For some people, this treatment is an immediate no-no due to the use of needles. If that's you read on, as we may be able to put your mind at ease.
It sounds ridiculous to say that sticking sharp things in your face will make you more beautiful, right? However, those who have undergone this treatment describe it as miraculous. Not only that but it is also an amazing medical alternative.
Truth be told, that's how skin needling came about in the first place. It was invented in Asia for medical purposes and is also believed to be very spiritual.
Medical Skin Needling is often called CIT - Collagen Induction Therapy - or Micro-Needling. Its purpose is to stimulate the body's own collagen production to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and scarring caused by acne or chicken pox. It also reduces the look of lines and wrinkles.
The procedure - sometimes called Dermal Rolling - uses extremely fine needles to puncture the skin. By 'injuring' the skin in a controlled manner, it forces it to rejuvenate. You could say it reminds your brain to produce collagen.
Collagen is the most prolific protein in your body and is found in your bones, muscles, skin, blood vessels, even your digestive system. It is collagen that gives our skin strength and elasticity. When we hit 30 our natural collagen production starts to slow down. That's when those fine lines and wrinkles start to appear.
Skin Needling stimulates collagen renewal, resulting in smoother, healthier and more youthful looking skin.
As the name suggests, Dermal Rolling involves the use of a small roller made of tiny surgical needles. Rolled over the surface of the skin it creates thousands of tiny puncture holes that stimulate a regeneration response. It forces the skin to produce not only collagen but also new skin cells.
It's not just good for wrinkles. It can treat a variety of skin conditions including enlarged pores, blackheads, acne scarring and pigmentation.
We mentioned earlier that Skin Needling originated in Asia, China to be exact. Used thousands of years ago it was a form of acupuncture. Combining the fine needles with some form of heat was believed to improve overall health and remedy many conditions.
As you would expect from an ancient Chinese therapy, it was also to do with the flow of energy. Skin Needling helped clear blockages in the body's energy flow, thus restoring good health.
Even the use of skin needling for cosmetic purposes can be traced back to the early Chinese dynasties. Rather than use a roller, however, practitioners used single needles. The treatment was only available to the rich and powerful back then.
Skin needling as we know it today originated in Germany in the early 1900s. Dermatologist Ernst Kromayer developed a motorised needling machine to treat hyperpigmentation, acne scars and other skin conditions.
So you're wondering what to expect from a skin needling treatment? Realistically, there will be some discomfort. There's no point pretending otherwise. The good news is that numbing cream is used prior to treatment. The amount of treatment, and the depth to which the needles penetrate your skin is agreed beforehand. It all depends on your skin type, what you are treating and what you wish to achieve.
Whilst there are rarely any obvious signs of treatment, it might be wise to head straight home afterwards. It's quite likely your skin will look better immediately. The real results, however, will appear over the following weeks.
As your skin starts to repair itself and generate new skin cells, you will start to see the beautiful skin of your youth return.
