Micro-needling, wow, that sounds frightening and painful, no? Actually, micro-needling is a medical technique that was first used by physicians in the 1950’s, and became more widely used in the 1990’s, to improve the appearance of scars.Micro-needling uses fine needles to puncture the surface of the skin to cause a controlled injury. The needles create a channel that triggers the body’s own healing system to fill in the wounds with collagen and elastin to repair the skin without scarring. Micro-needling is minimally invasive, and can reverse years of sun damage, improve acne scars and stretch marks, hyper-pigmentation, and enhance the overall appearance of aging skin. It can also be used on all parts of the body including the face, neck, décolleté, arms, hands, legs, abdomen, and back.
At Totality, we use SkinPen technology for our micro-needling treatments. SkinPen procedures take between 30-60 minutes and most people require a series of treatments (usually 3) spaced 4 weeks apart. After treatment, the skin may have a pink or red “glow” that will naturally fade in 2-4 days. Flaking occurs within 5-10 days and new skin is revealed. While some may have immediate improvements, the final result can take up to 6 months.And no, micro-needling need not be painful. Numbing medication can be utilized to make the procedure pain-free!
Following treatment, we recommend: moisturizing daily, using sunscreen, wearing a hat when outdoors, and limited exercise for 24 hours. A cleanse and exfoliating peel 5 days post treatment, followed up with a moisturizing mask can also help to remove dry or peeling skin.
Follow this link to learn more: SkinPen with Connie Fogarty, RN