Dermaroller Benefits

How Does a Dermaroller Work?

Dermarollers are hand-held devices about the size and shape of a cosmetic razor. At the end is a roller covered in rows of short, thin needles. When the device is rolled across your skin, the needles make microscopic perforations in the structure of your skin. This stimulates your body’s natural healing response. Fresh collagen and other strong, elastic proteins are produced to fill in these gaps. New capillaries also grow in treated areas, bringing better blood flow and access to nutrients. Because new collagen matrix is created, dermarolling is sometimes also called “percutaneous collagen induction therapy” by the medical community.¹

Dermarolling is similar in principle to acupuncture. Rather than injecting anything into your body, the physical act of puncturing is what triggers your body’s responses. However, being only 0.5-1.5 mm in length, microneedles only penetrate the top layers of your skin and do not reach any muscle tissue underneath. Many dermatology clinics and some spas provide microneedling services. Alternatively, you can purchase your own over-the-counter dermaroller with shorter needles for home use.¹

Scar and Stretch Mark Reduction

One of the primary uses of dermarolling is to fade scars and stretch marks. These markings are made of the same collagen proteins that normal skin is. However, scars and stretch marks are comprised of thick, ropy protein bundles rather than the flexible woven mesh that makes up normal skin. This can happen when your skin is forced to stitch itself back together rapidly, such as when healing a sizeable injury. It can also occur when your skin is stretched beyond its normal capacity, such as during pregnancy or as a result of weight gain.^2,3

After dermarolling, the tiny wounds formed in your skin cause new collagen fiber matrix to be built. New protein fibers are gradually formed into the normal flexible mesh of healthy skin. This fresh, elastic matrix gradually takes the place of the tough scar tissue, and scars will begin to fade.^2,3 Typically, you can start to see visual differences in these marks after three or four professional treatments or after a month of routine home use.

One of the primary uses of dermarolling is to fade scars and stretch marks. These markings are made of the same collagen proteins that normal skin is. However, scars and stretch marks are comprised of thick, ropy protein bundles rather than the flexible woven mesh that makes up normal skin. This can happen when your skin is forced to stitch itself back together rapidly, such as when healing a sizeable injury. It can also occur when your skin is stretched beyond its normal capacity, such as during pregnancy or as a result of weight gain.^2,3

After dermarolling, the tiny wounds formed in your skin cause new collagen fiber matrix to be built. New protein fibers are gradually formed into the normal flexible mesh of healthy skin. This fresh, elastic matrix gradually takes the place of the tough scar tissue, and scars will begin to fade.^2,3 Typically, you can start to see visual differences in these marks after three or four professional treatments or after a month of routine home use.

Derma Roller for Face and body - .25mm Microneedle Kit by RegenaGlow

Wrinkle reduction through microneedling works much in the same way as scar reduction. As you age and your skin is exposed to environmental damage, its structural elastic proteins are gradually broken down. The loss of these proteins causes your skin to lose its integrity. Dermarolling stimulates your skin cells to create new, strong, flexible proteins to replace lost or damaged ones. When this happens, your wrinkles will begin to fade. As with scar removal, visual reduction in wrinkles typically happens after a month of routine use or three or four clinical sessions.³

Inflammation from acne spots, or comedones,can cause nearby destruction of skin proteins. In cases of severe acne, the normal protein matrix is not rebuilt properly. The skin can lose its integrity and become rougher or discolored. Sometimes pits can form when new skin does not fill in acne sites, leaving atrophic scars or pockmarks. If the acne is severe enough, it can cause thick scar tissue to build up into three-dimensional lesions called keloids.⁴

Dermaroller management of acne scars is virtually identical to its use for other types of scars and wrinkles. Induction of the wound-healing mechanism can gradually fill in atrophic scars and reduce the appearance of thicker scar tissue or patches of hyperpigmentation. Visual improvements can be seen after about one month.^5,6

Derma Roller Kit for Face 0.30mm by Linduray

REFERENCES

[1] Nair PA, Badri T. 2017. “Microneedling.” StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459344/

(see more References)

[2] Doddaballapur S. 2009. "Microneedling with Dermaroller." J Cutan Aesthet Surg.Jul-Dec; 2(2):110-111. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2918341/

[3] Aust MC, Fernandes D, Kolokythas P, Kaplan HM, Vogt PM. 2008. “Percutaneous collagen induction therapy: an alternative treatment for scars, wrinkles, and skin laxity.” Plast Reconstr Surg. Apr; 121(4):121-1429. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18349665/

[4] Connolly D, Vu HL, Mariwalla K, Saedi N. 2017. “Acne Scarring-Pathogenesis, Evaluation, and Treatment Options.” J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. Sep; 10(9):12-23. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Acne+Scarring-Pathogenesis%2C+Evaluation%2C+and+Treatment+Options.

[5] El-Domyati M, Barakat M, Awad S, Medhat W, El-Fakahany H, Faraq H. 2015. “Microneedling Therapy for Atrophic Acne Scars: An Objective Evaluation.” J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. Jul; 8(7):36-42. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26203319

[6] Porwal S, Chahar YS, Singh PK. 2018. “A Comparative Study of Combined Dermaroller and Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Dermaroller Alone in Acne Scars and Assessment of Quality of Life Before and After Treatment.” Indian J Dermatol. Sep-Oct; 63(5):403-408. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30210162