If you’re not a skincare specialist or a beauty blogger, you might still be wondering what microneedling is, and why it’s amazing for your skin.

Stimulate your Skin

Simply put, during a microneedling facial treatment – yes, it can also be called dermarolling – the technician inserts very fine, short needles into the skin to kick-start the body’s natural rejuvenation powers. The most popular microneedling device, known as a dermaroller, is made up of micro-fine needles that range in diameter from 0.07 to 0.1 millimetres.

You don’t like needles? Fear not!

The needles are so tiny all you feel is a tingling sensation as they only penetrate the skin on the surface. What’s more, the skinVivacious microneedling treatment is meant to stimulate the skin, boost circulation, and increase the effectiveness of topical treatments, which are applied onto the skin after the roller is passed.

The length of the needle determines what gets triggered (from a biological standpoint) as well as how often the treatment is performed. Longer needles – 0.5 to 1.0 mm in length – are designed to be used by a trained skincare professional or aesthetician, as this type of needling is designed to generate collagen production, but can, in some cases, cause some inflammation, so caution must be exercised. Also, dermarolling treatments with longer needles need to be done less frequently, from four to 12 weeks apart.

According to a 2008 study, skin treated with four microneedling sessions spaced out a month apart produced an increase collagen and elastin up to a 400%, six months after treatment.

Short needles – 0.2 to 0.3 mm in length – have a natural anti-inflammatory effect and can be used at home for reducing puffiness, and ultimately for improving the health and beauty of your skin. With 0.2 mm needles, the skinVacious Personal Skin Roller is mild enough to be used every day to stimulate the skin’s metabolic functions. With microneedling alone, your skin can look plump, rosy and luminous for up to a couple of weeks.

Nourish your Skin

When rolled over the skin the dermaroller does two things. First, because it creates microlesions, it prompts your skin into repair mode which boosts collagen production. Second, it allows for the optimal penetration of skincare products and serums by creating microchannels (tiny holes) which permit them to penetrate deeper into the skin. Ultimately, nourishing the skin more deeply with nutrient-rich products will improve the overall long-term health of the skin and generate visible results more quickly.

If you’ve considered adding hyaluronic acid, which is super hydrating, to your skincare regimen, the best time to use it is right after a microneedling treatment since hyaluronic acid has large molecules which do not easily penetrate the uppermost layer of the skin. With the microchannels created by the dermaroller, it aids in making the product permeate more deeply into the dermis, and be more effective.

However, some caution must be exerted after a microneedling treatment, as not all skincare products are formulated to be used on skin presenting microlesions. Concentrations can be too high, which can lead to irritation, inflammation, or sensitivity. Talk to your favourite aesthetician and stick to what they recommend.

All these benefits are certainly worth a try for improved skin heath and radiance!

Celeste Calder