Do you suffer from uneven skin tone on your face? Do you have areas that appear darker than the rest of your skin? Hyperpigmentation is something that many people deal with, and it can happen at any time, although it does become more common with age. There are different types of hyperpigmentation which are post-inflammatory, sunspots or Melasma. Each one is brought on by different factors but all result in the same thing, a darkening of the skin.
The fact that you aren’t alone can be comforting, but what about a solution? Microneedling is a treatment or procedure that many people are now embracing as a way to even out their skin tone and get rid of hyperpigmentation. Let’s take a closer look at what microneedling is, the steps involved, and the kind of results you can expect.
What Is Microneedling?
Categorized as a cosmetic procedure, microneedling involves pricking the skin on your face with extremely small needles. The needles need to be sterilized so the procedure is safe and hygienic. Once these small puncture wounds on the face are created, it prompts the body to go into repair mode and make additional elastin and collagen – giving the person healthy glowing skin. Some people also refer to the procedure as collagen induction therapy.
Besides being used for reducing and eliminating dark spots, it can also be used to address acne, stretch marks, large pores, and sun damage, and it can also reduce skin elasticity and fine lines and wrinkles.
How Many Treatments Do You Need?
A common question people have is how quickly the results will occur and if they need repeated treatments. Generally speaking, you’ll need 4-6 treatments to get the maximum results. Each treatment tends to take 10-20 minutes, depending on how much area is being treated. If it’s an intense treatment that needs to cover a lot of areas, it could take an hour or more.
You’ll see results after each treatment, but as you can imagine, these results are cumulative. It may even take a couple of treatments before you see noticeable results.
What’s Involved in the Treatment?
Curious about what to expect if you book a microneedling treatment? It’s a straightforward process, so there’s nothing to feel stressed or worried about. It begins with a numbing cream being applied to the areas of your face that will be treated about 30-40 minutes beforehand. This gives the cream a chance to take effect. Once the area has been numbed, the microneedling can begin.
The microneedling device will look like a rolling tool or it can be pen-shaped. The device has tiny needles on it so that it can prick and pierce the skin. If it’s a rolling tool, it will be rolled across your face; if it’s a pen, it can be more targeted.
After the microneedling is complete, the technician or doctor may apply serum or cream to your face to help with healing. As mentioned, the entire process is quite fast, and thanks to the numbing cream, you should feel very little, if any discomfort. It is normal to feel a scratching sensation or even warmth during the treatment.
How Long Does It Take to Heal?
There is also a healing period after the treatment, which makes sense since you have created wounds on the skin. Some people can heal in a few days, whereas others may take weeks. This is often dependent on how deep the needles had to pierce. It’s normal to have redness, tenderness and even a bit of pain immediately after the treatment, but this will dissipate in a few days. Skin peeling can also happen, but it should be very minor. If the piercing is particularly deep, you may also have bleeding and bruising.
After your treatment, it’s important you don’t engage in anything that will heat your skin too much for the first two days. This includes such things as intense workouts, a hot tub, a hot shower and so forth. You’ll need to use a gentle fragrance and dye-free cleanser and moisturizer while the skin heals.
Also, be careful not to rub or scrub your face for at least one week after the treatment. Exfoliants (chemical and physical) should also be avoided for at least a week. Your skin needs a chance to heal itself, so you don’t want to disrupt that process.
Other tips include using a cold pack immediately following the procedure to help reduce swelling, staying out of the sun, and avoiding wearing makeup for a few days.
Microneedling Is Advancing and Offering Additional Enhancements
It’s worth noting that while traditional microneedling can be incredibly beneficial in dealing with uneven skin tone, there are enhancements that can be embraced. Newer technology, such as facial microneedling with RF (radiofrequency), can offer more noticeable and targeted results. Microneedling with RF is ideal for skin resurfacing and can even help to reduce areas of fat deposits.
As technology continues to advance, expect even more enhancements that result in even better results from microneedling.
Microneedling vs Laser Treatment
You may be wondering if you should opt for microneedling or laser treatment to address your uneven skin tone. Both can be effective but there are some pros and cons to each. Firstly, microneedling tends to be much cheaper than laser treatment. Microneedling can be used for all skin types and skin tones, and it can help skincare products be more effective since they can penetrate the skin easier.
Laser treatment also has benefits in that results can be quicker to appear and can last longer, and there are no incisions needed. However, there can be a longer healing period and downtime and it may not be ideal for darker skin tones.
Microneedling Can Be a Great Way to Address Hyperpigmentation
So, if you have hyperpigmentation on your face that you feel self-conscious about and want to address, microneedling can be a great solution. It’s best to speak to a professional through a consultation so you can get an idea of what kind of results you may see.
