Acne, in general, can dampen anyone’s confidence. Some people can only hope that their breakouts go away a few weeks later. But for some, that’s not always the case.
Unfortunately, acne can cause pesky scarring that’s difficult to get rid of. At its worst, no skincare regimen or ointment can get rid of it. And Singaporeans only have one solution left in their arsenal, clinical procedures like microneedling!
Today we’ll discuss what micro needling facial treatments are and what makes them different from other treatments like a hydrating facial and microdermabrasion!
What Microneedling in Singapore is
Micro needling facial treatments are the art of using small needles repeatedly.
It creates hundreds of tiny holes in the skin, causing the body to go into its collagen production mode. As the skin thinks of these holes as wounds, it works to heal them the best way it knows how, by creating more collagen and producing new tissues.
Some people assume that the procedure is only creating more scars on your skin. When in reality, the holes are not deep enough to create lasting damages. Additionally, it creates an opportunity for your skin to rejuvenate and heal itself from imperfections like scars and large pores.
The Effectiveness of Microneedling
A lot of Singaporeans are very sceptical of whether micro needling facial treatments work. And yes, it does!
The procedure doesn’t just use one standard needle throughout the entire procedure. There are varying needles that get longer and longer from one another.
And the trick that microneedling uses is to stipulate the depths associated with different skin imperfections.
There are three different layers in our skin. The outer skin that everyone sees is called the stratum corneum. It’s a relatively thin layer that’s easy to penetrate. And underneath it, there’s the epidermis.
The epidermis is an important and dense layer responsible for creating pigmentation and protection. The last layer, namely the dermis, is where we can find our nerve endings, sweat glands, and other oil glands.
Depending on the imperfection that you have, it may lie within those three layers. For example, acne scars are often found deep in the dermis. And should you get microneedling facial treatments, they’ll use longer needles.
If your concern is only the pigmentation, your clinician will only use a needle deep enough to reach the centre of your skin.
Benefits of Microneedling
Besides helping patients get rid of imperfections in their skin, microneedling is also being used to alleviate other issues like hair loss and stretch marks.
Hair Loss
Over the last few years, researchers have explored the possibilities of using microneedling against alopecia. For those who don’t know, alopecia is a condition that causes massive hair loss regardless of the patient’s age or sex.
And because of microneedling’s track record of boosting collagen production that promotes hair growth, they wanted to see how the scalp could benefit from the procedure.
Studies have shown that microneedling can help induce stem cells within the hair follicles of a patient. As a result, it promotes noticeable hair growth and less fragility.
But depending on the severity of the case, the procedure may require topical steroids or other stimulants that’ll help the body produce better results.
Additionally, a numbing cream should be applied before the procedure due to how sensitive the scalp is.
Stretch Marks
When microneedling was first created in the 90s, it was meant to treat scarring deep in the dermis of the face. But as cosmetology progressed in the next years, researchers discovered that microneedling has the potential to treat other issues by reaching more into the depths of the skin.
Stretch marks are similar to acne scarring that goes deep into the dermis. And while microneedling is commonly used on the face, the procedure can be used in different parts of the body.
Most women experience stretch marks along their thighs, buttocks, and breasts. And because these scars came from failed elasticity in the skin, microneedling is the perfect solution to promoting elastic fibres into the dermis.
Acne Scars
Micro needling facial treatments were intentionally created to treat deep acne scarring. These marks are the result of harsh acne breakouts during adolescence.
And unfortunately, some Singaporeans never healed from them. Furthermore, there are also rare cases of scarring from acne breakouts that develop later into adulthood.
And because older bodies tend to have lesser collagen in them, the wounds never heal on their own.
Before you can identify which micro needling facial treatment is right for you, a clinician would have to identify the kind of scarring you have.
But regardless of the kind of scarring that you have, microneedling generally offers visible results especially for scars that are younger than 10 years of age.
Those with scars that are older than the recommended age will be more difficult to treat.
If you want to give micro needling facial treatments a try, you must ensure that you don’t have any active acne on your face. The needles could open your acne and transport the bacteria across your skin as it rolls.
The Difference BetweenMicroneedling and Microdermabrasion
Besides other treatments like hydrating facial treatments, microdermabrasion is another procedure that has become extremely popular in Singapore besides microneedling.
A lot of people get confused between what microneedling is and what microdermabrasion is. Some people tend to assume that they’re the same treatment. When in reality, they’re not.
As we’ve discussed earlier, microneedling is an invasive treatment that punctures the skin. On the other hand, microdermabrasion is its less invasive brother that uses physical exfoliation during the procedure.
It’s similar to the exfoliation you use at home except, better. It uses the best effective exfoliator in the market, a device that has rough surfaces.
Just like microneedling, the device is brushed up against the skin to remove excess keratin and other dead skin cells.
Depending on the severity of a patient’s case, some people find better results with microdermabrasion. Their skin is visibly smoother and brighter after one session.
Unlike microneedling, the effects of microdermabrasion can immediately be seen after one treatment. As for microneedling, it’s a slow process that requires multiple treatments for the effects to be visible.
If you’re someone who doesn’t like the idea of having needles puncture your skin, microdermabrasion is the perfect solution for you.
You no longer have to worry about your phobia of needles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Microneedling
If you’re thinking about getting a micro needling facial treatment but still have questions in mind, here’s our little guide for the procedure!
Is It Safe?
Microneedling is one of the safest invasive skin treatments in the world. There are some risks like cross-contamination, but they are relatively easy to manage.
If you want to give the treatment a try, you need to find a trusted clinic to help you out.
The risk of cross-contamination increases if the needles used on the patient are not properly sterilized. It can cause severe reactions to sensitive skin and spread further infection on the surface of your skin.
Another thing you need to keep in mind is that needles are prone to rusting over time. If you were unfortunate enough to get treatment from a clinic that can’t identify rust before any procedure, you’re in danger.
Additionally, there’s also the precision of the practitioner. There are certain areas of the skin that need the correct needle length. And microneedling is only as effective if the right needle is used in the correct area. It’s especially true for those who want to get rid of eye wrinkles.
Does It Hurt?
The pain rate of micro needling facial treatments depends on your pain tolerance. Some people find the sensation of needles on their skin uncommon. And on the other hand, some people find it ticklish, making the procedure more bearable for them.
If you’re worried about the pain or discomfort you’ll feel during the procedure, know that some clinics use numbing creams. They’ll apply the agent to your skin 45 minutes before the procedure starts.
Once the needling begins, you’re likely to feel nothing during the rest of the treatment until the cream wears off.
However, there are certain cases of patients feeling pain when the needle hits an area with a higher fat ratio. Areas that have thinner skin like the neck and the collarbones can be more painful.
What Should I Expect After The Treatment?
Redness and swelling is a common side effect that patients are told to expect after the treatment. According to patients, the pain that they feel after microneedling is similar to having a mild sunburn.
What Should I Use For Aftercare?
Practitioners would recommend you avoid certain things after the treatment. For example, they might tell you to avoid sun exposure for at least two weeks as your cells heal.
Any exposure to the sun can kill off all the new cells your skin has produced. And should staying off be impossible, cover up as much as you can.
You can wear wide-brimmed hats and other clothing that can protect the treated area from coming into contact with UV rays. Another thing that you could do is to use sunscreen for at least 24 hours after the treatment.
Another thing that you need to avoid is anti-inflammatory medications and creams. Keep in mind that redness and swelling is part of the process. Your skin is being rejuvenated because your system thinks it’s in danger and it needs more collagen.
Taking medications that’ll lessen the swelling will prevent this process from happening.
And if you’re worried about any pain or discomfort that you may feel once the treatment is over, a practitioner is likely to recommend gentle painkillers like a Tylenol for comfort.
Microneedling At Home
Due to the rising popularity of micro needling facial treatments in Singapore, more and more Singaporeans are tempted to do the procedure at home.
Because of the high demand for the treatment, developers have created compact needling devices like derma rollers that allow Singaporeans to treat themselves at home.
Shaped like a razor, derma rollers have a rolling pin that features hundreds of tiny needles. And just like the needles clinics have, they come in various sizes and lengths.
Now, the ultimate question is, is it safe to do it at home?
Expert clinicians have said that microneedling at home is safe so long as Singaporeans use needles that are only 0.25 mm in depth. But despite how widely accepted at-home microneedling is, there are still risks that people should be wary of.
If done incorrectly, at-home microneedling can do more damage to your skin than acne. Due to the increasing popularity of the treatment, the needles offered in the market have now reached professional depths.
Needles that should only be used by a trained practitioner can now be bought online. And this makes at-home treatments even scarier. Singaporeans with deeper scarring might get the idea that using deeper needles is better.
When in reality, it’ll create more harm than good without proper training.
Earlier, we’ve discussed the importance of finding a trusted clinic for your procedure and the risks of the treatment itself. The same thing applies here.
Administering at-home microneedling puts your skin at more risk. Not only do you lack the professional experience needed to conduct the treatment itself, but you probably don’t have any idea how to prep your tools as well.
Without the right expertise and proper sterilization, Singaporeans are putting themselves at risk from cross-contamination and micro-tears. The micro-tears that your at-home regimen brings could lead to further scarring and hyperpigmentation.
That’s why despite the prevalence of at-home microneedling, most experts still recommend going to a proper clinician for the procedure.
It may cost more than buying a derma roller, but it guarantees you better and safer results. You no longer have to worry about the proper techniques and sterilized tools when you got a trusted clinic like Ceramique Aesthetics!
You can rest easy knowing that your skin and your confidence is in the hands of Singapore’s leading trained clinicians.
Learn more about microneedling and other eye treatment and facial options available in Singapore by visiting CeramiqueAesthetic’s website!