Gillian Lamb
Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner,
RGN, Bsc Nursing, Independent Prescriber.
Wrinkle Reduction Treatments | Dermal Fillers and Botox | Medical Skin Needling and Skin Peels
Quick Links - [Takes you quickly to the section you require]
- What is Medical Skin Needling?
- How it works?
- What are the benefits of Medical Skin Needling?
- Medical Advice
Medical Skin Needling | Micro-needling | Genuine Dermal Pen
Collagen Induction Therapy
What is Medical Skin Needling?
It is a Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT) which is often referred to as Medical skin needling, Micro-Needling, Dermaroller and Vampire facial. Its aim is to stimulate the body’s own collagen production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, stretch marks, skin laxity and scarring.
How it works
The treatment introduces a series of fine, sharp needles into the skin following the application of a local anaesthetic cream to reduce discomfort. The needles are attached to a single use cartridge of needles arranged in a circle at the end of an automated device which can either look like a pen or a roller. The device is accurately moved over the surface of the skin to create many microscopic channels within the papillary dermal layer of the skin where collagen and elastin fibers are located (see illustration). These minute punctures close over almost immediately as the channels created are very small.
Epidermis
Papillary Dermis
Reticular Dermis
Skin Needling
This medically controled “damage” to the dermis encourages the body to produce more new collagen and elastin which generate new skin cells to literally “repair” itself, thus the skin becomes thicker, plumper and more youthful.
Serums are applied with the Microneedling
Anti wrinkle serum
Contains Sodium Hyaluronate which has regenerative skin healing properties, Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 which relaxes facial tension, Matrixyl 3000 which gives anti-wrinkling and lifiting effect while containing messengers of cutaneous restructuring and repair, EGF which stimulates tissue and fibroblasts, Vitamin B5 which reduces water loss and DMEA which tightens, firms and tones muscles giving a more youthful look.
Pigment stabilizer
Contains newly discovered pentapeptide and also contains rare plant extracts including mushroom, licorice, bearberry and lactobacillus algae which have been bioengineered into powerful penetrating micro-beads that work within the skin to transform dark melanin into lighter melanin, depressing sunthesis of the melanocytes that cause hyperpigmentation.
What are the benefits of Medical Skin Needling?
- Diminishes fine lines and wrinkles
- Restores youth by effectively tightening, lifting and thickening the skin
- Improves the appearance of scars (acne, chicken pox, burns and surgical)
- Intensifies trans-dermal delivery and absorbency of cosmetic, topical, and photo-aging treatments
- Reduces pore size
- Minimizes stretch marks
- Delivers safely with little or no down time
Although primarily used on the face, this procedure can be carried out anywhere on the body, such as on stretch
marks on the thighs and abdomen, and generally on all skin types safely with little or no down time.
ACNE - Before & After
Crow's Feet - Before & After
Forehead - Before & After
Medical Advice
How long will it take to recover from Medical Skin Needling?
Recovery may take 24 hours or up to a few days; most people should however be able to return to work the following day. Recovery time depends on the aggressiveness of the treatment, i.e. the length of needles used.
What should you do after a Medical Skin Needling treatment?
It is very important that you follow the advice of your practitioner carefully after any treatment to help make the procedure as successful as possible and to reduce the risk of complications.
Post - treatment advice includes:-
- Using a medical antibacterial soap substitute or tepid water to cleanse the face for the first 48 hours folloing treatment and drying the
area gently without rubbing
- Ensuring that hands are always clean when touching the area treated, to avoid infections
- Not applying conventional make-up products to the skin for the first 12 hours following treatment, some mineral based make-up
products are able to be applied as recommended by your practitioner
- Applying a broad spectrum sunscreen product with a high SPF immediately after treatment before leaving
the clinic and when going outside following treatment
Who should not have a Medical Skin Needling treatment?
Medical skin needling treatment is suitable for most skin types. It is not suitable for patients who:-
- Have used Roaccutane (isotretinoin) within the last 3 months
- Have open wounds, cuts or abrasions to the skin
- Have had radiaotherapy, chemotherapy or high dose oral corticosteroids in the last 6 months
- Have areas of the skin that are numb or lack sensation
- Are pregnant or breast feeding
- Have a history of keloid or hypertrophic scars or poor wound healing
- Have uncontrolled Diabetes
- Have Scleroderma or Collagen Vascular Disease
- Have Blood Clotting problems (have taken warfarin or aspirin in the last 2 weeks)
- Have New Scar Tissue less than 6 months old in treatment area
- Have Uncontrolled Rosacea
- Have Cardiac abnormalities/pacemaker
- HIV/Aids or Hepatitis
- Have a current outbreak of herpes simplex (cold sores) or any other infection or chronic skin condition in the area to be treated
Results and Repeat Procedures
It can take between 4 - 8 weeks before visible signs of skin regeneration are seen and the process will continue over the following months, providing a gradual enhancement.
A single treatment can produce noticeable results, however a programme of 2 - 5 treatments spaced 4 - 6 weeks apart is often recommended to achieve optimum results, in conjunction with an at-home regime.
The specific number of sessions required will depend on the area being treated and the severity of the
indication, as well as the level of natural response from the individual’s body.