What is skin needling?
Skin needling is known as a few different names such as CIT (Collagen Induction Therapy) and micro-needling. Skin needling utilises tiny needles (sounds much scarer than it really is, don’t worry) that are rolled over the skin which create little puncture channels and as a result triggers a wound healing response to encourage the production of collagen and elastin. Further to that, this blog explains what is actually happening within your skin that’s actually reducing your fine lines and wrinkles, your scarring and acne scars, and what’s happening within the skin that’s lightening your pigmentation.
Why does skin needling produce incredible results?
The key here is in the wound healing response, to be specific – it’s a 4 part phase.
Phase 1. Haemotasis (1 to 10 Minutes)
Phase 1 happens pretty much straight away. As we roll the needs across the skin, platelets are instantly released to stem flow of blood and temporarily close the wound.
Phase 2. Inflammation Phase (Day 1 to 3+)
During the inflammation phase we are triggering the body’s natural wound healing response. Redness and warmth can be felt while bacteria and debris are removed from the skin. Platelets form to prevent further bleeding and also release growth factors, vital for collagen induction. Dry flaking skin can be experienced during this phase.
Phase 3. Proliferation Phase (3-10+ days)
In this phase, the body forms new blood vessels, new fibroblasts and keratinocytes continue to proliferate and multiply. New collagen will be laid down and deposited with new tissue formation.
Phase 4. Maturation/Remodelling Phase (28 days – 2 years+)
During maturation and remodelling, the new collagen and elastin is formed in tight new crosslinks, and cells that are no longer needed are removed creating a more plump dermis, scar tissue being flattened and the epidermal layer becoming more dense.
Who is a suitable candidate for skin needling?
What’s great about skin needling is that it’s actually safe for all skin types. Because there is no damage to the surrounding tissue, this treatment is suitable for lighter and darker skins. Just keep in mind, prior to going ahead with skin needling treatments it’s important to ensure your skin is in reasonable good state and it’s not the first skin treatment you undergo. Starting with treatments such as microdermabrasion or chemical peel will assist with getting superior results once you start your skin needling journey. This is why we wouldn’t normally recommend you start with skin needling when beginning your skin care journey.
How many skin needling sessions / treatments do you need?
Like any treatment, this often comes down to your skin condition and severity of what we are treating. Let’s say you’re wanting skin needling for anti ageing purposes, you live a pretty healthy lifestyle, your fine lines and wrinkles aren’t too deep and you’re a non smoker who regularly uses sunscreen then we’d normally start you off with about 3 treatments (you’ll see results even after just one). If however you are a smoker who loves to tan all summer and you have deeper wrinkles then we’ll normally recommend about 6 skin needling treatments or more (again depending on the severity of your skin condition). The same rule applies with scarring or stretch marks, the longer they’ve been around, the deeper they are the more skin needling treatments you’ll need.
How long between skin needling sessions?
Skin needling treatments will vary depending on what we’re treating and the depth of needle we’re using. Most skin needling treatments are performed every 4 to 6 weeks and it’s important to stick to that time frame as results are accumulative (the more skin needling treatments you have the better the results you will get).
Is skin needling effective?
Here at VC Dermal, we’ve been performing skin needling for almost 18 years. Although the technology has changed drastically over the years, the underlying principles are still the same. To create a controlled trauma that results in the production of good quality collagen and elastin, smooth our fine lines and wrinkles and reduce the appearance of dermal pigmentation. It’s safe to say that we continue to experience incredible results every day – especially with clients who persist and follow home care advice. Click here to see some of our very own case studies ranging from stretch marks to acne scarring.