Microneedling is a bit of a buzzword in the skincare world at the moment, and that's because it's one of the most effective and safe treatments for overall skin rejuvenation. Microneedling is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that’s used to treat a variety of skin concerns:
fine lines and wrinkles
open pores
skin tone
uneven texture
congestion
scars
Also known as collagen induction therapy, microneedling stimulates collagen production because it creates micro-punctures in the skin using miniature, sterilised needles.
How does microneedling work?
Microneedling works by encouraging your skin to make more collagen. Collagen is the stuff that gives support to our skin. We naturally deplete it as we age and this is why we start to get lines and wrinkles. The pinpricks from a microneedling procedure cause slight injury to the skin, and the skin responds by making brand-new collagen-rich bouncy, plump skin tissue.
What's so good about microneedling?
Microneedling is a really safe and effective way of rejuvenating the skin without using heat or chemicals as with other more ablative treatments.
It targets and resets ALL the different cell types required for complete skin rejuvenation. Most anti-ageing treatments just target the cells that make collagen and elastin and can damage other cell types on doing so, whereas microneedling also targets the cells that create a smooth, compact outer layer, a strong skin barrier, an even skin tone and pigmentation.
How many sessions will I need?
Treatment plans vary from person to person, but research has shown improvement in lines, wrinkles and overall skin rejuvenation after a course of 6 sessions - 1 every 4 weeks.
Do you use a serum?
I don’t use a serum to microneedle with because the aim of the treatment is to kickstart collagen production, not to infuse active ingredients. I know many practitioners do microneedle with lots of different serums, however they need to be extremely careful as there is a risk of granulomas forming if the serums are not sterile or they contain actives that are too irritating for the skin as this can cause an inflammatory response.
I do microneedle with Derma 2.0 medical grade serums but this is a different treatment with a different microneedling protocol and objectives, and is also combined with mesotherapy - more info here!
The treatment is followed with red light therapy which helps to reduce redness and soothe the skin, and then a hyaluronic acid serum is applied to seal the skin and prevent water loss between the skin layers.
Does it hurt & is there any downtime?
Microneedling can feel uncomfortable, especially when you are not used to the sensation. However I always go carefully and increase the depth of the needles to your tolerance.
You will be red after a microneedling session - a little like sunburn. This can last a few days and I advise to only use nourishing moisturisers containing ceramides if possible and hyaluronic acid on your skin. Your skin might feel dry and tight a few days afterwards too, and can also peel a little, but this is completely normal. By day 7 all the side effects from the treatment will have disappeared and you will start to see that bounce and glow come through!
Sessions start at £67 each (when you book a course of 6).
Contact me on 07788 210737 / rachel@rskin.co.uk to start your monthly microneedling journey!
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