Microneedling Your Body’s Natural Healing

By Dylan Roche

Predicted to be a growing cosmetic trend throughout 2023, microneedling entails sticking your skin with tiny needles to prompt your body’s natural healing response. Also known as collagen induction therapy, it’s minimally invasive but can yield great effectiveness in improving your skin’s appearance.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the idea behind microneedling is that when the thin needles touch walthough they won’t draw blood, will be enough to stimulate healing, prompting your body to produce collagen and elastin that can reduce the appearance of:

• Acne and enlarged pores

• Wrinkles

• Uneven skin tone

• Mild scarring

• Stretch marks

And it’s not just on your face that microneedling is effective. Dermatologists have used it to great success on patients’ neck, back, arms, and legs.

It’s important to distinguish microneedling from microdermabrasion, which entails exfoliating the skin using a device with a rough surface rather than piercing the skin with small needles. Although microderm- abrasion can remove dead skin cells and other debris collecting on your skin’s surface, it does not penetrate as deeply as microneedling and won’t prompt your body’s natural healing process.

The American Academy of Dermatology emphasizes that you shouldn’t rely on at-home microneedling devices, which are available on the market but are not effective enough to get results. Microneedling should be performed by a board-certified dermatologist or other trained physician.

When you undergo microneedling, the procedure will start with anesthetic cream to limit any discomfort. Then your physician will select the appropriate device with needles long enough for your specific skin goals, and roll it over your skin. Expect the entire process to take about a half-hour, with some minor redness and irritation lasting for one to three subsequent days. Depending on what you want to accomplish with your skin, you may need follow-up appointments.

If you’re thinking about trying microneedling, start with a consultation with your health care provider. To find a physician certified by the American Academy of Dermatology, visit aad.org.