Rollback Youth on Scars, Wrinkles, & Stretch Marks
Pinpricks hurt. Needles frighten me. So when I was asked to take a treatment that involves hundreds of needles pressed into my skin, I freaked. Why would anyone want to? It sounds crazy. Then my inquisitiveness took over. Surely there are not that many mad people to make this a thing without actual benefits.
Clearly, it's going to hurt, but then they do say "no pain, no gain", and there seems to be some gain... if you can stick it out.
The reality is, results are not instant. It's not the same as stinging botox (toxin) into your fine lines and wrinkles. Or jabbing fillers in the cracks and plumping up desired areas. Even though you get instant results, mostly, they are temporary coverups lasting a few months or longer.
To put it another way, this collagen induction therapy is a minimally-invasive skin rejuvenation treatment. It is designed to reduce wrinkles, scars, stretch marks, pigmentations while improving elasticity and skin tone. The procedure works by rolling a device covered in tiny needles, called a Dermaroller, across your skin and puncturing it as it goes. These puncture wounds cause a "repair" response and stimulate your natural production of collagen and elastin, which thickens your skin and plumps it up.
...Collagen casualty... skin ageing occurs year on year during our twenties...
In fact, a number of small studies have taken place and conclude...
..."Microneedling (Dermarolling) represents a safe, cost-effective, and efficacious treatment option for a variety of dermatologic conditions in all skin types."
With that in mind, many of the authors do point out that more extensive and thorough research is needed. But with the results taken from one of the studies you can see below, along with images on many clinics' and home equipment sellers' sites, we can clearly see the benefits.[1,2,3,4]
Turn Back Time to get Youthful Skin
To turn back time on your skin and get youthful results like this, you'd have to complete at least three consecutive sessions. And in order to see the smooth and plump skin you had ten years ago, you need to continue the sessions for ten months or so. It's because collagen production is very slow so give it time.
Admittedly, if you choose to rejuvenate your skin naturally without botox and fillers, then a home derma roller could well be part of your lifestyle kit. If not two or three of these amazing rollers. Alternatively, you could book yourself in for regular clinic treatments. In fact, the devices clinics often have are far more complex and superior and regularly accompany other lotions and potions... electronic microneedle pen with adjustable needles that rapidly insert into your skin, skin peels, and aftercare ointments.
In light of the fact that skin ageing occurs year on year during our twenties and onwards, with collagen production being one of the casualties, I'm up for a natural approach to prevent and reverse signs of ageing... and if it shrinks my little scars, I'll be over the moon.
DIY Derma Roller Treatment
Therefore, I went for the home treatment option. Now, after reading multiple sites and guides, I opted for one of the longer needle skin rollers. You can get rollers with 0.2mm and up to a 2mm needle length. The tiny needles can be used every other day and they are ideal for areas with very thin skin. The longer needles can only be used once a month or so. Plus you need to know if the skin is thick enough to use it.
Also, there's guidance for which needle length best repairs the problem. Being that I have a few small chickenpox/acne scars and fine lines, I opted for the 1mm Dermaroller. Even though most recommend starting with smaller needles, I felt I'd done the legwork and I want results, not a trial and have to buy another to meet my desire. With this derma roller, I should be able to improve most issues... wrinkles, small acne scars, blemishes, and sun damage. And I can repeat the treatment every two weeks.
With that being the case, I was fully anticipating some discomfort... even pain... and blood. Actually, with this needle length, I should not only see a lot of redness but pin-pricks of blood too. Apparently, that's totally normal and a sign you're stimulating repair and rejuvenation. Any bleeding won't be continuous and I shouldn't see any severe swelling. At worse, any minor swelling and redness should go in a day or two. Seemingly, some confuse any swelling for plumper skin when they first use a derma roller.
For most, the redness and swelling will go after a few hours, that's why dermatologists consider microneedling a minor-invasive treatment because it allows you to get on with your life soon after.
Microneedling Method
Whatever happens, I got prepared to roll my face. There are a few procedures I need to go through before bringing the pain. Of course, I'll need to disinfect the derma roller with alcohol. I need to cleanse and soften my skin... a good hot wash should do the trick. Then, I could numb the rolling area with ice or an anaesthetic numbing cream. I didn't buy any numbing cream so I used a few disinfected ice blocks.
Once my skin felt a little numb, I braved the rolling needles. I have to admit, I was scared. I have to press this needle contraption into my face and roll it over my skin, lift and repeat. That's important. Roll and lift and repeat. Truly, this bit is really important... do not roll back and forth because you'll scratch and rip the skin and be left looking grazed.
Actually, it gets a bit technical because you have to prick the skin hundreds of times in a small space. Therefore, we're advised to roll and lift and return back to the same starting point but reposition 3mm either side and roll again. So I'll slowly progress from one side of my face to the other. Then do it again but change the orientation. Consequently, I'll roll vertically and then horizontally, rolling and lifting as I go. Apparently, rolling diagonally used to be recommended but no longer.
Oh, and do not roll the eye area. The bone around your eye is the limit. If you want to get some of that eye skin then try pulling the skin into the safe area as best you can.
Start Rolling in the Youth
Anyway, I eventually started to roll. I didn't press down hard at first. It stung a bit just as a pinprick does. However, I imagined a more intense pain because of the many needles sticking into my skin. I remember thinking that it's actually bearable and really went for it by applying more pressure to get the full 1mm needle length into my skin.
That's when something strange happened... my nose started to become irritable and started running. Then, after a while, my eyes watered. It wasn't because of the pain, that really wasn't that bad... you get used to it as you go. I actually stopped numbing my skin with ice. It was taking too long and I could handle it. My reactions were simply an odd response to the microneedling.
Now, I have many tiny holes in my face. And it's red and little pinpricks of blood here and there. Next, I have to clean up. I can only rinse my face with water and apparently, it's best to let it air dry rather than using a towel. So, while I waited, I cleaned my Dermaroller with warm soapy water. Being careful not to damage the needles, in fact, do not touch them. The soap will emulsify whatever came out of your skin and then you rinse off the roller with water. Finally, I disinfected my roller with alcohol and left it to dry and put it away.
Lastly, I needed to give my skin a helping hand. As the production of collagen and elastin needs vitamin A & C, I applied my natural night cream. Some suggest not using vitamin c right away because it could be irritating due to it being an acid. Therefore, I did a patch test and didn't react in any way so applied it.
Ultimately, I have to stay out of the sun while my skin is healing and I shouldn't put makeup on for a day either.
As a final point, the general guidelines are:
- Do not share your roller with anyone.
- Do not roller your eyelids. You can roll every other part of your body.
- Do not derma roll infected or diseased skin such as active acne, herpes, eczema, psoriasis, fungal infection, wounds, moles etc.
- Disinfect your skin and your derma roller for every treatment.
- Avoid the sun for a day or two after rolling and apply a high factor sun cream if needed.
- After dermarolling with 1mm or longer needles, wait one day before applying makeup.