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Collagen refers to a protein that comprises 75% of your skin composition. It determines your skin’s elasticity and stretchiness. The protein is present in your ligaments, hair, blood, bones, tendons, skin, and muscles. It gives you a plump appearance by preventing your skin from sagging. Therefore, this is the protein that gives you a youthful look. This is where microneedling comes in to trigger collagen production because as you get older, the body’s natural capacity to produce this protein keeps depreciating.
As a result, you develop wrinkles, fine lines and crow’s feet as collagen breaks down. With a microneedling pen, this process is reversed and you start witnessing youthful vibrant skin that defies your age. In this article, we will focus on addressing what a microneedling pen is, how it works, what the before and after using it is like, and finally explore the comparison between a microneedling pen and a microneedling roller. Let’s get started!
What is Microneedling?
This refers to a cosmetic procedure done on your skin by pricking it using sterilized needles. As a result, small wounds are imposed on your skin and this, as a result, triggers the production of elastin and collagen. Therefore, once your skin heals and fully recovers, you look younger and this is why the procedure is also known as collagen induction therapy.
What is a Microneedling Pen?
A microneedling pen refers to a thin, pen-like, handheld device that features a significant number of sterile needles that prick your epidermis. By creating the tiny wounds on your skin, the repairing process recruits more collagen production and this enhances cell growth, hair growth, and skin regeneration. Therefore the microneedling pen is a critical tool for dermatologists when undertaking the procedure or for you when doing it at home.
How Does a Microneedling Pen Work?
A microneedling pen works by puncturing your skin. The movement of the set of needles is triggered by an automatic spring-loaded function. Therefore, the sterile needles move up and down in the tool, across your skin.
This causes micro-injuries on your skin with every movement. With every small puncture, nutrients in the tool can penetrate the deeper skin tissues. As a result, healthy collagen production is triggered during the healing process, giving you a youthful look and feel.
The process happens so fast, preventing any substantial damage to your skin layers. Additionally, you cannot physically view the micro punctures on the skin, therefore, you can still go about your day as normal without attracting a lot of attention to your face or any part of your body that has undergone the procedure.
Before and After Using the Microneedling Pen
It is important to know what to expect before microneedling and after the procedure. Additionally, it is important to know what to do before and after microneedling. Here is an outline of these circumstances to ensure that you are ready before you start.
Before a Microneedling Procedure;
- Things to expect before microneedling
- Minor skin irritation
- Redness on your skin for a couple of days
- Swelling post-treatment
In most cases, microneedling is a procedure that has minimal to zero side effects apart from the ones listed above.
- Nonetheless, if you notice the signs below, you should contact your doctor.
- Peeling
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Bruising
- Moreover, before undergoing a microneedling procedure ensure that you do not fall under the following categories.
- People with skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis
- Have a history of scarred skin
- Have active acne or even open skin lesions
- Recent radiation therapy within the past one week
- Active viral, bacterial or fungal infections s
- Skin cancer
- To prepare for a microneedling procedure, you need to do the following;
- Avoid using depilatory creams a week before the procedure
- Do not undergo waxing or shaving within 7 days of performing the procedure
- No electrolysis within a week to the procedure
- Avoid sunburns
- Avoid using skin care products with active ingredients like topical acids, topical retinoids, anti-inflammatory medications, Accutane, and topical exfoliants.
- Keep off laser treatment a week before the procedure
- No blood-thinning agents intake before the procedure
After a Microneedling Procedure;
Unlike other invasive procedures like cosmetic surgery, microneedling requires minimal recovery time. Some people might actually not need any downtime at all.
As a response to the micro punctures on your skin, you might notice some redness and minimal skin irritation after the treatment.
- Below are some of the things that you should avoid doing within a week of having the treatment.
- Do not apply makeup
- Avoid exposing your skin to direct sunlight right after the treatment
- Avoid products with retinol and alpha-hydroxy acids
- Keep off strenuous activities that might lead to sweating for a couple of days
- To help your skin recover fast after a microneedling treatment do the following;
- Take lots of water
- Use collagen-stimulating peptides
- Use a cooling mask
- Sleep on your back
- Use serums with hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C, and growth factors
- Use antioxidant serums
Microneedling Pens vs. Microneedling Rollers
Both microneedling pens and rollers perform the same purpose. They puncture the epidermis and trigger collagen production to give you a fresher and younger appearance.
These microneedling tools do this by eliminating wrinkles, acne scars, uneven texture and complexion, hair thinning, stretch marks, and fine lines.
Both the microneedling pen and the derma roller are portable because they all have compact sizes. If they share this in common, where do they differ?
- Structure: The microneedling pen is a microneedling tool that resembles a pen with needles stacked inside. They move up and down the pen-like structure with the help of an automatic spring action to work on your skin. The roller, on the other hand, is a handheld wheel that has needles on it. You are to roll the wheel on your skin and the tiny needles puncture your skin to trigger collagen production.
- Precision: With the microneedling pen, you can access areas that are hard-to-reach like under your eyes, around the upper lip, and nose areas. For the derma roller, you cannot access corners and hard-to-reach areas properly.
- Adjustability: Additionally, when using the microneedling pens the needle depth is customizable, allowing you to work on different body parts that have varying penetration level needs. Besides, with an adjustable speed, there are minimal chances of skin damage and pain when using the pen.
- Recovery time: Furthermore, when using the microneedling pens, you get a short recovery time because the needles prick your skin vertically. However, the derma roller pricks your skin at an angle, which means that it might do more damage that will require a longer recovery time.
- Function: With the motorized mechanism that comes with a microneedling pens, there is an automatic movement that makes the tool more accurate when penetrating your epidermis. This eliminates manual effort, which is contrary to what the derma roller requires as you have to manually press it against your skin to work.
- Power: The derma roller does not have power requirements as it functions manually. However, the microneedling pens will require rechargeable batteries or a power outlet to function.
Final Thoughts
If you are wondering how you can get a youthful appearance and get rid of scars, stretch marks, and uneven skin pigmentation, microneedling will give you a cheaper option than cosmetic surgery. You can do it from the comfort of your home and in a couple of weeks, you can see desirable results.
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