Microneedling at home: professional skin care without the help of a cosmetologist

Microneedling is a new modern technology that is used in cosmetology. It is loved by many clients and owners of beauty salons for its simplicity and the good results that are obtained after it. Microneedling can be done at home if you follow the procedure rules. It allows you not only to keep your skin in good condition, but also to restore its youth, get rid of age-related wrinkles and sagging, eliminate signs of post-acne, remove stretch marks, and solve many other problems not only with the face, but also with the scalp.

What is the essence of the rejuvenation procedure?

During microneedling, microtrauma occurs in areas of the skin with very thin needles, the length of which is from 0.25 to 3 mm. The needles are made of stainless steel. They are the main part of a special device - a mesoscooter, consisting of a special handle and a small rotating drum. These needles injure the skin and leave tiny holes on it; pain during microneedling is very insignificant.

When vibrating, a mesoscooter can create up to half a million holes in the skin layer in 10-15 minutes. Through them, active cosmeceutical substances enter the deep layers of the epidermis, the process of self-healing of damaged cells is launched, and collagen is actively produced. During the procedure, there is minimal traumatic impact on the skin. This does not remove the surface layer of the epidermis, as happens with grinding, abrasive facial cleansing or chemical peeling. As a result of microneedling, no hematomas are formed, the skin is restored very quickly, and the holes from the needles heal within an hour.

Who is microneedling intended for?

This procedure helps solve a number of very important problems for the female body. Microneedling in cosmetology is carried out not only by affecting the facial area, but also effectively fights stretch marks, cellulite, improves skin tone, improves color, and activates hair growth. It is an excellent alternative to laser rejuvenation and chemical peeling, since blood flow is restored in the damaged area, cell division becomes more active, and new viable capillaries appear.

How to choose a microneedling machine at home

In order to carry out the rejuvenation procedure at home, you need to purchase a set consisting of a mesoscooter and special cosmetics. There are two types of kits on sale - for treating facial skin and for treating the area around the eyes. These are safe devices, they are easy to use, you just need to follow the included instructions. Microneedling at home allows you to save money and also carry out the procedure at any convenient time, because you will no longer need to coordinate appointment hours with a cosmetologist and rush to the salon.

When purchasing a set, you need to pay attention to the medical safety certificate for both the device and the included cosmetics and serum. A device for home use contains 200 or more needles. You also need to know that the needles in the roller can be steel or have an additional titanium coating. Titanium-coated needles have the longest service life. The sharpening of needles can be different. The best is diamond sharpening, which is used for titanium needles, it is slightly inferior to laser sharpening, and the most common is acupuncture sharpening.

How to do facial microneedling?

It is recommended to carry out the procedure in a course to achieve maximum effect. Optimally - one session every 1-2 months. As a rule, noticeable results come after the third or fourth procedure. Microneedling can be done both in a salon and at home.

Microneedling procedure in the salon

Microneedling is performed with or without special products to improve the condition of the skin. The appropriateness of using certain medications is determined by a cosmetologist after a careful examination of the face and identification of problems.

The procedure in the salon is carried out in several stages. Let's look at them:

1. Skin preparation
   . At this stage, the epidermis is thoroughly cleaned, makeup residues are removed, and the skin is disinfected.
2. Anesthesia
   . The microneedling procedure is not too painful, but it is unpleasant, and therefore, to minimize discomfort, local anesthesia is performed. As a rule, this stage is necessary if a mesoscooter with needles more than one millimeter in length is used.
3. Treatment of skin with special preparations
   . They are selected individually to suit the needs of the client’s epidermis. It is unacceptable to use products with fragrances, pigments, preservatives - this may be unsafe. Microneedling enhances the absorption capacity of the epidermis, and the penetration of some chemicals into the deep layers of the skin is extremely undesirable.
4. Impact of a mesoscooter
   . A needle roller is used to “pass” the skin of the face several times in a row. Massage with a microneedling device is continued until the first drops of blood appear. After which it is removed and the epidermis is treated with an antiseptic.
5. Applying care products to the skin
   . After completing the microneedling procedure, the epidermis needs care. To do this, use a light mask, cream, serum, and sunscreen. This cosmetics should speed up wound healing and eliminate the possibility of inflammation.

Typically, the procedure lasts about an hour. The number of sessions is determined by the cosmetologist, taking into account the characteristics of the client’s skin.

How to do it

To carry out the procedure at home, you need to buy devices with a short needle length.

• Small needles up to 0.3 mm are used to eliminate wrinkles around the eyes, as well as to solve problems with the scalp. First, a serum or a special prophylactic preparation is applied to the area of ​​the skin, then it is treated with a roller. This procedure does not require pain relief and can be done every three days. Treatment with small needles improves complexion.
• In order to treat the scalp, eliminate deeper wrinkles and perform lifting, needles 0.5 mm long are used. In this procedure, special products are used that are first applied to the skin. Longer needles ensure deep penetration of the substance into the epidermis layer. To achieve the effect, a long course of treatment is required.
• To combat baldness, age spots on the face, combat enlarged pores and improve the condition of the epidermis in those over 40 years old, use 1 mm long needles. Using a roller with these needles can cause pain, so anesthesia must be administered before the procedure.

Mesoscooters with long needles cannot be used at home; they are used only in beauty salons. Home microneedling is carried out in the following sequence:

• carry out cleansing of the skin with means intended for this purpose;
• for disinfection, the roller is rolled in alcohol;
• apply a special anesthesia cream containing lidocaine to the skin;
• after some time, the anesthetic is removed with saline;
• hyaluronic acid, elastin, vitamins, collagen or other substances and extracts for the mesoscooter are applied to the skin;
• the skin area is rolled with a roller at least 5 times in different directions along the massage lines;
• treat the skin with saline solution or apply a soothing serum to restore damaged skin.

What is needling?

Needling or CIT (collagen inducing therapy) is an affordable procedure that does not require special skills, which is effective in the treatment of fine wrinkles, crow's feet around the eyes, bags and dark circles under the eyes, hyperpigmentation, stretch marks and prematurely aged skin.
Also, using this technique, you can eliminate the problem of an overhanging upper eyelid, double chin, pronounced nasolabial folds, cellulite and scars. This procedure is based on the use of a dermaroller or dermastamp with titanium needles. The essence of their action is quite simple. By piercing hundreds of holes, well-sharpened microneedles easily penetrate the upper layers of the skin and create microscopic mechanical damage. To restore them, the body launches a whole cascade of skin cellular reactions aimed at reducing inflammatory processes. During the healing process of microtraumas, leukocytes and fibroblasts are attracted to the created wounds, cell division and the production of new elastin and collagen are stimulated. During tissue regeneration, cell growth factors are also produced, which contribute to the maturation of healthy epithelial skin and blood vessels.

Typically, two types of needles are used in medical practice - 2.5-3 mm needles (used during an office visit to a dermatologist) and 0.02-2 mm needles for using the dermaroller by the patient himself at home.

All parts of the body, including the face, can be treated with a dermaroller subject to hygiene and basic aseptic conditions. As a rule, the more aggressive the treatment, the more obvious the effect of the procedure. The results will be noticeable after the first use, although to make them more obvious, it is recommended to complete a course of 3-5 procedures.

This procedure is suitable for anyone who has wrinkles on their neckline or rings on their collarbones after sleep. Also, using a dermaroller can improve the situation with neck rings.

The device consists of more than 200 microneedles, which are attached perpendicularly and at equal distances from each other to a round roller. When used, the roller is rolled over the skin in different directions, pressing lightly and piercing the skin with needles many times. The Environ dermaroller will never reach the blood vessels or injure you, as it is equipped with special short needles that pass only the upper layers of the skin, inducing regeneration processes there. There are practically no risks of infection when using such a device. Thanks to its robust design, this device will serve you for many years.

In order to generate a new skin covering using ablative skin treatments (dermabrasion, chemical and laser skin treatments), the outer protective layers of the epidermis are removed. These procedures carry certain risks and discomfort, such as prolonged inflammation, redness and increased photosensitivity of the skin, possible changes in the process of pigment production and collateral scarring.

Unlike these procedures, needling does not carry the risk of permanent changes to the skin, since as a result of this methodology the epidermis remains intact. If the needling procedure is carried out together with applications of antioxidants, vitamins A and C, the penetration of these substances increases significantly. Knowing that scientific research shows that only 0.3% of the active ingredients in traditional cosmetic products are able to penetrate the skin under normal conditions, one can imagine the possible benefits of such a combination treatment. Currently, it can be reasonably considered that the use of dermarollers has successfully proven itself as a method of delivering therapeutic assets.

Indications

With the help of microneedling in cosmetology, you can solve various problems. It is performed not only on the scalp and face, but also on the body to eliminate stretch marks, fight cellulite, and also improve skin color and tone. Treatment is recommended for baldness to activate hair follicles and enhance hair growth. After microneedling, hair does not split, becomes thicker, and looks healthy.

Microneedling can be a good alternative to chemical peeling and laser skin rejuvenation. It has been successfully carried out for:

• increasing collagen production;
• combating skin hyperpigmentation;
• tightening the skin and improving facial contours;
• combating post-acne scars, scars, enlarged pores;
• increasing the elasticity of the skin, leveling the relief, increasing turgor;
• moisturizing and rejuvenating the skin on the neck.

In the damaged area, blood circulation increases, cell division is activated, and new capillaries are formed.

Types of procedures

The best results are obtained by course application. The cycle includes five sessions. Correction can be carried out on the face, arms, chest, abdomen, hips, buttocks.

Roller devices are divided according to the length of the needles. In short ones (up to one millimeter in length), the action is superficial. These dermarollers can be used at home, but the effectiveness of this procedure is the least. Using devices with one and a half millimeter medium-sized needles, they successfully fight cellulite and deep wrinkles. Using rollers with long needles (up to two and a half millimeters), cosmetologists relieve clients of deep scars, stretch marks and “orange peel.”

Microneedling is divided into fractional and electric. The first option involves punctures with microneedles. The second is carried out with a unique laser without punctures. The technique is selected by a specialist, taking into account the objectives and the individual condition of the patient’s skin.

During fractional microneedling, individual problem areas are treated with a special device with microneedles. The sizes of needles and the depth of microinjection are selected for each client personally, depending on the type of problem. Noticeable results appear after the first session. Upon completion of five procedures, the skin of the problem area is almost completely renewed.

Fractional microneedling is effective for:

1. problems with post-acne and scars;
2. enlarged pores;
3. rosacea;
4. pigmentation;
5. wrinkles;
6. rosacea;
7. stretch marks.

The recovery period takes little time, and no doctor's supervision is required. Returning to your previous lifestyle is possible immediately.

Electric microneedling.

During electroporation or electrical microneedling, the role of microneedles is performed by pulsed currents of ultra-low amplitude. Thanks to them, healing drugs penetrate the skin. The non-injection technique is less painful. After it there are no hematomas or swelling left. There may be slight redness, which will disappear after a couple of days. For those with sensitive skin, this procedure option is ideal.

Depending on the drugs used, it is possible to solve problems:

1. sagging and dry skin;
2. hyperpigmentation;
3. restoration of clarity of the oval of the face;
4. dark circles and puffiness under the eyes;
5. skin restoration after laser resurfacing and chemical peeling;
6. preparing the skin for other cosmetic procedures.

The recommended course consists of seven to ten sessions. In the future, the procedure is carried out once a month.

There are contraindications to electroporation. Sessions prohibited:

1. for those with dark and tanned skin;
2. for oncological or hematological diseases;
3. for diabetes mellitus;
4. during the period of bearing a child and breastfeeding;
5. for acute infectious diseases.

Efficacy and clinical indications

Already in 2009, Hamtash and colleagues analyzed patients 10 weeks after treatment using five pairs of bipolar RF microneedles. All subjects experienced an increase in elastin and collagen levels.

In 2012, Cho and a team of researchers reported clinical improvement in acne scars and reduction in facial pores.

Another study, led by Kim, showed significant improvements in the appearance of acne scars on all skin types, although the researchers also said that fractional radiofrequency microneedling could also treat acne itself. A recent report reported that inflammatory nodules responded better to the procedure than noninflammatory nodules.

There is also evidence that this combined technology gives satisfactory results in the treatment of primary axillary hyperhidrosis. After three sessions, there was a significant improvement in the severity of hyperhidrosis on the side of the body treated with the device compared to the control side.

Comparison table of devices for fractional radiofrequency microneedling

New technology is actively used to correct wrinkles and tighten skin. Several studies have been conducted based on the process of addressing these aesthetic concerns with fractionated radiofrequency therapy.

In 2013, Kim and colleagues used radiofrequency microneedling to correct periorbital wrinkles in 11 women, with a satisfaction rate of 91%.

Lee and a team of researchers reported another experiment on periorbital wrinkle correction in 2020, which involved 20 patients with skin types IV-V according to the Fitzpatrick phototype scale. All patients noted an improvement in their wrinkles by the end of the study.

The channels created where the needles are inserted remain open for several hours after the procedure, allowing topical medications to penetrate into the deeper layers of the dermis.

Available options

Currently, there are several types of fractional RF devices. They all have slightly different characteristics, but clinical studies support their overall effectiveness.

In Infini

Lutronic uses a system with 49 insulated needles with a diameter of 200 microns at the base and a sharp taper to the 20 micron tip. The insertion depth can vary from 0.25 mm to 3.5 mm, depending on the area affected. Just like the depth, you can adjust the energy level and exposure time on this device.

Several studies have been conducted with this device and have seen improvements in acne scarring and skin tightening. Infini has also been shown to be effective in tightening body skin and treating axillary hyperhidrosis.

Intensify _

from Endymed, 25 non-insulated needles of 300 microns each are used. They can penetrate to a depth of 0.1 to 3.5 mm. Moderate improvement in acne scars was reported in almost all patients.

Fractora

from InMode has a system that allows the use of both insulated and non-insulated tips. In both cases, 24 and 60 contact tips with 600 or 3000 micron needles are used. Studies conducted using this technology have demonstrated both an improvement in the appearance of acne scars and overall skin rejuvenation.

In SyneronePrime

or Profound, five pairs of bipolar 300-micron needles are used. The needles are 6 mm long, the last 3 mm are uninsulated. The needles are inserted at an angle and a cooling plate is used to protect the surface of the skin. Long pulses (4-5 seconds) are used at high temperatures, which in the author's experience can make treatment painful. However, there is evidence of high patient satisfaction with the procedure and noticeable tightening of the facial skin.

In Intracel

from Jeisys 49 insulated 34G needles are integrated. They use both monopolar and bipolar radiofrequency to conduct energy into tissue.

Vivace

from Aesthetics Biomedical - an innovation among devices for radiofrequency microneedling.
It uses 36 insulated 300-micron needles that can penetrate depths ranging from 0.5 to 3.5 mm. It also uses bipolar RF to heat deep layers of tissue. EclipseMicroPen EVO
is a new portable radiofrequency pen for microneedling (similar to a mesoscooter). By changing the cartridge, you can choose between mechanical microneedling, RF microneedling or non-ablative mass heating.