Skin Needling

Skin Needling (also known as collagen induction therapy) involves the passing of very fine needles over the skin. The needles penetrate into the second layer of the skin to create tiny punctures. Where the micro-needling has damaged the old collagen, new collagen production in triggered – ultimately encouraging skin rejuvenation.

Skin needling is used for facial rejuvenation; to improve the texture, tone and tightness of skin, as well as to treat skin conditions such as wrinkles, stretch marks and scars. It is particularly useful for acne scarring and sun damaged skin. It may also help reduce pore size.

The mechanical damage triggered by the needling creates thousands of miniature skin wounds; through which topical skin care (such as vitamin A and C) can be applied. This can further assist the collagen induction created by the inflammatory process.

A topical anaesthetic cream is applied to your face for 15 – 20 minute, which minimises discomfort during the treatment. Very fine needles in the Dermapen are applied to your skin to induce the formation of new collagen. The dermapen is most commonly used with platelet rich plasma to further improve the results The procedure usually takes about an hour. Skin Needling is a skin treatment that can be used over any part of the body, except for under the eyes.

A topical anaesthetic is applied to the area being treated which minimises discomfort.

You will look flushed and pink after the procedure (similar to mild sunburn) which can last for up to 48 hours. Dry skin and light scabs may form the next day; which may take up to 2 weeks to fall off. You must not pick at these scabs. You must avoid any stimulating products suchs as AHAs, retinol (vitamin A) or any acidic or “active products” for a minimum of 2 days after the treatment. Some patients experience a break out of acne around the mouth and chin.

You will see an improvement in your skin after the first week, however, new collagen is formed over 90 days and the results will continue to improve over the next 3 – 6 months. This can, however, vary from patient to patient. Generally, 3 treatments are needed and up to 6 treatments may be required for more severe cases (all at 4-6 weekly intervals).

Medical needling is a safe method of collagen induction and the downtime can span 1-3 days, which may vary from patient to patient. The inflammatory response of your skin is short and the red flushing will fade within hours after the treatment. The Dermapen does not use heat energy, like lasers, so their is no risk of hyperpigmentation of the skin in dark or Asian patients. It is advised that you avoiding active products for 48 hours and sun protection is a must.

For a rapid improvement in skin texture, we recommend fractional laser treatment. Skin Needling is for people who want less downtime and less risk of complications, particularly for Asian or dark-skinned people. In general, two Dermapen treatments are equivalent to one fractional laser treatment.

Your initial Skin Needling consultation and subsequent procedure can be undertaken at our cosmetic clinic in Double Bay, Sydney.