What are the benefits of dermarolling at home for a younger looking skin and how to do it safely and effectively?
Dermarolling, also referred to as micro-needling or collagen induction therapy is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure to enhance the quality of the skin by giving it a serious collagen production boost from the inside out. With the word dermarolling it is referred to doing this procedure self at home usually using the smaller needles.
We talk about micro-needling when it is done in-office by a professional who use larger needles. Larger needles can create some side effects like bleeding, bruising and peeling and that is why those should be used by a professional.
Smaller needles at home can be very effective.
Needles with the length of 0.25mm are great to enhance a deeper product delivery while needles of 0.5mm to 1mm target wrinkles, acne scars and stretch marks by activating collagen production, stimulating growth and the formation of new blood vessels. I like to be on the safe side and don’t use 1mm needles on my face, I do use those on my legs to get the skin tighter and to prevent crepey skin.
The set below is the one I use, it has titanium needles and it is a compleet kit for face and body with needles from 0.25/0.5 to 1.5mm. The set below has also a roller with titanium needles from 0.25 to 0.30mm.
Collagen is the key to a younger looking, tight plump skin and is something our body creates. The problem is that when we age the collagen production diminishes and this starts to show. Read HERE more on how to naturally enhance the collagen production in our skin using diet.
Dermarolling also enhances the absorption of products because while rolling we create little channels that go in to the dermis and transport the products that we use deeper into the skin. Dermarolling can be safely done at home as long as you follow a few guidelines.
The benefits of dermarolling at home for a younger looking skin are pretty amazing, it helps reduce wrinkles and it thickens the skin. Other benefits include,
- reducing stretch marks
- reducing acne scarring, don’t roll over active acne, you don’t want to spread the bacteria over the face
- reducing skin discoloration
- a more youthful, dewy looking skin
- enhanced product absorption after treatment
- reducing hyper pigmentation and age spots
- beneficial for regrowing hair
- reduces cellulite and improves the quality of the skin
Rebuilding collagen is a slow process although you will see more superficial benefits like a glowing skin quicker. It takes some time for the skin to regenerate itself.
How to use a dermaroller safely and effectively?
Hygiene is very important when using a dermaroller to avoid any unwanted infections. It is advised to change out your device every 3 to 6 months depending on how often you use it, or after 10 – 15 times of usage.
If you follow the schedule below this post, you would be replacing the 0.25mm needles every 6 weeks and the 0.5mm or larger needle after 10 times. There are titanium and stainless steel needles, both have their own benefits.
For safe usage follow the steps listed below.
- Disinfect your roller by soaking it in 70% isopropyl alcohol or in a dissolved dental cleaning tablet. Let the roller head soak for 10 minutes.
- Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, you don’t want to push bacteria into the skin. The cleaner the skin, the better the penetration of your product’s ingredients after rolling. If you are using needles longer than 0.5 mm you also need to disinfect your face with 70% alcohol. This is the mild cleanser I love to use.
- Pull the skin slightly with one hand to ensure easy penetration of the needles. Pick a region and start rolling back and fort 2-4 times horizontally with moderate pressure, do not drag the needles. Lift the roller and move it to the side and repeat. Do this until you covered the section you work on horizontally, lets say your left cheek. These 2-4 rolls should be done vertically, horizontally and diagonally from left to right and from right to left. Do this until you finished an entire section and start a new one, the right cheek and follow the same procedure.
- When done wash your face with water only.
- Follow with your favorite serum, ingredients like hyaluronic acid will be absorbed into the skin and will plump it up. Aloe Vera gel is calming. If you have a very sensitive skin retinol and vitamin C are not advised right after a treatment, this depends on how your skin reacts. You should always avoid harsh ingredients like salicylic, lactic and glycolic acids, parabens, fragrance etc. after a session. Also no chemical exfoliates or other agressive ingredients.
- Here below you see the serum, a blend of vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E I like to use after dermarolling. This one has no acids or retinols in it, ingredients I love, just not right after a procedure.
- Clean your derma roller with dishwasher soap to dissolve the proteins found in skin and blood. Make a warm soapy solution and swirl around with your roller avoiding hitting the sides and bottom.
- Disinfect your roller again before putting it away. Let it soak for 10 minutes in 70% alcohol then dry on a clean towel and put it in it’s container.
- It is better to not use make-up or sun screen for 24 hours after needling when using a 0.5mm needle or up. I usually do this in the morning on a day that I don’t need to go out or can go without anything on my face. The 0.25mm needles I tend to use at night and can do my regular routine in the morning.
How often should I be dermarolling at home for a younger looking skin?
This depends on the length of the needles you are using and your skin goals.
The 0,25 mm needles do not enhance collagen production but they do help with the optimal absorption of skin care products. These needles can be used every other day. A great length to start with.
The 0.5, 0.75 and 1mm needles must be build up to, the skin needs to get used to this. Start with once every 4 to 6 weeks and build up to once a week but no more. Make sure your skin is completely recovered before another session and always leave two days for recovery.
You can also just choose the 0.25mm needles, or only the 0.5 – 1mm ones once every 4-6 weeks building up to max once a week. All depends on your needs and how well your skin tolerates this procedure.
Hope this helps and if you have questions post them below,
Tina x
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