Micro-needling or derma roller is an effortless, safe, effective, and minimally invasive procedure. It was initially introduced for skin rejuvenation. It is used for an extensive range of skin conditions, including acne scar, post-traumatic/burn scar, alopecia, skin rejuvenation, drug delivery, hyperhidrosis, stretch marks, etc.
This procedure can easily be combined with many other dermatological procedures such as platelet-rich plasma therapy, subcision, scar revision with a punch, etc. A combination of all these treatments gives better results than a single alone method. It is a very safe procedure in all dark skin types, where the risk of postinflammatory pigmentation is very high with other procedures like a laser.
HOW IS IT DONE?
Patient selection – As such, it is very safe in all most all patients, but this procedure should be avoided in certain conditions such as those having active acne, active herpes infection, aggressive keloidal tendency, patients on certain drugs such as chemotherapy or warfarin.
Counseling of patient – Patients should be informed regarding the complete procedure, its advantage, or limitations. As a doctor, we should tell you about the outcome, side effects, duration required to see results in detail.
Vitamin a and vitamin to be prescribed for at least 15-20 days before the procedure to obtain optimum results.
Procedure – It is done under local anesthesia with a derma roller; newer devices are available to do this procedure, like dermapen, dermastamp. This procedure involves micropuncture of skin with dermaroller, the endpoint of this point being pinpoint bleeding from the skin. THIS IS VERY WELL TOLERATED PROCEDURE apart from mild redness and mild swelling for 1 or 2 days; there are no significant sequelae. The patient can resume his work from the next day easily. This procedure should be repeated every 6-8 week interval and a minimum of 3 sessions to be done for optimal results. The outcome of the process requires 3-6 months of duration.
Microneedling in dermatology-
- +Micro-needling in acne scar
Micro-needling, as I mentioned earlier, produces slight trauma to the skin. This trauma induces the synthesis of collagen if platelet-rich plasma therapy is used in combination with micro-needling, gives additive results into acne scar management.
Micro-needling is useful in depressed scars and not in a raised acne scar. Combining chemical peels, platelet-rich plasma, subcision, and CROSS technique gives the best outcome.
- +Micro-needling in androgenic alopecia
Micro-needling is a very safe and promising treatment modality in the management of androgenic alopecia and also in other forms of hair loss in both men and women. Micro-needling is alone can stimulate hair growth.
Micro-needling, when used with minoxidil, then a combination of these two treatments has a synergistic or additive effect on hair growth. Similarly, micro-needling can be used in combination with platelet-rich plasma therapy or mesotherapy. All these treatments used in combination, reduce hair fall, improve hair thickness, increase the hair density.
- +Micro-needling in skin rejuvenation and stretch marks
Micro-needling leads to the reorganization of old collagen fibers and laying down of new collagen, elastin, and capillaries leading to the effect of skin tightening. This new collagen induction in the skin leads to an overall youthful appearance, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, pore size, and gives more suppleness and elasticity.
- +Miscellaneous condition
Microneedling is used in hyperpigmentation conditions, stretch marks, axillary hyperhidrosis; last but not least, it is used in transdermal drug delivery.