Microneedling, also known as dermal rolling, is one of the aesthetic success stories of recent years and it’s no surprise, as the treatment is extremely effective in stimulating collagen, refining texture, blitzing pigmentation, and smoothing out wrinkles, acne scars and even stretch marks.
The non-surgical treatment, which was invented in Germany by Dermaroller more than 20 years ago, is more popular than ever, resulting in a surge of DIY microneedling devices coming to market. However, some of these use longer needle lengths than is safe in an unsupervised environment, leading consumers to falsely believe that they can achieve professional standard results at home.
Needle lengths between 0.5mm to 2.5mm are used by aesthetic professionals to target the dermis and the skin’s deeper layers, to cause controlled micro-trauma resulting in collagen stimulation. However, this approach is best left to qualified experts—any treatment that causes skin trauma and bleeding should only be undertaken in a clinical setting.
Stringent requirements for at home microneedling dictates that needles should be much shorter –no longer than .3mm. The bottom line is that no home use device should be claiming to promote collagen stimulation, as it should not penetrate the dermis.
So just what is at home microneedling able to do for skin, and why should you do it at home, as well as in clinic? Currently the Dermaroller is the only microneedling device pending FDA approval, and is unsurpassed for its safety and efficacy—this Rolls Royce of microneedling devices even undergoes a triple quality control check to ensure perfection.
Targeting the epidermis only, the surgical grade stainless steel tool features 0.2mm atraumatic needles that meet the stringent requirements for a home use device, helping to refine pores, reduce wrinkles, boost radiance and improve texture by making very small, superficial punctures in the skin with no risk of bleeding.
If you follow a stringent at home protocol you should reap the benefits from your Dermaroller. The device has 162 needles in the barrel (compared to 540 on some other devices that use disk needles)—this avoids snagging the skin, and they are far enough apart to be effective. However, avoid applying too much pressure: be gentle when rolling back and forth over the skin.
If skin is inflamed, very sensitive or you have breakouts, active acne, eczema or rosacea, do not attempt microneedling at home and consult a qualified practitioner for advice. Always sterilise your Dermaroller after each use.
