It’s hard to imagine that having a bunch of needles punched into your face at high speed can be beneficial for your skin, but the purpose of skin needling – also known as direct needle therapy, micro-needling, dermal needling or collagen induction therapy – is to “injure” the skin, albeit in a safe and controlled manner.
“The process stimulates numerous growth factors that are responsible for the overall look and feel of the skin – several are responsible for the production of new collagen,” explains Laura Townsend, Ultraceuticals education coach for New Zealand.
“By stimulating these growth factors via micro wounds, we create responses in the skin that will reveal a younger, healthier complexion.”
Who does it suit?
All ages and skin types can have needling but you will need to step up your home skincare routine to include active ingredients, such as vitamins A and C to help prepare your skin.
“It’s ideal for women who may have had other skin treatments before and want to take it to the next level for even better, longer-lasting results,” says Laura, “and it’s fantastic for treating loss of firmness, acne scarring, pigmentation, uneven texture of the skin, and fine lines and wrinkles.”
What happened in my treatment?
After a consultation with Falan from Skin Boutique to make sure I was a suitable candidate, my face was thoroughly cleansed and anaesthetic cream applied.
Within 30 minutes, my entire face was numb – it was a strange feeling but at least it meant I wasn’t going to feel those needles!
The cream was removed and Falan quickly got to work with the Dermapen, an electric device with fine, disposable needles that mechanically oscillate at high speed. (Some clinics use a hand-held roller rather than a pen).
As the pen buzzed around my face, section by section (sounding a bit like a sewing machine), I was only aware of a scratchy, tender feeling in certain parts, in others, I felt nothing. Falan was able to adjust the needle depth, depending on the area she was working on and in 20 minutes or so, it was over.
My face was wiped with saline solution and vitamin A serum was applied to seep into the tiny channels created by the needles, followed by a rich moisturiser.
What did my skin look like after?
Immediately afterwards, it was pretty red, like I’d spent a day at the beach without sunscreen, but the inflammation and tiny, visible prick marks were all but gone the next morning. Within a week, it was glowing and healthy looking.
As with most treatments, a course is recommended so I went on to have three more sessions, spaced one month apart. By then, my skin was looking radiant with incredible clarity. My pores looked more refined and compliments were flowing.
Laura says I can expect to see improvements for up to two years but I suspect a yearly one-off treatment would be the ultimate way to maintain results.
