If you have acne scars then you know how frustrating it can be to try to minimize or hide them. Cosmetics, cream, and other topical remedies don’t always get the job done.
Fortunately, microneedling is an effective option that can actually help reduce the appearance of acne scars, using your skin’s natural healing process.
What is microneedling?
With microneedling, a trained skincare professional uses a special tool to puncture the epidermis, or the top layer of skin, within the treatment area. Topical anesthetics help reduce discomfort during this process.
The device creates tiny channels in the skin. Essentially, microneedling creates a controlled “injury” to the skin, interrupting its function as a barrier and causing the release of natural growth and healing factors.
The immune system’s natural response will increase blood flow to the injured area. This helps to promote the formation of new collagen and elastin, and is why microneedling is also known as “collagen induction therapy.”
Over the course of the healing process, this new collagen and elastin eventually replace the fibrous tissue of scars, helping to reduce visible scarring.
Three good reasons to consider microneedling
Microneedling can have numerous benefits for different people, but there are three major reasons why anyone should consider it.
- Microneedling is safe for all skin types.
Because it uses the body’s natural immune response, microneedling is safe for every skin type—dark or light, dry or oily. It is also safe for other areas of the body, besides the face.
Some cosmetic procedures activate the skin’s melanocytes, which produce pigment and may lead to hyperpigmentation (skin darkening). Microneedling does not trigger this response, particularly with the SkinPen that Dr. Lady Dy uses.
- Microneedling works relatively quickly.
“Many individuals will begin to see the effectiveness of the treatment after their first visit, however a series of 3-6 treatments may be recommended depending on severity of their skin condition,” Dr. Dy says. Some of the earliest results, seen within a week of the first microneedling session, include smoother wrinkles and brighter skin.
Microneedling sessions should be spaced a month apart, to give your skin plenty of time to begin its healing process. This is especially important when the SkinPen is used, as this is a gentler tool that may require extra time to be most effective.
- Reduced scarring is not the only benefit.
Microneedling can help with more than acne scars. This procedure can help minimize other types of scarring, including stretch marks. It also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, smoothing and rejuvenating the skin and improving its texture.
Some research even suggests it could help with alopecia, though this has only been tested in animals.
Microneedling is safe and effective for reducing acne scars.
It is important to note that everyone’s skin is different, so not everyone will respond to microneedling in the same way. Before microneedling, you should discuss your needs and expectations with your skin care provider. Follow all directions before the first procedure, such as avoiding sun exposure.
Because microneedling involves damage to the top layer of skin, it is important to make sure it is performed only by trained professionals in a hygienic environment.
Thinking about trying microneedling to help reduce the appearance of acne scars? Visit Dr. Dy’s aesthetic treatments page, and contact our office to request an appointment and get started on renewing your skin!
Dr. Lady Dy is one of the most sought after dermatologists in the United States. She has studied all over the world and has worked with the world’s leading experts in skin and hair. Her patients fly from all over North America, Dubai, Norway and Korea to be treated by her in Chicago. To learn more about hair loss and to find the treatment plan that’s right for you, contact Dy Dermatology Center. Click here to request an appointment or call the dermatology center at (847) 832-1185.