Acne scars can be a real confidence knocker, especially if they are severe. If you're looking for a way to treat them, you may have heard of Skin Needling. This treatment involves using a needle-like device to puncture the skin. While it may sound scary, it's actually a very effective way to treat acne scarring. Keep reading to learn more about how skin needling can help you achieve clear and smooth skin.

Skin Needling: A proven Acne Scarring Treatment

The skin needling procedure has many names, such as microneedling, collagen induction therapy (CIT) and dermarolling but what exactly is skin needling, and how does it work?

First off, let’s understand why acne scarring occurs. Whether you suffered from teenage acne through puberty, or are experiencing it as an adult – when acne is not treated correctly, or when it is picked at, bumps and rivets form on the face, resulting in uneven looking skin tone and texture. Acne scarring rarely goes away on its own, therefore we need to look to the help of professional skin treatments and care to rejuvenate the skin and remove acne scars.

Enter. Skin Needling.

Skin needling is a minimally-invasive cosmetic procedure used to treat various skin concerns, including acne scarring. The purpose of skin needling is to stimulate the production of collagen, which helps improve the appearance of wrinkles, scars and other signs of skin damage caused by acne.

Performed using a device containing fine needles, the needles are inserted into the scarred skin and then quickly retracted, creating tiny punctures on the skin surface. The resulting miniaturised wounds trigger the body's natural healing response, which promotes collagen and elastin production. The new collagen helps to fill in and smooth out the irregularities and appearance of acne scars, while the elastin helps to improve skin elasticity.

The benefits of skin needling over other treatments for acne scarring

Acne is a huge cause of embarrassment and lack of self-confidence in those dealing with lumps and bumps on their face, and if you’ve experienced it yourself, you might be wondering ‘does acne scarring ever go away!?!’. It can be hard enough to have to live with acne in the first place, and being left with scars is no fun either. The good news is that there are various treatment options for acne scars, including laser resurfacing, chemical peels, and dermabrasion.

Skin needling has several advantages over other acne scar treatments. First, it is much less likely to cause side effects such as redness, swelling, and irritation. Second, it can be used on all skin types, including sensitive skin. And finally, it is a relatively affordable treatment option.

Skin needling may be performed independently or in conjunction with other treatments to help produce more dramatic results for those struggling with acne scarring. When used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, it can also help enhance the absorption of topical treatments, making them more effective.

As an added benefit of skin needling – it can also treat various conditions, including stretch marks, fine lines and wrinkles!

What to expect during and after a skin needling treatment

During the procedure, your aesthetician will clean your skin and apply a numbing cream to help minimise discomfort. Microneedling procedures are not painful, but they can be uncomfortable. It is usually tolerable but may not be for those who might be afraid of needles.

After the numbing cream has taken effect, a device with small needles will roll over your skin. The number of passes of the device will depend on your individual needs, but most treatments take between 30 minutes and an hour (and you may require multiple treatments for optimal results).

After the treatment, your skin may be a little red and tender, but this usually subsides within a few hours. You may also experience some dryness, peeling, and flaking as your skin regenerates over a week or two. Although no downtime is associated with skin needling, it is essential to avoid sun exposure and use (a quality) sunscreen diligently during the healing process.

To help speed up the healing process, it is important to avoid picking at the skin and to keep the area clean and moist.

How often should you have a skin needling treatment, for best results?

You can generally expect to start noticing results in as little as 1-3 days; once the initial healing stage is completed. These results will improve the texture and tone of the skin and add a glow to the skin’s surface. More prominent results take time, and they will improve with ongoing treatments.

The number of treatments you’ll need will depend on the severity of your acne scars, but most people see improvement after 3-5 sessions. For best results, it is recommended to have skin needling treatments every 4-6 weeks.

Many factors affect how long it will take to see results from skin needling - your age, skin type, and the severity of your scarring all play a role in how quickly you'll see results. In general, younger patients with milder concerns will see results sooner than older patients with more severe concerns. Lifestyle and diet are also contributing factors in achieving your best results. So it is important to stay hydrated and eat well during your course of treatments for optimal results; which is why we also suggest ensuring you’re on a quality omega-3 supplement, to ensure you’re hydrating your skin from the inside!

Are there risks and side effects with skin needling?

Skin needling can be used on all skin types and is generally considered low risk. However, there is a risk of side effects, such as bleeding, bruising, infections and acne flare-ups. Therefore skin needling should only be performed by a qualified professional, such as our Skin Manifesto skin clinicians. For most people skin needling is a safe and effective way to improve the appearance of acne scars. Therefore, it is important to talk to a skin specialist before starting any new skincare routine, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Skin needling before and afters

If you have suffered from acne and, as a result, wear the battle scars to prove it. Microneedling will help acne scarring go away, and the result is smoother, healthier, brighter, plumper skin with a more even texture and tone. At The Skin Manifesto, Andrea has helped many patients resurface their skin and realise the benefits of skin needling on their faces and other parts of their bodies where scarring has occurred.

Check out some of the results we have achieved for our patients below.

The Skin Manifesto is not only known for its results in treating acne scarring, but also achieves outstanding results for our clients in the treatment of acne – to prevent acne scarring from occurring in the first place. Through Andrea’s medical knowledge as a registered nurse and skin insight as a trained aesthetician, Andrea has developed a specialised treatment protocol Acne Clear Rx, and its results are earning her the name of Sydney’s go-to Acne avenger.

If you want more information on The Skin Manifesto’s Acne Clear Rx treatment, acne scarring before and afters or how skin needling can work for you, book an advanced skin consultation or Acne Clear Rx consultation.

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