The science behind microneedling therapy
Microneedling therapy is a current hot topic in the beauty community, and for good reason! A microneedling treatment is the more common name for collagen induction therapy or CIT, but it is also called dermarolling and skin needling. Collagen induction therapy is a minimally invasive skin rejuvenation procedure, often cited for helping with acne scars, stretch marks, skin texture, uneven skin tones, and to help the body increase collagen and elastin production.
As we age, it takes longer for our body to produce fresh, young skin cells because we produce less collagen and elastin to keep our skin full and youthful. Microneedling treatment stimulates production of your natural growth factors, improve skin elasticity with the production of collagen and elastin to encourage skin rejuvenation.
The history
The first uses of microneedling therapy was recorded in the early 1900s as cosmetic procedures to treat scars, stretch marks, birth marks and post inflammatory hyperpigmentation using a burr type tool. By the mid 90’s it was being used to treat wrinkles and scars, and gained more attention when a small needle stamp device was developed to induce collagen induction therapy.
With continued research, it was discovered that microneedling therapy was successful in treating more than scars. Because a microneedling treatment induces collagen and elastin production, it helps eliminate fine lines and wrinkles, treats acne scars, improve skin texture and skin tone, increase collagen and elastin as well as treat pigment issues, and so much more.
The science
The science behind microneedling is to create micro-wounds by a microneedling device with very fine, sterile “micro” needles that puncture the skin to the dermal layer – below the epidermis, where collagen and elastin are produced. This in turn stimulates the body’s healing process. This process can also be called “percutaneous collagen induction therapy.” It is the body’s natural healing response when wound healing, and this controlled, alternative treatment stimulates the production of collagen and elastin in the areas you want treated.
Further research discovered additional types of treatments that may include platelet rich plasma or PRP in combination with collagen induction therapy. Also known as Vampire Facials, these cosmetic procedures use the patient’s own blood containing growth factors which is applied to the treatment area during and after collagen induction therapy to boost production of collagen and elastin even more.
These are more involved cosmetic procedures as the platelet rich plasma has to be drawn from the patient and separated from the other blood cells. This procedure can cost an average of $1500 per treatment, and studies are still being done on the effectiveness of the combined treatment of platelet rich plasma containing growth factors and collagen induction therapy.
Other treatments being combined with collagen induction therapy include led light therapy, radiofrequency and growth factors to name a few. In addition to microneedling treatments on your skin, people are getting positive results with microneedling treatments for hair loss.
While the combined procedures are still being studied, collagen induction therapy results on it’s own are undeniable. For a comprehensive list of benefits from microneedling therapy, check out this link: https://bestbeautyhacks.com/benefits-of-microneedling
Disclaimer
Microneedling therapy is a cosmetic procedure. Microneedling devices and treatments are not meant to be used to diagnose or treat any medical conditions.
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