In a nutshell, microneedling does reduce lines, scars, and spots. However, there is a catch! Microneedling’s effectiveness depends on one’s skin type, skin conditions, and proper aftercare.
So, if you are considering microneedling for scars, spots, or lines, the primary question is: how does the procedure work? Read on to find out how professional microneedling addresses these cosmetic concerns, how to gauge suitability, and more!
Does Microneedling Reduce Scars?
There are three kinds of scars, each with different traits. They include atrophic, keloid, and hypertrophic scars. Generally, these scars mostly occur during the healing period of severe inflammatory acne lesions, leaving your skin surface either depressed or raised.
If you have acne scars, observe their nature. The sunken ones are referred to as atrophic scars, while the protruding ones are hypertrophic or keloid scars.
Further down the categorization pyramid, we have three types of atrophic scars, namely; boxcar, rolling, and ice pick scars. These are a result of severe acne outbreaks that damage your skin’s collagen and bring about volume loss.
Both keloid and hypertrophic scars are as a result of your skin producing too much collagen to repair the damage caused by severe inflammatory acne. The main difference is in their growth pattern.
Hypertrophic scars tend to respect the boundaries of the acne spots while keloid scars spread out beyond the boundaries. Moreover, hypertrophic scars do mature and stop enlarging at some point. However, keloid scars keep getting bigger and bigger over time, sometimes for months or years.
i) Distinguishing atrophic scars
To distinguish the three forms of atrophic scars, you have to observe their shape and depth carefully. Boxcar scars take a rectangular, oval or circular shape with crisp and clearly defined edges while rolling scars feature a wavy texture. On the other hand, ice pick scars resemble the puncture of a sharp object, wide at the surface and narrow down as they penetrate the skin.
ii) Here’s how microneedling reduces scars
The main highlight of the microneedling treatment involves a skilled professional using a specialized tool called a derma pen or derma roller to create tiny punctures on the treatment area. The tiny punctures result from numerous tiny sterile needles fitted on to the tool's head piercing the scarred area.
To get the process of eliminating scars underway, the tiny needles disrupt the structure of the scarred tissue, loosening it. Then, in response to the micro-punctures, the skin initiates its natural wound healing process. When your skin kicks into repair mode, it produces extra elastin and collagen to help clear the scars.
Remember, boxcar and rolling scars form due to collagen damage, depriving skin the much-needed collagen to repair itself. Microneedling gives it a second shot at repairing and restructuring itself.
Even though ice pick scars fall under the same category as rolling and boxcar scars, they are hard to address with microneedling. This is because ice pick scars can reach the deeper layers of your skin.
If you desire to exclusively address ice pick scars with microneedling, you may have to go through multiple sessions to get the desired outcome.
For hypertrophic and keloid scars, you can opt for the following alternatives as microneedling is not suitable for the two. A dermatologist or skin care professional may recommend microneedling after reducing the size the keloid or hypertrophic scars using either of these solutions:
iii) Treatment alternatives to microneedling for hypertrophic and keloid scars
- Surgical removal: Great for getting rid of resilient hypertrophic and keloid scars. Surgical removal is mostly coupled with other treatments including corticosteroid injections or laser therapy to prevent keloid scars from returning as they have a high recurrence tendency.
- Corticosteroid injections: These injections deliver anti-inflammatory medication directly into the scar, inhibiting collagen overproduction and reducing the rate of inflammation. Over time, the medications decrease the thickness and size of the scars, eventually flattening them.
- Laser therapy: Notably, PDL (Pulsed Dye Laser) treatment targets the blood vessels supplying oxygen and nutrients to the hypertrophic or keloid scars. The laser energy shrinks the blood vessels reducing the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the scar. Over a series of laser therapy sessions, the scars ultimately reduce in volume.
- Silicone sheets or gel: They are used to cover the scars, creating a hydrated environment which is critical for collagen remodeling. The sheets also exert gentle pressure on the hypertrophic or keloid scars while also inhibiting collagen overproduction, eventually diminishing the size of the scars.
Remember, despite microneedling not helping with hypertrophic and keloid scars, it can help with other types of scars like burn scars, stretch marks, and surgical scars. For challenging scars, your practitioner will recommend combining microneedling with other treatments like radiofrequency energy.
Does Microneedling Reduce Spots?
Microneedling can get rid of different types of spots. Here are common spots it addresses, including insights into how you can identify each.
1. Sunspots
If you regularly sunbathe for extended hours, there is a likelihood of flat, dark or brown spots showing up on the arms, shoulders, face, or hands. These are called sunspots, photo-damage, or lentigines. They form due to the prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, triggering excess melanin production.
Sunspots are small to average in size and can cluster in one area, making your skin tone less uniform. Additionally, sunspots are persistent and can darken with prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays.
2. Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)
You probably know them as acne spots or post-acne spots and they mostly show up during the healing process of inflammatory acne and other forms of trauma like burns.
If you have post-acne scars, the spotted areas feel different from the rest of the skin. That’s because, unlike acne scars, acne spots result from the overproduction of melanin and not the formation of scar tissue.
When your skin undergoes trauma or inflammation, it triggers your body’s natural healing process. In the course of healing, your skin may release extra melanin as it attempts to restore the skin. The excess melanin gathers in the skin’s upper layers, leaving you with brown, light-red, or black spots.
3. Melasma
In contrast to acne spots and sunspots, melasma manifests as huge and irregular patches, mostly brown or gray-brown. They develop due to hormonal changes, especially during pregnancy, hence their popular name, “mask of pregnancy..”
Melasma is a form of hyperpigmentation. So, basking on the sun for extended periods accelerates the overproduction of melanin within the affected area. This increases the visibility and size of the spots and makes it even challenging to treat.
Here’s how microneedling improves spots
Microneedling diminishes the appearance of all types of spots by disintegrating their building blocks. Additionally, it triggers the skin to generate new cells and shed the damaged ones, and with successive procedures, your skin eventually restores its even tone.
Combining microneedling with serums like acne-fighting serums also enhances the desired results. Microneedling leaves micro-channels for the serums to travel into deeper skin layers, elevating their efficiency. However, complex spots like melasma may require you to combine microneedling with other cosmetic treatments like hydroquinone or tranexamic acid.
For sunspots, avoid further sun exposure after microneedling as the procedure increases your skin’s sensitivity. More sun exposure on sensitive skin worsens the hyperpigmentation. Furthermore, you should minimize the time you spend in direct sunlight because melasma is super responsive to triggers, including the sun's infrared energy.
Does Microneedling Reduce Lines?
Lines on the face are a result of repeatedly moving your facial muscles, hence their appearance around the mouth, eyes or forehead. However, their root cause is decreased collagen production.
The skin relies on collagen and elastin for its firmness, volume, and elasticity. However, as you get older, your skin’s capability to generate collagen and elastin lessens. This makes the skin unable to bounce back to its plump state whenever you move facial muscles by smiling, winking, or frowning. Moreover, ongoing exposure to the sun’s UV rays speeds up elastin and collagen breakdown, promoting the formation of fine or deep lines on your face, neck, and hands.
Here’s how microneedling improves lines
Microneedling combats lines at a cellular level, giving your skin a second chance at youthfulness.
As the fine needles of a derma pen or derma roller penetrate your skin, they travel deep enough to set off your body's natural repair ability. The healing process stimulates collagen production and promotes cell regeneration as blood flow around the treated area increases.
With time, collagen, coupled with enhanced supply of oxygen and nutrients to the treated area, plumps up the skin, fading the fine and deep lines. This is not only useful on the face, but also on the neck or hands.
Am I the Ideal Candidate?
Normally, before going through with microneedling, a certified aesthetician must review your medical history, scarring, active medication, and cosmetic concerns.
This thorough review helps determine whether you are a suitable candidate for microneedling. With reference to the review, your practitioner would recommend you avoid microneedling if you:
- Have severe acne: Active acne makes skin highly sensitive and increases the risk of infections. Therefore, you must avoid microneedling, as the fine needles used to puncture your skin can cause further irritation and spread the infection to other parts of your skin.
- Have active skin infections: Besides active acne, having any other active skin infection like cold sores disqualifies you from the list of potential microneedling beneficiaries. This is because microneedling can spread the infection to other sections of your skin as it creates micro-pathways for bacteria to easily penetrate the skin.
- Have blood clotting disorders: If you have blood clotting issues or are taking anticoagulants, avoid microneedling. This is because there is risk of excessive bleeding or bruising as the fine needles pierce your skin. Consequently, severe bleeding or bruising increases healing time, potentially compromising the intended effects.
- Have keloid-prone skin: Such skin tends to overreact to various forms of injury, leading to excessive collagen production which accumulates to form huge and thick keloids. Since microneedling involves causing injury to skin, it is likely to trigger keloid-prone skin to over-generate scar tissue rather than rejuvenating it.
- Are pregnant: Even though there is not much research around microneedling and pregnancy, some skincare professionals recommend avoiding microneedling when pregnant. This is because pregnancy causes uncertain and unpredictable hormonal changes which may cause adverse reactions to microneedling. For instance, microneedling during pregnancy can cause hyperpigmentation rather than treat it.
Is At-Home Microneedling a Good Idea?
Compared to professional microneedling, at-home microneedling involves the use of devices with shorter needles. And while you have the option of getting a derma roller with relatively longer needles, you may not be able to adjust the depth to suit your unique needs, like a professional would.
So, is it still a good idea to microneedle at home?
The short answer is, yes. At-home microneedling is worth it for getting rid of mild hyperpigmentation and fine lines. Additionally, with the advancement in at-home microneedling tools, you can confidently integrate microneedling into your regular skincare routine.
Conclusion
From improving acne scars to clearing fine and deep lines, microneedling holds the potential to rejuvenate your skin and create the flawless appearance you desire. It doesn’t only erase lines, spots, scars, but also gives your skin a long-term boost by improving its structure and elasticity.
So, how do you get started on the path to flawless skin? First, seek the services of a certified aesthetician to determine your suitability for the procedure. Only then will you know whether you are eligible for a microneedling session. Then, you can start counting hours to better looking skin.
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For years, we’ve researched and developed aesthetics products and solutions for individuals with different skin types and cosmetic concerns.
You are our priority as we make an effort to ensure our products are certified and risk-free. Take a look at our at-home microneedling tools collection coupled with aftercare products and tips to help you achieve the best microneedling results.
