Is Micro Needling, Dermapen and RF Needling the same thing?

What is a skin needling treatment?

Skin needling is a minimally invasive procedure that has grown in popularity due to its effectiveness and impressive results. Skin needling treatments uses a medical-grade needling device (such as a Dermapen) with microscopic, motorised needles to create thousands of tiny, evenly spaced punctures into the skin.

How does skin needling work?

Skin needling uses the body’s natural healing response to overcompensate and produce more collagen. This results in the rapid healing and regeneration of damaged skin. Skin needling is a safe and effective treatment for retaining youth and treating acne scars, surgery scars, wrinkles, and stretch marks. It can be used safely on areas of the body including the face, neck, abdomen, and chest. Skin needling increases cell renewal resulting in a fresher, brighter, more youthful appearance.

 

Who is skin needling best for?

Owing to its non-invasiveness, skin needling is an ideal treatment option for people of all lifestyles and needs. Skin needling may be of even more benefit if you suffer from the following skin conditions:

• Rosacea
• Pigmentation and Melasma
• Wrinkles and Fine Lines
• Acne Scarring
• Sun Damage

 

How many skin needling treatments are required?

How many skin needling treatments do you need? Well the number of procedures depends on your individual skin needs. Three to four treatments may be needed for moderate acne scars. Scars from thermal burns and stretch marks may require up to five procedures.

In the case of wrinkles associated with skin ageing, one or two refresher skin needling treatments are recommended every year.

Skin needling results after one treatment for rejuvenation of the skin may be seen as soon as 2 weeks and last as long as 6 to 8 months. Burn scars are usually slower to respond and can take between 6 to 12 months to see results from a single treatment.

 

Skin Needling Benefits

There are many benefits to skin needling, and here are just a few that skin needling can offer:

 

• Minimise the appearance of acne scarring, surgical scarring, thermal burns, chicken pox and more
• Insufficient collagen and elastin leads to fine lines and wrinkles. Skin needling encourages your skin to create new collagen and elastin to help the skin maintain its proper structure while also giving it greater flexibilitiy
• There is a reduced risk of hyperpigmentation and scarring with skin needling compared to other, more invasive procedures – making it ideal for all skin types
• Skin needling can be performed quickly and has minimal down time. Patients can resume regular activities within a few days depending on the depth of penetration of the needles

 

Side Effects of Skin Needling

Inflammation effects after skin needling can cause increased sensitivity and redness of the skin that may present for one to two days. You may also feel a slight tingling feeling following your procedure. These are normal side effects of skin needling and should pass quickly. You can reduce swelling by applying a cold compress to the treated area.

 

What to do after skin needling treatment

Although the skin needling procedure gives more than enough boost to your skin, there are some things post skin needling treatment you can do to ensure you end up with the best results possible:

 

• Consume more Vitamin A or Vitamin C to boost collagen and keep you at optimum health. We recommend eating a wholefood diet rich in fruit and vegetables, and supplementing if necessary
• After treatment, avoid direct sun exposure. Your skin will be more sensitive as it is healing, making it important that you stay out of the sun
• Avoid exercise or activities that make you sweat for at least 48 hours after treatment. Strenuous activity may heat up the skin and allow for bacteria to penetrate which may lead to infection

 

 

Micro Needling

What is micro needling?

Micro needling treatments are a cosmetic procedure that uses small, sterilised needles to prick the skin. Its purpose is to generate new collagen and skin tissue to smooth, firm, and tone the skin. Micro needling is primarily used on the face and may reduce the appearance of acne, scars, dark spots, wrinkles, and large pores.

Micro needling is minimally invasive and requires very little downtime to recover. It is considered to be a safe procedure for most people. It is considerably less expensive than laser therapy and may work better for some people.

 

How does micro needling work?

Micro needling works by encouraging your skin to make more collagen. The pinpricks from the procedure cause wounds in the skin and the skin responds by making new collagen rich tissue.

The new skin tissue is more even in tone and texture. It’s common for the skin to lose collagen with age or injury. By encouraging the skin to make new tissue, additional collagen may help make the skin firmer.

 

How many micro needling treatments are required?

Ideal results of micro needling are achieved after multiple sessions although this differs depending on skin type and conditions. Some people may require long-term maintenance plans.

After micro needling, your skin works fairly quickly to rejuvenate new tissue. The results after one treatment should be seen within a couple of weeks.

 

Micro needling Benefits

Micro needling is effective in treating minor scarring related to acne, stretch marks, and maturing skin. You may notice brighter, firmer skin too! It’s said to rejuvenate and plump the skin with minimal discomfort and very little downtime and can be adjusted to fit each person’s needs. Other benefits include:

 

• Reducing the appearance of scars, including acne scars
• Reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Reducing enlarged pores
• Reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation, or dark spots
• Smoothing uneven skin tone
• Improving skin elasticity
• Reducing the appearance of stretch marks

 

Micro needling side effects

Like all cosmetic procedures, micro needling carries from risk. The most common side effect you can experience minor redness and irritation for a few days after a micro needling procedure. There can also be some inflammation effects after micro needling. Call your doctor if you notice more severe side effects such as:

• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Infection
• Peeling

 

What to do after micro needling treatment

Post micro needling treatment most people require very little downtime, if any. You can go back to work or school after the procedure if you’re comfortable. It’s best to let you skin heal before applying makeup. However, once the appropriate amount of time has passed, camouflaging makeup can help disguise the redness as it dissipates.

Your skin will also be more sensitive to the sun, so be sure to apply sunscreen, although it is recommended you wait one week before exposing your skin to sunlight and harsh chemicals.

Other ways you can look after your skin post treatment include:

• Avoiding skin care products with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and retinol for a week
• Staying hydrated
• Using an antioxidant serum
• Using a cooling mask
• Using collagen-stimulating peptides

 

Dermapen Micro Needling

Dermapen skin needling treatment uses tiny needles in a pen-like device that create micropunctures every second. These controlled micro-injuries activate the skin’s healing process by stimulating new collagen and elastin production.

Both a Dermapen and roller apply the same basic technique to achieve results. The major differences are:

• The Dermapen is more precise
• There is less damage to the epidermis with the Dermapen
• Dermapen treatments are faster and more comfortable than a roller

The traditional roller can be painful and produce much more visible bleeding due to how the device is designed. The roller flicks and tears the skin. The Dermapen, however, is precise and can target problem areas without causing unnecessary damage.

 

What is Dermapen micro needling?

Dermapen Micro needling treatments are a sought-after skin renewal procedure that treats a wide range of conditions. Unlike injectable treatments, Dermapen micro needling is an entirely natural process that stimulated the body’s own repair and renewal process in order to create collage.

Facial needling with Dermapen helps get rid of unwanted lines and wrinkles, and other blemishes, but you can also treat different parts of your body. Hands and neck are popular zones, although you can treat anywhere you feel needs a boost of collagen to repair thinning, sagging, sun-damaged or problematic skin.

 

How does Dermapen micro needling work?

The Dermapen is a small, pen-like device that contains tiny needles that vibrate and penetrate both the epidermis and dermis at extremely high speeds. The Dermpen can penetrate you skin using needles up to 2.0mm. The device is used to “wound” your skin at a micro level in order to kick-start its healing mechanisms and stimulate the production of collagen.

 

How many Dermapen micro needling treatments are required?

Dermapen Micro needling results after one treatment can improve the skin’s appearance. After 8-12 weeks you’ll start to notice lasting and significant results, although your skin will continue to improve for up to 12 months, especially if you follow the recommended post treatment care.

 

Dermapen micro needling Benefits

Dermapen micro needling promotes effective management for many skin conditions including rapid lifting, firming and toning of facial features and contours. It evens out skin tone and texture and diminishes scars and stretchmarks. The Dermapen can help reduce the appearance of:

 

• Ageing, fine lines and wrinkles
• Active acne or acne scars
• Pigmentation
• Melasma
• Scars
• Enlarged pores
• Rosacea
• Hair loss
• Stretch marks

 

Dermapen Side effects

Your skin may feel hot for up to 24 hours post treatment and you may experience slight swelling and puffiness, particularly around the eyes. Inflammation effects after Dermapen micro needling occur within 10 days after the treatment, during which the body releases growth factors.

 

What to do after Dermapen Micro Needling Treatment

Post micro needling treatment there are several things you need to consider in order to maximise the benefits of the Dermapen.

• Drink plenty of water and keep your skin dry for 6 hours post-treatment
• Keep your skin constantly clean for at least 72 hours after the treatment using mild cleansers and avoid the use of harsh skin care products for about a week.
• Avoid alcohol-based toners as the surface of your skin will feel extra-sensitive after the treatment.
• Avoid applying makeup for a week to prevent skin irritation and allow your skin to breathe and recover
• Be careful and avoid direct sunlight – cover up properly and use sunscreen recommended by your micro needling professional

 

Dermapen Micro Needling at Home

There are multiple options available on the market for both in salon and at-home micro needling. The at-home Dermapen HOME device can maximise your results between clinic visits. The Dermapen HOME needles are adjustable from 0.1mm to 0.5mm and is suitable for the treatment of wrinkles, pigmentation, infusion of meso fluids, problematic skin breakouts, open pores and skin texture, and rosacea.

Don’t risk at-home procedures deeper than 0.5mm as you are not equipped with the knowledge or expertise to do so safely or effectively. Shallower depths have shown effective results even with a clinical environment. Stick to treating yourself at home at a safe, superficial depth with Dermapen HOME, which still delivers proven, visible results.

 

RF Needling

Infini Radiofrequency (RF) Needling is a non-laser treatment that combines radiofrequency and micro needling to produce skin tightening and improve fine lines, wrinkles, thin skin, and acne scarring.

 

What is RF needling?

An RF needling treatment combines two modalities, micro needling and radiofrequency energy to renew the skin. RF needling can help to:

• Tighten the skin
• Improve fine lines and wrinkles
• Enhance skin elasticity and thinning skin
• Improve the appearance of some acne scars
• Reduce pore size

 

Skin needling and RF are both well-established treatments that are normally performed individually to induce collagen production to improve the skin. The combination of the two in a single treatment can synergise their effects on the skin.

 

How does RF needling work?

In micro needling, a fine needle creates micro wounds in the skin that triggers the production of collagen and elastin. In RF needling, the needle releases radiofrequency into the wounds causing additional damage which enhances the effects of standard micro needling.

 

Laser RF Therapy

Laser RF therapy or Fractional RF uses a combination of dermal stamping and radiofrequency. Dermal stamping is an organic way or rebuilding collagen and elastin while radiofrequency uses low-level radio waves to cause a thermal reaction within the dermis. This heat metabolises unhealthy cells and fibres, in turn causing stimulation to produce healthy new cells. The result is added structure, reduced pore size, reduced acne scarring, and overall skin rejuvenation. The laser treatments mostly target the surface of the skin and top layer of the dermis.

 

RF laser or Skin Needling?

While both skin needling and laser treatments result in some redness, this is more prominent with a fractional laser. Skin needling recovery is about 1 day of possible redness and/or swelling, while the downtime for laser RF therapy is on average 4 to 7 days with swelling and redness that may take longer to dissipate as the injury was caused by heat.

The most well known drawback to laser RF therapy is that is cannot be performed on certain skin types because of the increased risk of burn and concerns with pigmentation. Skin needling can be performed on all skin tones as it does not rely on the skin’s interaction with turning light into heat.

Overall, skin needling is a safer, more effective, less expensive, and less risky treatment to achieve skin rejuvenation. It doesn’t damage the skin but rather leads to thicker, healthier skin. It can effectively treat indented acne scars and surgical scars, and improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and stretch marks.

 

How many RF needling treatments are required?

There can be variation between each individual and the number of sessions they require to achieve desired results. It is generally recommended that you have a minimum of 3 sessions based on your individual needs and skin condition.

 

RF needling results after one treatment begin at the 8-week mark. A positive effect can be seen immediately post treatment due to the lifting and tightening from the temporary collagen shrinkage lasting approximately 1 week. The temporary collagen shrinkage is then replaced by collagen tightening associated with the reparative and remodelling phases of wound healing.

 

What you need to know before your RF needling

Two weeks prior to your RF needling treatment, it is best to use sunscreen and avoid sun exposure, solarium, and a fake tan to the treatment area. Generally, the procedure only takes 10 to 20 minutes. There’s very little, to no downtime, but you’ll need to swear SPF as your skin heals.

You’ll likely need at least 3 treatments to get the results you want. To maintain the full effect, it is recommended to repeat the session once a year.

 

RF Needling Benefits

RF needling is designed to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin to provide a superior result. It is particularly suited to the treatment of olive or darker skin types. There is minimal risk of causing hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation post treatment, as the energy is delivered from inside the skin, not the outside. Some of the benefits of RF needling treatment include:

 

• Minimally invasive treatment
• Minimal downtime required
• Improves the appearance of the skin
• Reduces skin texture irregularities
• Smooths and firms the skin
• Can treat acne scars, wrinkles, and fine line
• Tightens loose or sagging skin

 

RF Needling Side effects

Typically, RF needling is well tolerated, however like all cosmetic treatments it may cause some side effects. These include:

• Dryness
• Redness
• Scaling
• Itching
• Swelling
• Mild acne flare-up
• Cold sore breakout

 

Inflammation effects after RF needling may require the application of ice packs to reduce the swelling and discomfort.

 

What to do After RF needling treatment

Post RF needling treatment, it is important to continue caring for your skin. It is recommended that you:

 

• Follow a diligent skincare regimen which includes using moisturiser daily
• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen, ideally SPF50+
• Avoid swimming or strenuous exercise 2 days post-treatment
• Delay using makeup until the following day