Microneedling

What Is Microneedling?

Microneedling is a procedure that essentially creates tiny micro holes in the skin surface, creating a controlled “micro-injury” that encourages the skin to stimulate collagen production and new skin cell growth. Microneedling is also known as Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT).

Microneedling jump-starts the production of collagen and accelerates cell turnover. Collagen, collagen, collagen! This is the magically aspect of our skin that makes the difference between youthful, firm, lifted and older, more mature skin texture and tone. The elusive collagen is what every woman seeks in the promise of serums and beauty creams. The mechanism of microneedling delivers our beloved collagen quickly and effortlessly, with no downtime.

Collagen is what gives our skin a youthful, smooth, full appearance, but as we age, collagen production slows, leading to sagging or wrinkled skin. Collagen is also an essential part of the skin’s healing process. After microneedling, our skin acts more youthful by quickly producing higher levels of collagen and replacing old skin cells with new, healthy cells as the body works to repair the micro-injury created by the CIT process. This microneedling CIT process fills in fine lines and plumps the skin to create a more youthful appearance and diminishes the visibility of skin imperfections. You will see some improvement after a single session, but for the best results, we often recommend a series of three to six microneedling sessions.

Microneedling is most commonly used on the face, addressing the most common concerns:

• Wrinkles
• Uneven skin tone or texture
• Eyelid sagging / bags
• Scars (including acne scars)
• Large pores
• Sun spots / Age spots
• Lax skin
• Melasma
• Stretch marks

Who Is a Good Candidate for Microneedling?

Because it’s minimally invasive, doesn’t cause significant wounding of the skin, and isn’t light-based, microneedling is considered safe for patients of virtually all ages and skin types.

However, doctors discourage having the procedure done when:

• Any infections are active or present in the body
• There are open wounds, especially in the treatment area
• Taking certain medications (including Accutane – isotretinoin – for acne)
• Receiving radiation therapy or have recently undergone this treatment
• Pregnant, breastfeeding, or actively trying to become pregnant
• The individual or close family members have a history of abnormal scarring (like keloids and hyperpigmentation)

The ideal candidate for microneedling is anyone who is concerned with the appearance of their skin. These patients may have tried other at-home procedures, like chemical peels, without seeing the desired result, and in some cases, patients are seriously considering surgical intervention.

Compared to similar cosmetic dermatology treatments, microneedling offers numerous benefits, including:

• A Minimally invasive procedure that is comfortable with little to no numbing
• Quick healing time with minimal side effects and no downtime
• The procedure itself can easily be completed over a lunch break
• Improves the appearance of numerous types of imperfections and delivers generally brighter, smoother, healthier skin
• Microneedling is effective for all skin types and skin colors

Call Now to Book Your Microneedling Consult Today 410-847-4766 

How Does Microneedling Work?

Microneedling can be completed in about an hour at our office from check-in to check-out. We’ll begin by applying an anesthetic cream to your skin. Then, your practitioner will use a special microneedling device to create tiny perforations in your skin’s surface. The microneedling device will move evenly across the treatment area to ensure consistent results.

The procedure itself usually takes 15-30 minutes, depending on the size of the treated area.  For individuals who have sensitive skin or easily irritated skin, the dermatologist may apply a calming facial treatment following your procedure to soothe the skin and promote healing.

Many patients notice an immediate glow to their skin even though there may be some initial redness or puffiness in the treated area. For most, visible changes to the skin develop over the course of several weeks. Patients may continue to see improvement for up to six months after the treatment as collagen production continues.

Are There Side Effects to Microneedling?

Microneedling has very few side effects, and they are generally short-lived. Immediately after microneedling, the treated area will be reddish in color. On average, patients may have redness for two to four days; however, some patients heal completely in 24 hours. If you have dark skin, you may experience temporary hyperpigmentation. While you may have mild symptoms after microneedling, this is a truly no-downtime treatment. That means you can go back to your regular routine immediately after you visit the office. The only difference is to take special care to limit sun exposure as your skin heals.

Common, mild side effects include:

• Irritation
• Redness
• Sudden appearance of red spots
• Itchiness
• Dryness
• Tightness

In rare cases, you may notice more serious side effects. These warning signs require medical intervention, so please contact your dermatologist if you notice:

• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Peeling
• Swelling
• Infection

How Long Will Microneedling Last?

While you will likely see some improvement after your initial treatment, the ideal results usually involve three to six microneedling sessions over several months. For patients with concerns about deep wrinkles, advanced photo-aging, stretch marks, or acne scars, six to eight monthly sessions are recommended.

After their initial round of microneedling treatments, some patients only require a single session once a year to maintain their results. Your health provider at Cloud 9 can tell you more about what sort of individual results to expect, and they will work with you to create a personalized ongoing care plan.