Microneedling is a safe and effective treatment that can be performed at home or in a clinic. This laser skin treatment helps stretch marks by stimulating collagen production and renewing your skin’s structure. The device consists of a hand-held tool with an array of tiny needles that penetrate the surface layers of your skin to stimulate the natural healing process.
In this guide, we find out Does Microneedling Help Stretch Marks, Is microneedling or laser better for stretch marks, Does microneedling work on old stretch marks, and How often should I microneedle my stretch marks?
Microneedling is a form of skin rejuvenation that uses fine needles to create controlled injuries in the skin. This stimulates the body’s natural healing process and causes new collagen and elastin to be produced in the dermis layer of your skin, which helps to reduce the appearance of scars, stretch marks and wrinkles.
The procedure itself takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on how many areas you’re treating at once (for example if you want both your face and chest treated). The length of time it takes depends on how deep your practitioner needs to go into your dermis layer with each pass through their device – this varies from person-to-person but generally ranges from 1mm up until 5mm depending on their preference!
Does Microneedling Help Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are a common skin condition caused by rapid stretching of the skin, usually during pregnancy or puberty. The condition can be embarrassing and can affect your self-esteem. Microneedling is a treatment that uses tiny needles to puncture the surface of your skin, which helps to stimulate collagen production in that area.
Microneedling is also known as collagen induction therapy.
It can be incredibly frustrating to deal with stretch marks. Not only do they show up on different parts of your body, but they’re also difficult — if not impossible — to remove!
However, before you give up on your quest to remove those pesky blemishes, you may want to check out a new and effective treatment: microneedling.
But wait — does microneedling work for stretch marks? Is it a safe and effective procedure?
In this article, we’ll answer these important questions in detail! We’ll discuss what microneedling is and how it can help you get rid of stretch marks.
This guide will help you decide if microneedling for stretch marks is a good option for you to pursue. Read on to find out more!
What Are Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are common skin problems that can affect both men and women. They appear most commonly on the areas around the abdomen, thighs, hips, and breasts.
These marks typically look like thin stripes across the skin. New stretch marks are slightly raised and may be pink, red, or purple in color, depending on your skin tone.
On the other hand, old stretch marks are typically flattened and white or silver in color.
What Causes Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks form when your skin stretches or shrinks too quickly. This can result from changes in the body, such as growth spurts during puberty and rapid weight loss or gain.
Women also get stretch marks around their stomach when they get pregnant because their skin stretches to accommodate the growing baby and then shrinks once the baby is delivered.
These sudden changes cause the fibers in collagen and elastin — which are essential proteins responsible for the skin’s rigidity, strength, and flexibility — to rupture and break down, leading to the formation of stretch marks on the skin.
How Do You Treat Stretch Marks?
While stretch marks are perfectly natural, their appearance may cause you distress or affect your self-esteem.
The good news is they may fade with time. Stretch marks are essentially “scars,” after all, which occur due to a rupture of proteins in the skin.
The bad news is they may never disappear from your body completely.
Additionally, they may be more difficult to address if left untreated for a long time.
That said, there are different treatment methods to help fade more quickly or make them less noticeable, such as the following:
It’s recommended that you consult a dermatologist who can advise you on which treatments are most suitable for you, especially if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Some creams or treatments might have side effects that potentially harm the baby, so it’s always better to be cautious.
Generally, most pregnant mothers for their babies to be born before getting any kind of treatment for their stretch marks.
What Is Microneedling?
When applying topical creams or taking prescription medications don’t work, many people with stretch marks resort to microneedling to achieve their desired results.
Microneedling, or collagen induction therapy, is a minimally invasive treatment done by dermatologists or aestheticians to help rejuvenate your skin.
As the name suggests, this procedure involves using multiple needles found within a device like a dermapen or dermaroller to puncture your skin repeatedly and create “wounds” in your skin.
This then induces your skin to undergo biological phases of healing, namely inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling phases.
This is where an immediate release of growth factors or proteins to stimulate cell growth, inflammation, and tissue repair within the skin. This is also where immune cells remove the injured tissue or debris caused by the microneedling process. This phase can last up to 7 days post-treatment.
This is where the skin’s production and formation of collagen (type 3) and elastin happens. Formation of new blood vessels also occurs, leading to more blood flow, nutrition, and oxygen to the treated area. This phase typically lasts 3 to 14 days post-treatment.
This is where the tightening and firming of the treated skin happen, which leads to smoother, more toned skin. This phase can last from 2 weeks to 6 months post-treatment.
Because it’s designed to boost collagen production and promote cell growth, microneedling can be used to address various skin concerns that result from poor skin health. It’s also safe for different skin types and suitable for different skin tones.
What Skin Problems Does Microneedling Address?
Microneedling has many wonderful benefits, ranging from treating early signs of aging to relieving symptoms of complex skin problems.
This cosmetic procedure is typically used to target skin issues like the following:
Microneedling is typically done on the face simply because blemishes and skin concerns are most prominent in this area.
However, microneedling can also be done on parts of the body affected by certain skin problems, such as the legs, neck, abdomen, thighs, and back.
Ultimately, microneedling will definitely help you look your best!
Does Microneedling Work on Stretch Marks?
Yes. Microneedling is definitely one of the options you can try to treat your stretch marks safely and effectively, whether they’re on your abdomen, hips, or thighs.
One study found that there were significant clinical improvements or differences in the appearance of stretch marks in patients — with both light and dark skin tones — after consecutive monthly treatments.
Some even demonstrated more than 75% clinical improvement!
This study also showed that treating microneedling stretch marks on areas of the body where the skin is thicker, like the butt or thighs, is more effective than on areas where the skin is thinner, such as the breasts.
Additionally, several studies in different countries also show that microneedling can improve the appearance of early and mature stretch marks in just a few treatments.
They even found that microneedling therapy was more efficient in treating stretch marks than microdermabrasion.
How Does Microneedling Help Stretch Marks?
Microneedling intentionally creates superficial “microinjuries” on the skin to jumpstart the overproduction of collagen and elastin.
This helps heal the damaged tissues which created stretch marks in the first place and consequently improve the appearance and texture of the treated area.
Also, microneedling temporarily creates small channels in the skin through which skincare products are absorbed.
Simply put, it allows topical stretch mark treatments like creams and serums to penetrate the skin more easily, so you can make the most of their benefits.
This may lead to better results in reducing stretch marks or making them appear less prominent.
How Is Microneedling Done on Stretch Marks?
Microneedling usually takes 10-20 minutes to complete, but the treatment time will ultimately depend on how big your area of concern is. It might take longer if your stretch marks are on your thighs, butt, abdomen, or stomach.
Here’s how the process of microneedling typically goes:
After undergoing the process, your skin might look flushed or bright red. Don’t worry; this will fade within 48 hours after treatment.
Pro tip: Remember to apply aftercare products onto the treated area to help your skin heal better.
How Often Should Microneedling Be Done on Stretch Marks?
You may need to undergo around 3 to 6 treatments before seeing a remarkable difference in the appearance of your stretch marks.
These treatments are also spaced out between 4 to 6 weeks to ensure that your skin has ample time to recover from the procedure.
The results of microneedling stretch marks also last for 3 to 5 months, which means you may need regular follow-up treatments at least twice a year to keep stretch marks at bay.
Are There Side Effects or Risks Involved in Microneedling Your Stretch Marks?
While it’s a minimally invasive procedure, microneedling still involves puncturing your skin, so there are certain things to consider before undertaking it.
First of all, you may experience pain and redness after the procedure. It may also cause your skin to peel, flake, or feel overly tight.
It may also take several days or even weeks to heal, so you may need to limit exposure of your treated skin to environmental factors that may potentially cause harm to it.
Is microneedling or laser better for stretch marks
Microneedling is a new treatment that is becoming more popular because it has little downtime and quick results. It uses tiny needles to make small holes in your skin and stimulate healing and collagen production. Microneedling can help with many skin problems, but it is especially good for deep wrinkles around your mouth. Lasers are another way to treat your skin, but they use light to heat up and damage your skin cells. Lasers can also help with many skin problems, but they have different levels of intensity and downtime. In this article, we will compare microneedling and lasers, and tell you what each one can do for your skin and which one is right for you. Keep reading.
While lasers is effective for tissue tightening, microneedling can quickly and effectively address issues ranging from stubborn wrinkles to stretch marks. Both treatments complement each other very well.
What is the Difference between Laser and Microneedling?
Laser treatments and microneedling are different in how they work. Lasers use light as energy to treat your skin. They can target specific things on your skin, like scars, brown spots, or red veins. They can do this without hurting the rest of your skin or changing your skin type. Laser treatments are good for specific skin problems. But laser treatments also need more time to recover from (from a few days to a few weeks).
Microneedling is a mechanical method of effective treatment
On the other hand, Microneedling is a mechanical method of effective treatment that has grown in popularity in recent years due to its results and benefits. Microneedling creates thousands of tiny channels of injury over a treatment area and forces the treated area to heal. This is ideal for a large area, such as the entire face. The results are not selective to a specific problem. On the contrary, microneedling can tremendously help with collagen regeneration, skin rejuvenation and skin turnover.
Here is a table that shows the differences between CO2 laser and microneedling facial treatments:
“Microneedling and laser treatments can both be effective when used with the right intention – it’s all about finding the right solution for your individual needs.”
What are the Benefits of Microneedling?
On the other hand, microneedling together with micro-wounding creates controlled wounds on the skin surface that encourages healing in a way that tilling a field increases its yield. Microneedling is also affordable and inexpensive, and combines well with other aesthetic procedures as an ideal treatment.
Most dermatologists would recommended using microneedling devices with disposable tips
Generally, most dermatologists would recommended using microneedling devices with disposable tips (for safety and hygiene reasons) and with as many needles as possible. Drum-shaped needle rollers are hard to clean, and also hard to apply the appropriate pressure to the skin. In addition, the permanent needles dulls quickly and cannot reach the effectiveness of the microneedling pens.
Should I try one before the other?
If you are looking to proactively take care of your skin, and boost your skin or facial collagen, then microneedling is a quick and easy way to do so without much risk. It is also more affordable with less or no downtime. On the other hand, if you have a specific problem or issue that you would like to address and treat, then you might want to consider laser treatments for your specific condition to meet your goals.
What to take note of when doing Microneedling?
Technical Tips to Take Note When Performing Microneedling
For perioral rhytides and other indications, a simple microneedling approach without Radiofrequency (RF) assistance is adequate enough. There are some technical tips to take note of:
Can Microneedling Remove Acne Scars?
Treatment for Atropic Scars
For atrophic scars, traditional pulsed CO2 lasers can provide significant improvements with just one treatment. But to avoid post-treatment mismatches, the laser procedure must be delivered to entire cosmetic units or acne scarring. This is not the case with microneedling. With microneedling, a small area of atropic scars within a cosmetic unit can be treated without having to worry about colour mismatches.
Can Microneedling Treat Enlarged Pores?
Microneeding for Enlarged Pores
Yes, microneedling can be an effective treatment for enlarged pores. Microneedling involves the use of small, fine needles to create micro-injuries in the skin. This stimulates the skin’s natural healing response, including the production of collagen and elastin. As a result, the skin becomes firmer and more elastic, and the appearance of enlarged pores can be reduced.
Microneedling also helps to exfoliate the skin, removing dead skin cells and unclogging pores. This can lead to a reduction in the size of pores and an improvement in skin texture.
However, it’s important to note that the results of microneedling for enlarged pores may vary depending on the severity of the condition and the individual’s skin type. It’s always best to consult with a qualified skincare professional to determine the best treatment plan for your specific needs.
Can Microneedling Treat Hyperpigmentation?
Microneeding for Hyperpigmentation
Microneedling is a popular cosmetic treatment that involves using a device to create tiny punctures in the skin. This can improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scars. It can also be used to treat hyperpigmentation, which is a common skin concern.
Hyperpigmentation occurs when there is an excess of melanin in the skin. This can be caused by sun exposure, hormone changes, or certain medications. It can lead to patches of dark skin on the face, neck, chest, or hands.
Microneedling can help to improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation by creating microscopic injuries in the skin. This stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, which can help to fade dark spots.
Gold RF Microneedling Facial by Wellaholic
Gold RF Microneedling is a revolutionary skin treatment that delivers dramatic anti-ageing results by combining fractional radiofrequency (RF) with microneedling to effectively treat acne, acne scar, pigmentation, stretch marks & enlarged pores. Gold RF Microneedling can also lift saggy skin and revitalise dull and uneven skin tone.
What is Gold RF Microneedling Facial Treatment?
If you are looking for an effective method to clear your acne scars, wrinkles or pigmentation, or if you are looking to tighten saggy skin such as jowl lines and nasolabial folds without any invasive surgery, then Gold RF Microneedling is the right treatment for you. Gold RF Microneedling combines two scientifically-proven techniques, microneedling and fractional radiofrequency (RF) to treat a variety of skin conditions.
What are the Benefits of Gold RF Microneedling Facial?
Gold RF Microneedling has all the skin resurfacing benefits of traditional microneedling, but with the added technology of insulated needles that deliver RF energy to the skin, creating new microchannels linking your skin’s layers.
Does microneedling work on old stretch marks
Did you know that 50% to 90% of women have stretch marks? Many men have them too, even though it’s not as common. If you’ve got them, you’re not alone. After countless women trying different lotions and oils to reduce stretch marks, the world finally gave us a better solution – dermaroller!. So if you’d like to get rid of them, microneedling rollers, like the well-known DermRollers, can help with that, as they have done so to many women and men alike. In this post, we’ll discuss how dermarolling stretch marks can help reduce them. We’ll also talk about a bunch of other stuff – how to use a dermaroller on old stretch marks, post-treatment products, and much more. Keep reading!
What are Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are scars that are rippled and stretch across the skin. They’re typically purple or red-ish in the beginning but fade to a more skin-like color after some time. However, most of the time, they’re still prominent enough to bother people and mess with their self-esteem. Why do they occur? Stretch marks appear when the skin stretches too fast and breaks. It happens mainly to people that grow up or gain weight a bit too fast and pregnant women. It happens even more if the skin is dry or dehydrated.
How Does Microneedling Help Reduce Stretch Marks? Is it Effective?
Microneedling was previously known as Collagen Induction Therapy. The name was given because of how successful the therapy proved in increasing collagen production in the skin. Collagen is a protein in our skin that keeps it elastic and helps regenerate it.
Inducing collagen production in areas with stretch marks can help rejuvenate the skin, improve its texture, and reduce any purple or pink pigmentation. Hence, the visible appearance of stretch marks is greatly reduced by microneedling.
Moreover, several studies prove this. A 2019 research paper explores the efficacy of microneedling old stretch marks and analyzes results from a number of different studies from 2010 to 2017. All of the studies show positive results with regard to microneedling. For instance, one study included 40 females with stretch marks. 20 of them were treated with dermarollers, and the other 20 were given microdermabrasion with sonophoresis therapy. The results? 18 of the 20 women in the microneedling group showed clinical improvement, while only 10 in 20 women from the other group showed any positive results. It’s safe to say that a dermaroller is an effective and clinically-proven device for reducing stretch marks and gives visible and satisfactory results.
Stretch Marks’ Needle Size
Choosing the correct dermaroller size is imperative. Since stretch marks are deep scars in the skin, a facial dermaroller won’t help with it.
How to Use A Dermaroller on Stretch Marks?
Whether you’re using a 1.5mm needle or a 3.0 mm one, you must take the necessary precautions to perform the procedure safely. Even though dermarolling stretch marks at home is easy and straightforward, not following the correct instructions can result in injury and infection.
The Good Skincare for Your Old Stretch Marks
You shouldn’t apply just any serum after dermarolling stretch marks. Choosing the right serum is important because this will determine how quickly you see your results.
First and foremost, we recommend using a moisturizing serum, as the skin often becomes very dry after dermarolling. The best thirst-quenching serum for your skin is hyaluronic acid, which draws in moisture to your skin and keeps it there.
However, using these serums after dermarolling can be tricky. Your skin has open wounds after the procedure, and you don’t want to irritate it with strong acids. Hence, you may want to wait a few hours or even up to a day before applying them – depends on how well your skin tolerates the serums. Test your skin for irritation by patch testing before slathering on serums on the entire area.
When Will You See Results?
Results with dermarollers are quick but don’t expect miracles overnight. Since you’ll be dermarolling stretch marks every six to twelve weeks, expect results after at least four to five sessions (or six to seven months). You’ll start seeing improvements after the first two or three treatments, but noticeable differences occur after a few months.
How often should I microneedle my stretch marks
Stretch marks are beautiful to some and uncomfortable to others. With many oils and lotions designed to help reduce scarring, it seems like a never ending effort to try to hide stretch marks. Without penetrating deep in to the skin, a lot of those lotions may have a tough time. Thankfully, there’s a new method for helping reduce stretch marks: The SkinPen micro needling procedure.
The SkinPen is the only FDA approved micro needling device that is used to stimulate collagen production, and produce smoother, brighter skin.
Microneedling is a facial and body treatment used to help reduce the appearance of acne scars and stretch marks as well as make your skin appear brighter and clearer. Microneedling or collagen induction therapy, is relatively new and not too invasive.. Superstars and actors have even gotten treatments. Jennifer Aniston said,“I do micro-needling! I just learned about it a couple months ago from a facialist in New York. It allows the serums and whatever products you’re using to really soak in”
“The minimally invasive microneedling technique involves a series of tiny, very fine needles that are passed over the skin, creating micro-injuries which trigger new collagen and elastin synthesis as the skin begins to naturally repair itself,” says Dendy Engelman, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery. “These micro-injuries stimulate the growth of collagen, the scaffolding under the skin, which then improves the appearance of some scars and wrinkles. It also creates channels that allow various substances and serums to penetrate deeper into the skin resulting in better product efficacy.”
WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW BEFORE MICRONEEDLING?
Book a consultation with Alyssa Luciano, our Avere Beauty owner. She will be able to provide professional advice for your specific skin type. Some people may see better results than others, as with any procedure. Also, just know that it will take a few treatments to see optimal results. Avere Beauty offers FREE consultations at both our Lawrenceville and Murrysville locations.
HOW TO GET RID OF STRETCH MARKS?
Stretch marks are sometimes a sensitive concern for people. Obviously, we encourage confidence and embracing yourself, but making yourself feel more comfortable is important.
Some lotions like coco butter and lasers might reduce the redness that can be caused when stretch marks first appear, but the results might disappoint long term. And lasers are extremely costly. The SkinPen penetrates the skin at the dermis level to start the healing.
Microneedling for Stretch Marks in Pittsburgh
Our Avere Beauty Pittsburgh office has a skin pen in both our Lawrenceville and Murrysville med spa and offer micro needling in both. We like to treat stretch marks through our microneedling treatment. Microneedling is a minimally invasive treatment.
HOW DOES MICRONEEDLING WORK?
Microneedling uses tiny, well, micro-needles to create small punctures on the top layer of the skin which penetrate the dermis. The wounds “traumatize” the skin and trigger the body’s natural response of creating more collagen and elastin to heal the wounds. Left behind is improved texture and firmness, and a reduction in scars, pore size, and stretch marks. The natural healing process of the skin happens in three phases:
Inflammation – Once the skin is pierced, it triggers the response from the immune system to naturally disinfect the wounds, remove debris, increase the blood flow, and create new tissue.
Proliferation – The wound starts to rebuild itself with the new cells and the temporary collagen and elastin, as well as a new network of blood vessels.
Remodeling – The collagen produced in Phase 2 is replaced by even stronger collagen, allowing the skin to contract and create a tightening effect on the skin.
Since stretch marks cause a disruption in the natural production of collagen, microneedling will help not only restart that production, but the overproduction of elastin and collagen will help in healing the damaged connective tissue in the dermis that creates the stretch mark. A procedure like microneedling is also great for stretch marks because it penetrates the skin deep enough to create a reaction within the same layers that the stretch marks are instead of resting on the surface.
MICRONEEDLING NEAR MURRYSVILLE
Avere Beauty uses the SkinPen which is a medical-grade microneedling tool available to medical professionals. The longer needles of the SkinPen allows us to reach the dermis of the skin without bending, breaking, or rusting, so you won’t have to be concerned about scarring or infection.
WHAT ARE MICRONEEDLING TREATMENTS?
The SkinPen treatment consists of us gently moving the SkinPen across the area where there are stretch marks, or your face, with the tiny needles to create the micro-wounds. The length of the treatment depends on the number and size of the areas being treated. Usually, one session can take about 30 minutes to perform, with anywhere between 3 to 6 treatments over the span of 4 to 6 months based on the severity of the stretch marks.
Microneedling is safe and effective for all skin types and tones. It’s a great solution and alternative for treatments like chemical peels or lasers and can produce better results. This minimally invasive procedure is great for all who are trying to treat the appearance of their stretch marks. Call our Pittsburgh Microneedling office today to book now!
In the past, women have used all kinds of concoctions to try and get rid of stretch marks, from coconut oils and sugar scrubs, to seaweed wraps and Vitamin A creams.
Research shows that topical creams and oils are not effective on stretch marks as they do not penetrate deep enough into the skin. Micro needling or skin needling has emerged as a safe and effective way of getting rid of stretch marks – and it’s proven too. Have you ever thought of using skin needling for stretch marks?
WHAT ARE STRETCH MARKS?
Stretch marks are those squiggly lines on your skin that appear after it’s been stretched. This usually happens on the belly area when you are pregnant, and will usually remain there even after birth.
It can also appear on any area where fat is stored such as your arms, hips, thighs, breasts and bum. Is there anything you can do to prevent stretch marks? Despite what the old wives tell you the answer is no. Some people are just more prone to stretch marks no matter how much coconut oil or sweet almond oil you slather on.
HOW DO STRETCH MARKS FORM?
Stretch marks happen when the middle layer of your skin stretches too fast causing some of its collagen fibres to snap. As a result, the blood vessels underneath become more noticeable, presenting as purplish or pink marks on your skin. Over time, these marks fade and look like white or silver scars.
For some people, stretch marks are just battle scars from birth and they are happy to walk around with them. Others however, may be more self-conscious and prefer to get rid of them.
USING A DERMA ROLLER FOR STRETCH MARKS
A derma roller is a small handheld device with a roller at the top that is covered with lots of tiny needles. It has long been used as a skincare technique to reduce the appearance of scarring or wrinkles on the face, and to rejuvenate the skin.
How does it work? Basically, you just roll the derma roller over the affected area a few times, then you apply a nourishing skin serum. The tiny needles make superficial holes, triggering the skin’s natural healing and rejuvenation process. Most importantly, it stimulates collagen production – the miracle protein that holds connective tissue together, making your skin look younger and firmer. Derma rolling or skin needling also improves the skin’s ability to absorb nourishing moisturisers and serums, to plump up the skin. Derma rolling can be used on other areas of the body such as to target stretch marks.
AVERE BEAUTY USES SKINPEN
Avere Beauty uses the SkinPen (which is like an electric derma roller that is more advanced and precise) to make microscopic pricks on your skin to break down the scars and boost the collagen production process.
DERMA ROLLER AT HOME OR SKIN PEN?
Many people have included derma rollers into their skin care routine. It’s pretty easy, you can use it at home, and with regular use, your complexion can look visibly smoother. When it comes to treating stretch marks however, skin needling at a clinic might be the better choice. These are the benefits of skin needling at a clinic for stretch marks:
More hygienic – Derma rolling involves proper cleaning and disinfecting of the derma roller (and your skin). At professional skin clinics like Clinica Lase, your health and safety are our number one priority – all equipment and treatment rooms are sterilised and cleaned before each session.
You get expert advice – Microneedling is quite a specialised skill. Where should you needle for stretch marks? How long for? How deep should you dermaroll? What kind of serum do you apply after needling? At a clinic, the skin therapist is there to handle everything.
More effective results – For stretch marks, you need a longer needle to reach the affected area, which normal at-home derma rollers do not have.