A child’s skin can be used to illustrate the perfect example of healthy skin: It is a soft, smooth, firm, well hydrated, undamaged, evenly textured, evenly pigmented, thick intact barrier of defense against the environment. But as human beings age, their skin ages and that healthy structure and appearance of childhood skin is gradually lost.

People of all ages desire healthy, more youthful looking skin. This can be achieved by various techniques for skin rejuvenation: chemical, thermal, and mechanical. Ablative methods resurface the skin to stimulate its regrowth and repair. Examples include chemical peels, microdermabrasion, dermabrasion, and treatments with lasers such as CO2 and Pulsed Dye. Non-ablative treatments include Intense Pulse Light (IPL), Light Emitting Diode (LED), and some lasers including Nd:Yag and Fraxel. Although many people have had positive results from these methods, others have experienced side effects. Although considered relatively safe, patients have experienced burns, scars, hypo-pigmentation (skin lightening), hyper-pigmentation (skin darkening), sun sensitivity, and overall thinning of the skin.

Dermal Micro Needling (DMN) is a non-ablative, minimally invasive mechanical method of skin rejuvenation that evolved from Skin Needling and Dermal Rolling. The treatment is also referred to as Cosmetic Needling or Medical Needling depending on the area treated. The overall theory and technique is based on the skin’s ability to repair itself after damage from abrasions, cuts, or burns. With DMN, a sterile micro-needling pen device is passed over the skin to create microscopic perforations (micro “injuries”). The gentle trauma triggers the skin’s self-repair mechanism. It recovers and heals with new collagen growth that creates firmer, smoother, and younger looking skin. So this procedure has also been referred to as Collagen Induction Therapy or CIT, Multitrepannic Collagen Actuation or MCA, and Percutaneous Collagen Induction or PCI.

The non-ablative and gentle mechanical method of micro-needling has several advantages:
Softens fine lines and wrinkles: Micro needling creates a regenerative healing process where natural collagen forms from the base upwards to reduce fine lines and wrinkles naturally.
Scar reduction is possible: The mechanical breakdown of mildly raised scars can be achieved with dermal needling, as well as the remodeling of depressed scars from Acne or Chicken Pox.
Epidermis remains intact: Dermal needling does not remove or damage the outer skin layer (Epidermis). This preserves healthy skin and blood vessels to maintain normal cellular functions. .
Safe for all skin types and areas: Micro-needling is not associated with pigmentary changes so it can be performed on all skin types. Also, other skin rejuvenation methods must avoid the delicate eye area, but needling can safely treat areas near the eye such as “Crow’s Feet.”
Fast healing with minimal downtime: Dermal micro needling is a precisely controlled technique that creates minimal skin trauma so healing is rapid. Since the treated area looks like mild sunburn, there is no real “downtime” (perhaps 24 hours).
Safe repeatable therapy: Since needling does not thin the skin, there is no limit to the total number of treatments. It can also be performed safely on skin that previously had dermabrasion or laser resurfacing treatments.

Once the skin rejuvenation cycle is completed post-procedure (about 6-8 weeks), visible results are usually seen. Since all skin is different, a definite time frame or specific number of treatments cannot be determined. However, a course of at least 3 treatment sessions is recommended for best results. The number of sessions will vary according to amount and depth of wrinkles or scarring. Deeper wrinkles or acne scars will require additional sessions. Since collagen continues to build over time after treatments, the visits should be scheduled at least 6-8 weeks apart. The use of correct home after care products will also improve results.

There are no long term side effects from dermal needling. After a treatment, it is common to experience redness (erythema) and mild stinging as happens with sunburn. The redness decreases significantly in 24 hours and is usually gone in 48 hours. It is also normal if the skin feels a little tight followed by some mild peeling or flaking or mild itching. The proper use of quality after care products will diminish these effects and improve results. Patients can also wear mineral makeup the day after a treatment to cover up any redness. Also, since needling does not involve injections, no allergic reactions are likely to occur.