Is At-Home Microneedling Safe?

Microneedling is proven to rejuvenate skin effectively. It can help erase signs of aging, repair various skin blemishes, and even reduce the appearance of some types of scarring. If you’re investigating microneedling options, chances are you’ve seen some heavily promoted at-home products. You may wonder, are they a good investment? More importantly, are they safe to use? Let’s discuss.

How Microneedling Works

Microneedling is a collagen induction technique. It works by causing small “injuries” to the skin. These tiny “cuts” signal to the skin that more collagen and elastin production is needed to renew the skin cells and heal the damage. When targeted in an area with sun damage, for example, blemishes will reduce as the skin increases collagen and elastin production, naturally renewing.

Microneedling has multiple uses. It can reduce the signs of aging by decreasing fine lines and wrinkles. It can treat post-pregnancy stretch marks. It can also reduce the appearance of acne scars and treat uneven pigmentation.

MedSpa vs. At-Home Microneedling

The most popular at-home product is the microneedling roller. You can find rollers of various sizes. Usually, the longer the roller, the deeper the penetration.

There are a lot of reviews and YouTubers raving about at-home products. While microneedling rollers are cost-effective in the short term, comparing them to MedSpa-grade microneedling is, well, like comparing a luxury car to a moped.

Penetration is a crucial factor in how effective microneedling is for the skin. If it’s too deep, the skin can suffer too much damage and react negatively. If it doesn’t penetrate deep enough, the visible results you want will be minimal at best, often unnoticeable.

Microneedling rollers can tear at the skin, especially if misused or if they aren’t a good match for your skin type. Rollers usually penetrate at depths of 0.2 to 1mm, though some go up to 2mm. Depth needs to be adjusted based on the skin being treated, but at-home products don’t allow for proper adjustment.

The microneedling options available at MedSpas like Dermacare of Hampton Roads are very customizable and operated by highly qualified medical professionals.

• Vivace can treat up to a controlled depth of 3.5mm, and it isn’t just a microneedling treatment. It delivers a bipolar radiofrequency, making it an exponentially more comprehensive and efficacious treatment option.

Microneedling is often best used in combination with other treatments and skincare products to achieve maximum results. Dermacare of Hampton Roads experts are trained to help you find the right combo for you.

The Bottom Line

At-home microneedling, while generally safe, can be ineffective and lackluster. If misused, they can even cause more harm than good. At-home products can’t produce customized, professional results.

While at-home microneedling may appeal to your short-term budget, contacting your local MedSpa for a free personal consultation and asking for information on specials, memberships, and other discount options is the smartest investment. At Dermacare of Hampton Roads, our trained medical specialists will discuss your desired outcome, evaluate your unique skin, and recommend the optimal options based on your consultation. It’s the kind of one-of-a-kind, custom care you can’t achieve through mass-produced products.

You may be surprised by just how affordable microneedling (and other skin rejuvenation treatments) can be over the long run and how invaluable the medical expertise of our qualified staff is – we never recommend treatments that we don’t know intimately and believe will generate the results you need. Contact us today!