Microneedling has grown in popularity in recent years, thanks to its reputation as a safe, effective treatment for lots of common complexion concerns, including problems that happen more often as we age. But how does microneedling work? And is it a good treatment for your own complexion issues?
At Starkey Medical Esthetics, Michele Meinhart, FNP, offers state-of-the-art microneedling treatment for women and men in Salem, Virginia, using a patient-centered, custom approach based on each patient’s needs and goals. If you’ve been wondering if microneedling is right for you, here’s what you should know.
Microneedling uses a unique approach that taps into your body’s natural healing responses to repair and rejuvenate skin. The treatment relies on a special device that’s studded with tiny needles. As the device is passed over your skin, each needle makes a tiny puncture wound that stimulates healing reactions.
Specifically, microneedling ramps up production of collagen, a protein involved in rebuilding damaged tissue. When we’re young, our skin produces plenty of collagen, but as we age, collagen production decreases, contributing to many common signs of aging.
Microneedling might sound a little scary, but the needles used are very tiny and slim. Prior to treatment, we apply a topical agent to numb your skin, so you stay completely comfortable. The treatment itself takes about a half hour.
Afterward, your skin will probably look pinkish for a little while, like it does after a sunburn, but there’s no downtime to worry about. As with other rejuvenation treatments, you’ll need to avoid or limit sun exposure while your skin heals. We provide you with instructions to care for your skin afterward, so you reap all the rewards of your treatment.
Because it triggers natural healing responses, microneedling can be a great choice for people with a wide array of complexion issues.
Fine lines and wrinkles are among the earliest signs of facial aging. Sun damage, environmental factors, and genetics can all contribute to lines and wrinkles, and so can a loss of collagen. Microneedling helps smooth out these lines by ramping up collagen production, improving skin elasticity and helping your skin look younger.
Scars can be persistent reminders of acne or past injuries, and they can mar your complexion, too. Microneedling helps remodel skin naturally, breaking down tough scar tissue so that it can be replaced with smooth, healthy tissue.
Your skin is studded with millions of tiny openings or pores that help your skin “breathe.” If your pores are unusually enlarged and visible, microneedling provides a natural “overhaul” of your complexion, evening out skin texture and reducing pore size.
Collagen forms a natural scaffolding for your skin that helps young skin look and feel firm and resilient. As collagen production decreases, that scaffolding weakens, leading to sagging skin. By increasing collagen production, microneedling helps your skin rebuild its natural scaffolding, so your skin is firmer and more elastic.
Age spots happen when darker pigment fragments clump together under your skin, creating small areas of dark skin. Microneedling helps break apart these clumps, promoting new, healthy skin for a clearer complexion.
Even if you aren’t dealing with age-related changes in your skin, your complexion can still feel rough or look dull or uneven. Microneedling improves circulation in your skin, delivering ample supplies of oxygen and micronutrients while carrying away toxins that can damage skin and make it look tired and listless. The results: more even skin tone and texture and a more radiant complexion overall.
Although microneedling offers plenty of benefits, it isn’t always the right solution for everyone. For instance, people with active skin conditions or infections should skip microneedling until their existing condition is under control.
To learn more about microneedling and whether it’s a good choice for your complexion, call 540-389-0909 or book an appointment online at Starkey Medical Esthetics today.
