Microneedling: What Can It Do and Why Should You Consider It?

Many cosmetic procedures are available to those looking to improve their appearance, fight the aging process, or deal with scarring. While some of these procedures have a relatively long history, others are newer and closer to the cutting edge. Microneedling is a fairly new technique, so many people may still be unaware of its benefits.

However, microneedling offers numerous advantages while also being completely natural. If you haven't considered this technique before, it may be time to start thinking about what microneedling can do for your appearance. Keep reading to learn a few facts about this minimally-invasive procedure and why you may want to consider discussing it with your dermatologist.

What Should You Know About Microneedling?

While many medical procedures use names that often include inscrutable technical jargon, microneedling is a fairly descriptive term. This procedure utilizes specialized equipment that includes extremely small needles. These needles penetrate only a few millimeters into the skin, with varying needle depths to allow physicians to target specific dermis layers.

One of the primary purposes of microneedling is to promote the production of new collagen in your skin. Collagen helps to keep your skin looking youthful, and it also plays a role in healing wounds and producing scars. However, topical collagen products don't necessarily provide these same benefits or mimic the body's natural collagen production.

On the other hand, microneedling attempts to work naturally with your body's collagen production. Since microneedling creates exceptionally minor injuries on your skin, it forces your body to produce new skin layers with tissue that's higher in collagen content. This new skin will often look much younger and healthier than the skin it replaces.

How Can Microneedling Help You?

Microneedling is more than a way to create newer, more youthful skin. While it can be effective in this role, it's also useful to target more specific cosmetic issues. Since microneedling forces your body to produce new skin layers, it can help substantially reduce the appearance of scars, acne pitting, and other significant skin blemishes.

Since microneedling is safe and effective to use on parts of your body other than your face, it can also be useful for dealing with changes in your skin after pregnancy or weight loss. Used this way, microneedling is an excellent option for reducing the appearance of stretch marks, aging skin, or even sun damage and skin discoloration.

Another potential benefit of microneedling comes in the form of product absorption. Many topical skincare products may not effectively penetrate the upper layers of your skin. However, the slight injuries created by microneedling can help your skin better absorb these products, allowing you to realize more significant benefits when applying them after your treatments.

Why Should You Consider Microneedling Over Other Treatments?

Microneedling offers a few advantages over other skin treatments with similar benefits. Since microneedling is minimally-invasive, there's little if any recovery period necessary. While you may experience some slight redness immediately following your treatment, you won't have to deal with downtime or healing.

Another significant advantage is that microneedling doesn't work best for any particular skin type or skin tone. Other treatments may produce better results in people with lighter or darker skin, but most people can benefit from microneedling. If you're not a good candidate for treatments such as laser skin therapy, microneedling may be an alternative worth considering.

Of course, you can combine microneedling with other treatments for even greater benefits. These additional treatments can help you target more challenging scars or provide additional skin rejuvenation benefits. You may want to discuss these options with your physician to determine if combining several treatments can help you achieve your desired results.

Whatever your goals for skin care or rejuvenation, Ponte Vedra Vein Institute can help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discuss the best options for your unique needs.