If you have skin issues, intentional wounding of your skin may seem like a terrible idea. But when the wounds are microscopic and made by a highly trained provider, and you take care of your skin afterward, the results can be amazing.
This process is called microneedling, and our trained experts at Osteopathic Center for Healing recommend it to treat a number of different skin problems.
Microneedling can offer surprisingly effective results, but the key is in caring for your skin after your treatment. We always provide you with thorough aftercare instructions, but in this post we offer some general guidelines for caring for your skin following a microneedling treatment.
Before we get to what you need to know after having microneedling, we should talk about what microneedling is and how it works.
Microneedling is sometimes called collagen induction therapy, which gives you a good idea of what it does: It spurs your body to produce collagen, which is a crucial protein for skin health.
We use a special tool that we roll over your skin and create thousands of micro-puncture wounds. The needles are extremely fine, and we use a topical numbing cream, so any discomfort you feel is minimal, if it exists at all.
These tiny wounds trigger your body’s natural healing response, and part of that is collagen and elastin production.
Both proteins are essential for taunt, smooth skin, and when your body produces more of them, your skin looks more youthful and fine lines and wrinkles are diminished. Your body also produces fresh new skin cells, improving the tone and texture of your skin.
One of the reasons that it’s so important to care for your skin following treatment is that the tiny wounds open channels that reach beneath the outer layer of your skin into your dermis.
This allows serums and moisturizers to penetrate more deeply than usual, which provides nourishment and hydration for your skin but also can serve as a way for bacteria to penetrate your epidermis.
Your skin is also more vulnerable to damage from UV rays following microneedling, so protecting your skin is a top priority. Use sunscreen but avoid makeup, which can introduce dangerous bacteria.
For a few days following your treatment, avoid saunas, hot baths, showers, or any exertion that could cause you to sweat. We provide products that are safe for you to use and that protect your tender skin.
Your skin may appear healed within a few days, but the effects of the microneedling treatment continue for several weeks. That's because it takes time for your body to produce collagen and elastin and new skin cells. After about two months, you should be able to see the full effects of the treatment.
We give advice tailored to your particular situation, your skin type, and your goals when you come to us for any kind of treatment. With microneedling, that’s especially true because the products you use following treatment make a big difference for your healing and your ultimate results.
If you’d like to learn more about microneedling and find out if it might work for you, schedule an appointment with us at Osteopathic Center for Healing in Rockville, Maryland, today.
