoid medication for acne (Roaccutane)
Active Herpes Simplex (cold sores)
Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy
Facial skin cancers
Keloid scarring
Active Impetigo
Active pustules/acne
It is important that any infections of the skin are fully healed before you have a microneedling treatment.
Make sure if you are receiving any of the treatments on the list that you have completed them and wait at least 6 months for your immune system to return to normal.
It is advisable for you to wait 2 weeks following any facial aesthetic treatments.
Microneedling/Collagen Induction therapy is preformed typically to improve the clinical appearance of the skin and encourage the regeneration and rejuvenation of new skin cells.
After treatment, the skin may experience:
Redness or flushing
Dryness or tightness
Tingling or itching
Tenderness
Stinging
Light peeling
Slight swelling
These temporary skin responses will typically subside within a few hours and most of the time you should be able to return to normal activities the next day.
Some people may react differently to others and may experience these reactions for longer.
If this is the case these reactions are temporary and will usually resolve within 3-7 days.
Minimal invasive procedures such as microneedling may cause slight trauma and scab over. In rare cases this could lead to infection although this is not expected to occur if the equipment used is properly sanitised and sterile.
Do not pick at any scabs or dry areas that may appear.
There is also a risk that the skin complaints can look and feel worse before improvements are seen and in most cases a series of treatments are needed to gain the desired result.
Final Thoughts
So I definitely don’t think microneedling is a scam or a fad, it can be a really effective way of stimulating our skins natural collagen production by tricking it into thinking it has had a minor injury.
The healing process of the tiny channels created induces collagen production and can greatly improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles aswell as acne scars and stretch marks.
It is however important to have realistic expectations and know that more than one treatment will be required for the desired result.
Hi Amy,
I found this fascinating to read.
I have a friend who has actually had a microneedling treatment before, but she was less than satisfied with the results.
With that said, you’ve hit the nail on the head by saying you should have realistic expectations.
I mean my friend went in looking like Olive Oyl and expected to come out looking like Angelina Jolie, LOL (I hope she never reads this).
Funnily enough, I’ve also seen many people using derma rollers at home, but I never actually realised that this was a form of microneedling as well.
Would you suggest trying a derma roller at home first to see what the results are like?
And obviously, if not satisfied then perhaps investing in a professional microneedling treatment.
Thanks
Partha
Ha Ha, I hope your friend doesn’t read this too, you might be in trouble 🙂 I think like with most things it depends on your budget, if can afford the professional treatment you are probably going to see results much sooner than with the home devices but you can then maintain the results yourself at home with a derma roller.
However if your budget doesn’t stretch to that you can still achieve some pretty good results with the at home roller it just might take a bit of time to see them.
Thank you for your comment Partha, you made me smile, I hope I answered your question.
LOL, thanks Amy.
Yep, that answers my question.
I actually like the suggestion of getting a professional treatment first and then maintaining the reults with a derma roller.
It makes perfect sense.
Thanks again
Partha
Great! that way your practitioner can advise you on how many treatments you will need and the appropriate needle depth to get the best out of what you are aiming to achieve.
Good luck!
Thank you for this article. To be honest, I didn’t know about this treatment. My skin started to age and didn’t really know what to do about it other than buying a lot of creams and other products to help me with this problem.
It is great to know that micro needling exist, have you tried it yet?
Kind regards,
Yoana
Hi Yoana, yes I have and I have and I love it! I have suffered with acne and as a result was left with some scaring so the micro needling has massively reduced this, over the last 5 months I’ve been alternating fortnightly treatments between chemical peels and micro needling and I’m seeing great results.
Hi Amy,
I enjoy learning about microneedling through this post. I am one of those people who are afraid of trying something new, especially when it is related to a needle. You said microneedling/collagen induction therapy is preformed typically to improve the clinical appearance of the skin and encourage the regeneration and rejuvenation of new skin cells. Since it is not a scam, it gives me the support I need to try this. Since I am close to my mid-30s, I need to find a skin therapy that is safe and can offer great results.
For starter, maybe I should give the roller a try. Then do the therapy.
Thanks again for this post, Amy.
Hi Ferra, yes definitely do, The White Lotus derma rollers are brilliant! I highly recommend them https://beautifulskinguru.com/white-lotus-derma-roller-my-opinion/
Thank you for taking the time to read my article and commenting, i’m glad you found it useful.
Oh this is really cool. The fact that you can use it for hair loss I think it’s going to be very beneficial for a lot of guys out there me included. I actually just started I’m receiving on the top of my head. I will definitely keep this in mind this has been very helpful.
So glad you found this helpful Alex, thank you for commenting. Microneedling can be really great for hair loss, maybe consider looking into it before you loose too much, sometimes prevention is better than the cure.
Hi Amy,
You did a great job covering all the uses as well as the pros & cons of micro-needling. I really enjoyed reading this article and learned a lot. I don’t really have a use for micro-needling at this time but it’s good to know that the option exists. It doesn’t seem like a scam to me, especially if it is performed professionally.
Frank
Thank you Frank, I appreciate your lovely comment and you taking the time to read my article on micro needling.
I had never heard of microneedling before. The internet is a huge vessel of information! It’s very good you have discussed both the positive and possible negative effects and that you say something about expectations! At time it pains me that there is such a compulsory beauty ideal that women get insecure about themselves. On the other hand it is a calming and relaxing sensation to sit in a beauty salon and let someone else take care of you. 🙂
Hi Hannie, I think it is good that people have the option to have these treatments especially people that feel very insecure about a skin condition such as acne scarring which can severely impact on someones self esteem, microneedling can really help with this, it’s an individual choice.
I appreciate your views and opinion, thank you for taking the time to comment on my article.
I must admit, this is the first time I hear about microneedling and it is amazing how, practically damaging skin, you can improve it’s appearance.
You already intrigued me when you mentioned it can help with hair loss, as well. Surprisingly, I manage to maintain my skin pretty well, but I have hairthinning, due to my thyroid disease.
Do you think this treatment could help with that, also?
Hi KerryAnne, I’m sorry to hear about your condition, micro needling may well help with the thinning hair you are experiencing although I haven’t seen any literature specifically related to thyroid related hair loss and micro needling, I could be worth a try, sorry to not be more help.
Hi. Interesting read. I’ve had one vampire facial before, and I use the derma roller at home. I don’t know if I’ve seen any particular changes, but maybe it’s prevented more from coming my way. In addition I was curious why it’s dangerous when pregnant and breastfeeding?
Thank you!
Hi Shanna,Skin needling is not recommended for pregnant or lactating women due to a number of minor reasons. The needles produce micro-injuries which trigger the natural wound healing response. This wound healing and production of new collagen requires vitamins and nutrients which would otherwise be needed for the baby so is suggested to not be used during pregnancy.
Another minor reason is simply increasing the chances of infection which is never a good idea when pregnant.
Great question though, thank you for commenting.