Scars from acne or chickenpox are difficult to remove. Many therapies have been developed to treat this type of scar; however, none have been as successful as the recently developed microneedle. Only in 1995 did the idea emerge; Orentreich et al described subcision or dermal puncture for scars. Camirand and Doucet pushed the treatment further in 1997. In their procedure, dermabrasion was performed using a tattoo gun to treat the scars. The therapy reached its full potential in 2006, when Fernandes developed percutaneous collagen induction therapy.
The procedure, being simple, can be done at home. However, dermatologists advise against it, as there is a risk of infection and scarring.
Devices used for Micro-needling
In the procedure, the skin is pierced with fine needles; those needles can be on a roller, which has needle wheels, or ballpoint pens, which have a cluster of needles at the tip. The models used by doctors can vary; It can be motorized, which allows to control the depth of the needle. There are other models that use microneedles as well as radio frequency energy. Radiofrequency is used to produce heat, which according to some publications helps the growth of collagen. However, the radiofrequency procedure is quite expensive than microneedling treatment alone.
How the treatment works
The very minute injury inflicted by the needles stimulates the growth of collagen, a protein that acts as scaffolding under the skin. The treatment ingeniously uses deliberate injury to the collagen to treat the scar, thereby improving its appearance. The technique is most effective for sunken areas caused by acne. However, on deeper or narrower scars the procedure does not work. With four to six treatments, you can have a 60% to 70% improvement in extensive acne scars. The procedure is also effective in smoothing wrinkles around the eyes and on the upper lip.
Cost and immediate effects of treatment
Treatment costs range from $250 to $1,000 depending on the dermatologist or a medical grade device. The procedure may cause light bleeding. A patient’s face may look pink and swollen after therapy. Patients are suggested to ice the treatment area after therapy. The patient recovers much faster than with other skin beautification procedures, such as laser resurfacing, which can take a week or more. It only takes a day or two, if you had a procedure on Friday, you can be presentable, even with makeup, on Sunday.
Precautions to follow if done at home
Rollers of different models are available online, ranging from $20 to $125. Dermatologists recommend consulting doctors before doing the procedure at home. Also, use shorter needles of a quarter to half a millimeter, as longer needles increase the risk of infection or scarring and are more painful.