Microneedling is a treatment designed to help restore your skin’s youthful appearance. It does this by boosting the production of collagen and elastin, two substances known to assist skin tissues in plumping up and giving off a healthy glow. Though “needling” has an unfortunate connotation, microneedling is a well-thought-out means of distributing nourishing substances like antioxidants and vitamin C deeply into the skin. The purpose is to smooth out areas in which there are scars and wrinkles and to help decrease the size of pores. Less invasive than plastic surgery, microneedling is a safe, office-based treatment.

Reasons for Microneedling

Microneedling is used to improve the overall appearance of the skin, treating a number of problems, including:

• Acne scarring
• Stretch marks on the abdomen due to pregnancy
• Stretch marks on other body parts (buttocks, thighs) due to growth or weight gain
• Crepey or wrinkled skin
• Uneven skin tone
• Age spots
• Aging hands
• Enlarged pores

Microneedling is not only nonsurgical, but effective for rejuvenating so many areas of the body, making it a popular aesthetic procedure.

The Microneedling Procedure

In order to prevent the client from becoming uncomfortable, a numbing gel is spread over the area being treated (typically the face) and left for 20 minutes to take full effect. Once the area is numb, Dr. Harvey glides a skin pen with many very fine needles over her patient’s skin, covering the targeted skin zones multiple times. As the doctor proceeds, the skin turns pink and then slightly red; small specks of blood may begin to appear by the time the doctor completes the procedure.

These blood spots demonstrate that the treatment is working, since each tiny microneedle creates a prick in the skin. As each tiny hole is produced, it begins to heal by naturally producing collagen and elastic. These substances cause the affected skin to shrink and tighten.

Once the microneedling is finished, the client’s skin is gently dabbed with gauze soaked with distilled water to clean it completely. Patients go home with serums and ointments specifically developed to help the small pinpricks heal and will likely experience some flushing for a few days after treatment. The skin will continue to heal and tighten over the next several weeks.

It should be noted that people who have periodic outbreaks of cold sores, herpes, or shingles should be treated with antiviral medications beforehand to prevent flare-ups. Those with active herpes cannot undergo this procedure. It is strongly recommended that patients who have recently had a microneedling procedure stay out of the sun as much as possible.

Advantages of Microneedling over Other Aesthetic Skin Procedures

There are many reasons that some of our clients prefer microneedling to certain other procedures, though of course it is possible to combine a number of such aesthetic treatments, such as PRP (platelet rich plasma) or another vitamin-rich serum to obtain optimal results. The advantages of microneedling include:

• It takes less healing time than a surgical facelift
• Only minimal downtime is necessary
• It is does not pose the risk of discoloration that some laser techniques do (particularly to people with darker skin)
• Even with multiple necessary treatments, microneedling is less costly than most other procedures

Most people initially have at least three consecutive microneedling treatments, typically 4 to 6 weeks apart, and follow-up with annual or biannual maintenance visits. When microneedling is performed by a highly trained specialist like Dr. Harvey- Dent, there is nothing to be worried about.

Unique Dermatology Has a Unique Approach

Dr. Harvey, with her extensive experience in all aspects of aesthetic dermatological care, always tailors her treatments to your needs, both in terms of your background (African- American, Asian, Indian, Hispanic), your skin problems, and your precise sensitivities and desires. In addition to being a highly trained physician, she is a caring and compassionate person, concerned with putting her well-honed skills to your best use. Contact Unique Dermatology today with any of your skincare needs.