if you struggle with deep
acne scars and pockmarks, you’ve probably tried every topical treatment, serum, and diy mask to attempt to reduce the appearance of your
acne scars. if you’ve looked into professional treatments by dermatologists or licensed aestheticians, you’ve most likely come across microneedling. you’ve seen the before-and-after pictures, but you might still be wondering if microneedling really helps
acne scars?
yes, microneedling really helps
acne scars. the process promotes the growth of new
collagen in your skin, encouraging your skin to heal itself, reducing the appearance of ice pick, boxcar, and rolling
acne scars.
let’s dive into the specifics about how you can reduce
acne scars with microneedling.
microneedling tools are small needles (most commonly penetrating 0.5mm–1mm) that gently puncture the skin and create small wounds. these wounds are nearly imperceptible, but your skin recognizes that it needs to heal itself so it produces more collagen. this increase in
collagen production helps smooth out scars as well as
fine lines and wrinkles.
microneedling results
most patients see a noticeable reduction in
acne scars after a few treatments. deep scars or pockmarks are lessened and skin has a more even tone and texture in as few as three treatments. the new skin that’s created will be firmer, brighter, and smoother! even those without
acne scars will see an improvement in their skin’s appearance.
the recommended treatment cycle is one treatment every four to six weeks. three to four treatments are recommended to see optimal results, with yearly follow-up treatments after that.
microneedling side effects
compared to other scar-reduction treatments, microneedling’s side effects are relatively minimal. you may experience some redness or inflammation, or even slight
bruising. avoiding excess sun exposure and drinking lots of water before and after your treatment can lessen the chance of experiencing side effects. most people, however, will have minimal or no side effects and can return to their usual schedule within 24-hours of treatment.
certain individuals should not undergo microneedling treatments. if you easily scar, are pregnant, or have
rosacea or
eczema, talk with your dermatologist to decide if microneedling is right for you.
professional vs at-home microneedling for acne scars
at-home derma rollers have increased in popularity over the past few years. bloggers, beauty journalists, and amazon reviewers have sung the praises of how a $20 roller brightened, firmed,
and improved their skin. however, these at-home devices and their results differ greatly from professional microneedling treatments.
if you dermaroll your skin yourself, you greatly increase the potential to damage your skin. even if you correctly do the procedure on yourself, you won’t see the same results as you would if it was done by a professional.
microneedling, when done by a professional, can help reduce
acne scars.