Style June 19, 2018
"How can poking hundreds of tiny needles in your face be good for you?"
Microneedling (n): A skincare routine that involves rolling hundreds of tiny needles all over your face.
Just kidding, that’s not the actual definition, but it’s pretty darn close. While it may not sound exactly like a grand old time, it’s not painful, and it’s incredibly beneficial for your skin.
If you’re wondering, “Why the heck are people sticking their faces with needles?” you are not alone. Many people have not even heard of microneedling, let alone know what it is and what it does. Whether you’re interested just because, or you want to know because you’re considering trying it, we’ve got you covered. Check out these five benefits of microneedling below, and we guarantee you’ll be buying a dermaroller in no time!
First and foremost, microneedling helps reduce acne scars. This is probably its most widely-known benefit, as the routine became popular for this exact reason. According to a 2009 study by the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, almost 100% of participants saw a visible improvement in their acne scars after microneedling. This procedure can also help reduce other types of scars, such as surgical scars or stretch marks.
What microneedling essentially does is encourage collagen-producing cells to increase their production.
Dr. Michael Prager told Harpers Bazaar, “The way it works is by using needles that are long enough to cause microscopic injuries to the fine blood vessels that are at the level of the hair follicles. When there is a small bit of bleeding, platelets leave the blood vessels and get exposed to the surrounding tissue. This causes a reaction whereby the platelets excrete hormones and growth factors which cause the stimulation of fibroblasts and other collagen producing cells to start increasing their production.
This in turn results in more elastic and rejuvenated skin.” When microneedling triggers elastin and collagen growth, it leads to thicker skin, which will prevent aging and wrinkles.
The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology defines hyperpigmentation as “a common, usually harmless condition in which patches of skin become darker in color than the normal surrounding skin.” Microneedling helps reduce this as it sheds the top layer of skin. Dermarollerinfo.com explains, “Unlike other harsh treatments such as microdermabrasion, laser and chemical peel, derma rolling is very safe for anyone who has darker skin tone. It does not lead to loss of skin pigment.”
You may not think of shrinking pores as a benefit to rolling needles around your face, but it is! It’s all about the extra collagen, which plumps up your skin and shrinks your pores! Talk about a win-win.
The last huge benefit to microneedling is that it improves your skin’s absorption. In fact, a study in the European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences confirms that microneedling assists other topical treatments penetrate the skin more easily. It makes sense, tons of tiny needles create tons of little open holes for the skin to absorb product into. You can read more about this benefit in Reader’s Digest here.
