Why Microneedling is Hollywood's Hottest New Skincare Trend

The thought of having your skin poked with tiny needles may sound more like a Hollywood horror movie than a hot new trend. But wouldn’t you be willing to risk a little pain to look as radiant as Angelina Jolie?

You may not be attending a star-studded movie premiere, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look like it.  Dr. Bruce Sanderson and his team at Lasercare Skin Clinic in Little Rock, Arkansas, use one of the most advanced microneedling tools called the SkinPen®, and it might just be the fountain of youth you’ve been searching for.

Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, is a minimally invasive procedure that produces fantastic results. Many Hollywood stars, including Demi Moore, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, AND Angelina Jolie are turning to this procedure to help them keep their young, youthful appearance.

The tiny pinpricks of microneedling minimize lines and wrinkles, reduce pore size, shrink acne scars and improve hyperpigmentation.

Microneedling 101

Microneedling isn’t new. Doctors have been using this procedure to improve the look of skin since the 1990s. It started out as a roller filled with tiny needles about 1 millimeter apart.

As the needles rolled across the skin, it placed tiny punctures on the skin’s surface, stimulating:

• The production of collagen and elastin (the proteins which keep your skin plump and wrinkle free)  
• The growth of new skin
• Revascularization of the area

At the Lasercare Skin Clinic, we use the SkinPen, which isn’t a roller but a pen-like instrument with 12 tiny needles at the bottom. Instead of rolling across the skin, the SkinPen gently slides across the skin, precisely targeting the area of the skin you want to have treated.  

The SkinPen can treat an old acne scar, wrinkles on your forehead, stretch marks, or hyperpigmented areas. To reduce discomfort, we apply an anesthetic cream to your face before starting treatment.

Wrinkle Reducer

Unfortunately, as you age, your skin begins to lose both collagen and elastin (usually around age 40). Without these two proteins, your skin starts to thin and loosen, which decreases its resilient springiness.

Minimally invasive microneedling increases collagen production and improves the look of your skin, according to a 2015 study published in The International Journal of Dermatology. The participants in this study were mildly to moderately wrinkled at the start.

These participants underwent six sessions of microneedling every two weeks and showed a marked improvement in the look of their skin. There was also a significant increase in new collagen production during the study period.

Acne Scars

It's been years since you last broke out, but the acne scars linger to remind you of the days when zit cream was a regular part of your nightly routine. But microneedling may help diminish the remaining scars and the not-so-pleasant memories.

Microneedling works to improve the look of acne scars by forcing the formation of new skin. The needles cause a tiny injury to the area, stimulating your body’s skin-building team.

A 2015 review article published in The International Journal of Women’s Dermatology found that a series of three sessions every four weeks was beneficial in reducing acne scars. Microneedling also breaks up other scar tissue as well, including stretch marks.

Hyperpigmentation

Your mom called them age spots, or even worse, liver spots. Hyperpigmentation occurs when excess melanin deposits become visible in some regions of your skin.

Sun exposure usually causes it, which is why it’s so important to wear sunscreen. While the spots are harmless, they make your face look like a patchwork of color. Microneedling, usually in conjunction with a lightening agent or chemical peel, may help lessen the dark spots.

Conclusion

You don’t have to be a movie star to look like one. As a noninvasive procedure, microneedling is a safe and effective method of improving the look, feel and tone of your skin.