By overwhelming demand here are the facts about microneedling also known as ” Collagen Induction Therapy” CIT and Percutaneous Collagen Induction (PCI). It is fast becoming the new Fountain of Youth.
Microneedling is a skin rejuvenation procedure that aims at boosting collagen and retexturing the skin. It is considered safe and dermatologists and aestheticians recommend consistency to see results.
It helps improve conditions such as rosacea, acne scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, pore size, brown spots, stretch marks, scars and pigment issues such as melasma.
So to explain it simply we injure the skin to create a wound-healing response thus collagen is induced.
There are 4 ways to microneedle:
1. Nano needling/infusion: Or the GLOW needling
It is a transdermal delivery system using nano cartridges that have shallow needles about 0.15mm.
IF YOU USE A DR PEN LIKE THE A5 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO USE 2.5MM DEPTH FOR THE CARTRIDGE WHICH IS NEEDLESS TO GO ALL THE WAY OUT.
Product penetration is increased by 97%.
It can be done 2-5 times a week. Good for face, neck, chest and hands.
There isn’t any downtime nor pain. No numbing necessary.
It is recommended to use potent Vit C serums, Hyaluronic acid, Tranexamic Acid, growth factors and Niacinamide.
2. Cosmetic needling:
The depth is 0.20mm to 0.30mm and is every shallow.
Cosmetic needling uses short needles: About 0.25 mm to fractionally stimulate the epidermis and upper-dermis, your skin’s outer layers. It helps with product permeation and they get 4 times deeper.
It can be done once a week. Good for face, neck, chest and hands. There isn’t any down time. No numbing necessary.
It is recommended to use potent Vit C serums, Hyaluronic serums, Tranexamic Acid, growth factors and Niacinamide.
3. Medical needling:
The depth is 0.50mm to 2.0mm and is deep!
Therefore medical needling uses longer needles: 0.5 mm and longer to stimulate the dermis and produce collagen induction. It also helps with cellular communication which in turn aids with pigmentation.
It can be done every 4-6weeks. A series of at least 3 to 6 sessions is ideal. Medical needling is good for the face, neck, chest, hands and any part of the body. Numbing is necessary.
It is recommended not to go over 1.0mm and use Hyaluronic acid for 24 hours and let the skin heal and do its thing. Downtime is 1-3 days with redness and a burning sensation.
Then resume with your normal skin care routine but avoid any tretinoin products for a few days.
4. Surgical needling:
The depth is deep and between 1.5mm to 2.5mm and used for scar and stretch marks.
It is highly recommend to have this procedure done by professionals.
Final notes:
You can micro needle via a roller or a pen. Numbing is about 30 minutes, professionals advise to exfoliate and clean face prior to procedure and use gloves and dispose of cartridges after you are done.
These are some pens and derma rollers we have tried and recommend, but please do your research and see what works for you.
Dr Pen, professional grades Illuma Pen, MesoPenII by Bellaire Industries.
We like the Beauty Bio GLOPRO derma roller.
For more information please check Utube videos by renown Master Aesthetician Penny Smith:
Micro needling/CIT at home protocol 2019 Demo
NEW Dr Pen M8 Microneedling device overview and comparison to Dr Pen A6, A7 and X5
Cosmetic micro needling , dermarolling demo
Products recommended:
A more affordable option:
Medical Spas we recommend:
Serenity MedSpa Burlingame Dr Lisa Kang and Serenity MedSpa San Francisco location.
Note: None of the information in our website is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. The content on our website is for educational purposes only.
