Skin needling is also called micro-dermal needling or collagen induction therapy. It is a minimally-invasive non-surgical for skin rejuvenation that involves the use of a micro-needling device to create a controlled skin injury.

Professional skin needling is considered to be one of the safest skin treatment procedures. Unlike other treatments, dermal skin needling causes minimal damage to the skin.

How does skin needling work?

As each fine needle punctures the skin, it creates a channel or micro-wound. The micro-channels created spontaneously close after 10 minutes so that epidermal barrier integrity remains intact.

The needles injure superficial dermal collagen strands and small blood vessels triggering a controlled cascade of inflammation including the release of platelet-derived growth factors transforming growth factor-alpha and beta, connective tissue activating protein, connective tissue growth factor, and fibroblast growth factor. These lead to the production of new collagen, elastin, and capillaries.

Neo-vascularisation and neo-collagenesis lead to thickened skin and a reduction of scars, with improved skin texture, firmness, and hydration. 

What is skin needling used for?

Skin needling is effectively used for:

• Reducing scars caused by acne and burns

• Fading stretch marks

• Reducing fine lines and deep wrinkles

• Pigmentation and melasma

• Tightening sagging skin.

Benefits of skin needling

Skin needling's benefits are listed below.

• It is used to minimise the appearance of scars from acne, surgery, thermal burns, chickenpox, or trauma.

• Skin needling is used for facial rejuvenation and to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin tone, texture, and pigmentation.

• There is a reduced risk of hyperpigmentation and scarring with skin needling compared to more invasive procedures, and as such, it is safer on ethnic or dark skin.

• It is suitable for thin and sensitive skin.

• The procedure is well tolerated and well accepted by patients.

• It is cost-effective and can be done on areas of skin that are not suitable for peeling or laser resurfacing, such as near eyes.

• The epidermis remains intact and is not damaged. For this reason, the operation can be safely repeated if needed.

• Treatment does not result in a line of demarcation between treated and untreated skin, as usually occurs with other resurfacing procedures. This allows for specific areas of scarring to be treated without the need to 'blend' or 'feather' at the treatment edges.

• The patient can resume regular activities within a few days, depending on the depth of penetration of the needles.

What is the skin needling procedure like?

The procedure is well tolerated. It takes a few minutes up to an hour to complete, depending on the area to be treated and the severity of the problem.

• No lotions, makeup or other topical products are applied to the treatment area on the day of the procedure.

• Nik always applies numbing cream which is very effective and it creates a painless experience.

• The skin is punctured in a specific pattern using a skin needling device. The device is rolled over the skin multiple times for best results.

• As each fine needle punctures the skin, it creates a channel or micro-wound stimulating skin cell regeneration.

• Depending on the condition treated it may take 5–60 minutes to complete the procedure.

• A minimum of 6 weeks is recommended between two treatments as it takes that long for new natural collagen to form.

Post-procedure care

• Skin needling is well tolerated by patients but dryness, scaling, redness and swelling may be seen after treatment, lasting for several days or longer, depending on the depth of penetration of the needles.

• Medik8 SPF should be applied for several weeks and going forward.

• In the case of acne scars, after the skin needling procedure, the face should be cleaned with Medik8 cleanser before bed. The next day, the face may be cleansed and makeup, lotions and other topical products applied as usual. The Medik8 Post Treatment Kit is recommended after every treatment.

• As the micro-holes close quickly, postoperative wound infection is rare.

• Rejuvenation of skin may be seen as soon as 2 weeks and as long as 6–8 months after the dermal needling procedure.

• Burn scars are slow to respond. It can take up to 6 months to 1 year to see the final results from a single treatment.

Practical tips

• All the skin treatments are performed using high grade equipment and needles. All the needle cartridges are individually wrapped in a sterile package before being opened before the treatment.

• The client should be counselled that multiple sessions may be needed.

• Application of topical numbing cream can prevent procedure pain and help in performing the procedure properly.

How many skin needling procedures does one need?

The number of needling procedures depends on the individual skin condition. Three to four treatments may be needed for moderate acne scarring. Scars from thermal burns and stretch marks may require more

In the case of wrinkles associated with skin ageing, several refresher skin needling treatments are recommended every year.

• Reduce pore size

• Reduce oil levels in the skin

• Help to reduce wrinkles and fine lines

• Enhance the delivery and effectiveness of medical grade skincare creams

• Minimise acne outbreaks.

Are there any side effects from skin needling?

Generally, the treated areas recover rapidly from skin needling. However, there are occasional side effects, which include:

• Oozing and swelling during the recovery phase

• Skin infection with bacteria or cold sores

• Milia and skin purging, which can be easily managed

• Acne flare, which is usually mild.