When you finally clear up your acne, you're happy to have clear skin. But chances are, you still have some acne scars left behind that cause you to feel less confident about your skin's appearance. There are plenty of different treatments for acne scars. Creams, laser therapy, red light therapy—they all have their place. But one treatment that stands out and deserves consideration is microneedling. Read on to learn more.
What is microneedling?
As the name suggests, microneedling involves the insertion of many tiny needles into the skin. Your skin is just pricked with these needles, and then they are removed. The needles are not left in place as with acupuncture.
Microneedling is meant to aggravate your skin just enough that it stimulates your skin's healing mechanisms. In the process of healing, your body will often do away with much of the tissue that is currently causing scars and instead build newer, healthier skin.
Why does it work so well for acne scars?
Microneedling does stimulate the production of collagen, a protein that gives your skin volume and elasticity. Many acne scars are depressions in the skin, rather than bumps on top of the skin. So, microneedling works well because it stimulates the skin to produce collagen and fill in those holes. Acne scars also tend to be small, which means they can be treated with microneedling promptly. You'll only need to spend a few minutes in your dermatologist's chair.
What does it feel like?
The treatment is not overly painful. Some dermatologists will apply a numbing gel before they start inserting the needles, and this keeps you from feeling any pain. Even if you don't get the numbing gel, the treatment will just feel like some pinpricks. The discomfort will be over almost as soon as you notice it.
How long does it take to see results?
The results are not immediate. Your skin will be a little red and irritated for a few days after treatment, but after that, you should start to notice an improvement in your scars. If after three or four weeks, the scars are still more obvious than you'd like, you can have a second microneedling treatment. Some patients even have a third.
Microneedling is a relatively safe, minimally invasive procedure. It's also quite effective and easy to administer whether you have one scar or twenty scars. Talk to a local dermatologist to learn more.
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