Are you as curious as I was about microneedling? Ahead, board-certified dermatologists Dr. Bruce Katz and Dr. Sejal Shah explain everything you need to know about microneedling, the benefits, and their thoughts on at-home vs in-office treatments.
"Microneedling is a cosmetic procedure that uses a device with very thin, sharp needle tips to make punctures on the skin," says Dr. Katz. "The functionality behind microneedling is that once the body feels the small pricks, it works to heal those cuts, resulting in a refreshed look; the punctures are only surface-level, so the pain is minimal." This process works to rejuvenate your skin by boosting collagen production, which in turn reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and elevates the overall texture of your skin.2
Microneedling by itself has only modest effects, like improvement in skin texture and smoothness," says Dr. Katz. "But when radiofrequency is added, microneedling can pack a bigger punch. Radiofrequency waves travel down the needles to heat the dermis, which can improve collagen production. Patients can see improvement in mild wrinkles, acne scars, and mild skin tightening when paired with radiofrequency. Microneedling in the dermatologist’s office is also done with sharper needles, which improves results that patients see.
You can also improve the results from microneedling by using a serum with the procedure; the serum will penetrate deeper in the skin for optimal results."
"Microneedling in the doctor's office can go a lot deeper than at-,home devices and are thus more efficacious," says Dr. Katz. "At-home devices have minimal benefits compared to in-office microneedling. The needles are less sharp than the in-office microneedles, so there is less risk of injury to the user at home. That being said, at-home microneedling has more risks than in-office. Say you have a zit on your face that you rupture during the at-home treatment—then you are potentially rolling the acnes bacteria all over the rest of your face, which can lead to increased acne. I say leave the microneedling to a dermatologist who can make sure you get the best results."
