Discover How Microneedling Can Help In Dealing with Scars

Everything You Need To Know Microneedling

What Is It About?

It is clinically known as Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT). Microneedling is a treatment where a trained professional will use an automated and motorised medical device through a sterile, single-use cartridge of ultra-fine needles. This pen-like device works by sweeping across the skin which will then create thousands of microscopic and vertical punctures in the outer layers.

The idea of creating micro-injuries”might sound too intimidating for some, but you don’t need to worry about it because it is a highly controlled and safe technique. It is significantly designed in tricking your skin into a state of rapid regeneration without actually destroying your epidermis.

 

How Does Microneedling Work on the Skin?

The main objective of microneedling is actually simple. It is just a controlled microinjuries. When the needle tips is smoothly piercing the dermis, they will bypass the surface entirely in order to trigger a structural response that typically occurs in these three distinct phases:

• The Inflammatory Phase: The microscopic punctures will trigger an immediate cellular SOS. Your body will rush blood flow, platelets, and essentials which will signal the proteins to the area in order to close up the microscopic channels.
• The Proliferation Phase: In this phase, there will be fibroblasts. These are the specialised cells which are responsible for building connective tissue. They will typically begin in producing large amounts of a brand-new and healthy collagen as well as elastin. These will function as the twin scaffolding proteins in which will give your skin its firmness, bounce, and elasticity.
• The Remodelling Phase: At this phase, now that you have a freshly generated collagen, it is now organised and integrated into your skin’s system. It will now help you in smoothing out uneven textures, tightening open pores, and replacing stiff, and any damaged tissue with a fresh & pliable skin.

 

Can Microneedling Help with Scars?

Yes, definitely. When understanding why microneedling works on scars, you also need to understand how a scar typically forms. Scars usually develop because your body is rushed in closing an open wound or deep inflammation as soon as possible in order to prevent any infection. Your body will deposit a messy and unorganised web of stiff collagen fibres rather than building a smooth and uniform grid. This is where Microneedling enters.

It directly helps in breaking down these old and fibrous cords of scar tissue. By physically creating microinjuries in these rigid and clumped bundles, the mechanical needles will break up the stiff texture and command your skin in restarting the healing process. At this time, since your skin isn’t under any emergency pressure in closing an open wound, it will deposit a clean and evenly distributed collagen in order to gradually level out the skin’s surface.

 

Effectiveness of Microneedling for Acne Scars

It is a highly effective treatment for treating atrophic acne scars. These are typically depressed indents which are caused by a severe loss of collagen and tissue in the middle of an intense inflammatory breakout. However, its ultimate success typically varies depending on the specific type of acne scar you’re dealing with:

• Rolling Scars: These will manifest as slight and wave-like dips with usually soft, sloping edges across your cheeks or jawline. They would typically have an excellent response to microneedling. This is because these are soft and dynamic, they usually lift beautifully when there are fresh collagen pumps up to the dermal layer from underneath.
• Boxcar Scars: These are typically broader depressed scars with sharp and distinct vertical edges which typically look like they were punched into the skin. They usually show a good to very good response. Microneedling helps in softening the sharp borders over multiple sessions. It will gradually blend the edges seamlessly with the surrounding skin.
• Icepick Scars: These typically present as deep, narrow, pinpoint holes which typically look like the skin was punctured via an icepick. They typically show a moderate response. Since these columns extend deeply into your skin’s lowest structural layers, a traditional microneedling works best with combined cross-treatments such as TCA CROSS or any surgical subcision in order to yield complete resolution.

 

H3: Does Microneedling Help with Other Types of Scars?

While it is widely known for treating acne depressed scars, microneedling is also highly versatile and it can actually be used in treating various forms of tissue damage.

Surgical and Trauma Scars: Whether it is from a scheduled surgery, an accident, or any childhood scrape or atrophic surgical scars, it will respond very well to microneedling. This works by the needles which physically break down the stiff and fibrous bands of the scar tissue. This will allow new blood vessels and normal collagen in weaving into the area. This will soften the scar, flattens its edges, and will also help the discolored tissue in blending back into your normal skin tone.

Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars: These types of scars are a crucial distinction. This is because hypertrophic and keloid scars are usually raised, thick, and rubbery because your body will overproduce collagen during the healing phase. Since microneedling is significantly designed in stimulating even more collagen production, when you use it on active keloids, it can actually trigger the skin into growing more scar tissue which could possibly worsen your problem. This is why it is very important to have a skilled practitioner because he will strictly avoid needling over any raised keloids.

 

Can Microneedling Actually Help In Dealing with Acne Scars and Hyperpigmentation?

Yes, it usually targets both of these post-breakout frustrations at the same time. This makes it a effective dual-action treatment. When you’re dealing with a breakout, the inflammation would often leave behind a scar and a dark, discolored patch of melanin. This is where Microneedling enters. It addresses the scar through collagen building beneath the skin while it also effectively targets its dark spots.

 

The Difference Between Microneedling & Laser for Scars

When you are dealing with severe scarring, most patients are typically caught between two highly effective options which are Microneedling and Fractional Laser Resurfacing. Both treatments are forms of Collagen Induction Therapy which heavily relies on creating controlled damage. However, they use completely different mechanisms in order to get there. One actually uses mechanical needles while the other treatment is using thermal light energy.

 

 

Pros and Cons of Each Treatment

Microneedling

Pros: The main advantage is its safety among all skin tones. Since it generates no heat, there is actually zero risk of triggering any post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in darker and melanin-rich skin. Aside from that, it is also significantly more affordable for every session and has a very short downtime of only 24 to 48 hours of mild redness.

Cons: Since it heavily relies on physical microinjuries without the use of any heat, it cannot provide any tightening on loose skin as effective as a laser. It will also need longer sessions of treatment usually from 4 to 6 sessions in order to achieve dramatic results on treating deep scars.

 

Fractional Laser

Pros: When it comes to lasers such as CO2 or Erbium, it works through vaporising microscopic columns of skin and it uses an intense heat in shrinking and tightening the surrounding tissue. This will make them highly effective in treating severe, deep crater scarring, and would often require fewer treatment sessions in order to see dramatic remodelling.

Cons: One of its cons is that the heat element will significantly introduce a higher risk of hyperpigmentation for patients with darker skin tones. The downtime as well is much heavier which often requires 7 to 10 days. Laser treatments are also significantly more expensive per session compared to other treatments.

 

Which Treatment Is Right for You?

When choosing the right treatment for you, it will usually rely on your skin tone, your budget, and the downtime in which you can comfortably afford. If you’re a person who is dealing with darker skin, sensitive skin, or someone who can’t take a week off work to peel, then microneedling will work best for you. This is the most effective option for you. However, if you have a lighter skin tone, severe deep scarring, and are looking for faster & aggressive results, then a fractional laser is the recommended option for you.

 

The Recovery & Results Timeline of Microneedling

When you understand the biological timeline of your skin remodelling, it will help you manage your expectations after the treatment and it will help you take care of your skin properly. Since microneedling heavily relies on your body’s natural cellular turnover and synthesis, the actual transformation will unfold in stages over the next few days after the treatment.

Related Read: Understanding the Microneedling Recovery Timeline

 

1st to 3rd day:

After your session, your skin will immediately look bright red and feel warm, and sensitive. It looks closely like a moderate sunburn. Don’t worry because it is completely a healthy inflammatory response. In the first 24 hours, the microscopic channels are actually closing, so you need to avoid wearing makeup, doing things that will make you sweat heavily, or applying any active skincare. On the 2nd and 3rd day, the redness will now fade into light pink. You might also experience any mild dryness, tightening of skin, or any superficial flaking as the old skin cells are now preparing to shed.

 

Weeks 1–4

Within a week, any surface flaking will now subside. It will immediately reveal a microneedling glow which is significantly driven by the rapid cellular turnover and enhanced local blood flow. Beneath its surface, the proliferation phase is also now in full swing. The fibroblasts are now active in multiplying and laying down a new production of type-III collagen. While at this stage, the deep scars won’t be fully remodelled yet, you will now notice an overall improvement in skin suppleness, you’ll notice smaller-looking pores, and a softening of any minor surface textures.

 

Months 2–6

At this point, this is where you’ll actually witness visible transformation from microneedling. The newly formed collagen will now undergo a maturation process which will turn into stronger type-I collagen. It will also lead to organising it into a smooth and uniform structural grid. As you continue on a series of 3 to 5 treatments which is significantly spaced from 4 to 6 weeks apart, the bases of atrophic acne scars and surgical marks will now visibly lift to sit flush with the surrounding skin. Pigmentation are now clearing and ultimately, the structurally re-engineered results is locked into its place.