If you’re like me, the idea of a bunch of tiny little needles penetrating your skin over and over again sounds quite frightening, right?! But don’t worry, the microneedling procedure might sound scary, but the process is quick and with a little bit of topical numbing cream, almost entirely free of pain!

So, what exactly is microneedling and how does it work?

Microneedling is a derma roller procedure that uses small needles to prick the skin, creating tiny little “wounds”, causing your skin to generate new collagen (the main structural protein in skin that provides structure and improves wound healing) and skin tissue for smoother, firmer, more toned skin. In addition to these benefits, microneedling can also be used target:

• Acne scars
• Age Spots (Sun Spots)
• Lines and Wrinkles
• Large Pores
• Reduced Skin Elasticity
• Uneven Skin Tone
• Stretch marks on other parts of the body (in combination with fillers) 

With a dermatologist’s recommendation, most people should be safe to have the procedure; microneedling isn’t for everyone! Dermatologists do not recommend this skin care treatment for the following people:

• Pregnant women: the vitamins and nutrients the skin uses are vital to the unborn child 
• People with active acne: the needles will puncture the acne and then spread the bacteria over the rest of skin, causing the outbreak to become even worse 

Although there is no downtime/ recovery time following the treatment, there are some small side effects. Some of the side effects can include:

• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Infection
• Skin Peeling 

If any of these side effects last longer than a few days, you should contact your dermatologist.

Microneedling versus Home Rollers

If you’ve taken a stroll through any makeup or skincare aisle at any beauty shop, or even your local CVS, I’m sure you’ve seen an at home dermaroller. So, you might ask, what’s the difference?

Most microneedling procedures will cost somewhere between $100 - $700, depending on the size of the area you are wishing to treat, and being a cosmetic treatment, it will not be covered by insurance. An at home roller could cost between $25-$50. These two treatments will vary greatly, depending on much you’re willing to spend.

In addition to cost, the effectiveness of the two treatments is another major difference. The needles of an at home roller are much smaller than the needles used in the roller by your dermatologist. These needles will be much less painful (although the larger needles don’t cause much pain either) and won’t reach the deeper parts of your skin.

Most likely, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, the best result you will see from an at home dermaroller would be achieving slightly brighter skin (American Academy of Dermatology) 

Treating Your Skin After Microneedling

As mentioned previously there is little to no recovery time following your treatment, However, you do need to make sure you are taking the proper care of your skin for the next few days.

First and foremost, skin care professionals recommend that you don’t wear any type of makeup for at least the first 24 hours following your procedure, and that sunscreen of at least SPF35 be applied daily (some dermatologists even recommend getting the procedure done in the winter to limit your skin’s exposure to the sun).

In addition to applying sunscreen to your skin, using a hydrating serum that contains hyaluronic acid after microneedling treatments has been shown to help stimulate collagen production, as well giving your skin the hydration it needs.

Pairing a hydrating serum or moisturizer with a serum that contains beta glucan has also shown considerable benefits. Beta glucan has a more powerful effect than hyaluronic acid, with some studies showing redness be reduced by up to 60% within two days, and up to 90% after one week. 

DermaBoss And Microneedling

Our Cell Hydrating Serum with Hyaluronic and Ferulic Acid is a great choice to use to keep your skin hydrated following a microneedling treatment. The Hyaluronic acid will help your skin stay hydrated and will also help your skin stimulate collagen production, making your skin have a healthy, firm glow. Pairing ferulic acid with microneedling will enhance the transdermal penetration and will additionally help with wound healing caused by the needles.

Following microneedling procedures, you will want to avoid products with vitamin C in them for about five to seven days. After this time period, our Vitamin C Serum With Hyaluronic Acid and Beta Glucan can be used to assist with any remaining redness caused by the procedure.

Obviously, your skincare routine has a huge effect on your skin, but did you know that there is a ton of other things that also affect your skin health? Some of the things that affect our skin outside of our skincare products are more obvious.

Things like lifestyle, water intake, and sleep all affect the health of your skin. While some may not know this, if you’re in the skincare game, you’ve probably learned this by now. Outside of some of the more known factors that have an impact on our skin, there is also a list of things you probably didn’t realize are affecting your skin.

We reached out to our team of skincare scientists to ask about the hidden things in life that could be affecting our skin so that we could share those things with you!

Hair Products

Many hair products are oil-based, and when you’re spritzing your locks to give them that glossy shine, you’re probably accidentally spritzing your skin without realizing it. The buildup of hair products on our hairline clogs our pores and results in breakouts. Careful with the conditioner in the shower, too, as residue left on our shoulders and back is often the culprit of bacne.

Toothpaste

Always brush your teeth BEFORE you wash your face to ensure that no toothpaste residue is left behind. Toothpaste residue can irritate and dry out the skin, clogging pores and causing a whirlwind of skin problems.

Salty Foods

Not only will salty foods cause you to retain more water and give you a puffy complexion, but too much salt has also been linked to an increase in breakouts. Skip the extra salt for a clearer complexion!

Jewelry

Not many realize facial jewelry can be negatively impacting their skin. Nickel found in some jewelry has been linked to skin irritation, so when shopping for your facial jewels, make sure you're looking for pieces that do not contain nickel.

Air Pollution

Pollution negatively impacts our skin in a variety of ways. Exposure can cause premature aging, dark spots, wrinkles, dryness, enlarged and clogged pores, and increased sensitivity. To protect your skin, use our Vitamin C Serum combined with our Cell Hydrating Serum- the two work together to reduce your chances of environmental related skin damage.

Side Sleeping

Always sleeping on the same side at night? This can cause build-up on your pillow that travels back to your complexion, clogging your pores and resulting in breakouts and other skin concerns. To avoid this, try switching it up when you sleep by rotating your sleep positions often. We know you can’t totally control this, so just wash your pillowcase regularly, your skin will thank you.

Sugar

Too much of a sweet tooth can be detrimental for your skin. Eating too much sugar can exacerbate acne, dry skin, rosacea, and other skin problems. It also breaks down collagen and elastin in your skin leading to premature aging. You don’t have to completely cut out the sweets, but remember, everything in moderation!

The Window Seat

Did you know the most sought-after seat on the airplane could actually be damaging your skin? While airplane windows protect against UVB Rays, UVA Rays still shine through, and since you’re so much closer to the ozone layer in the air, the sun’s rays are even more harmful. Make sure to apply sunscreen before heading to the window seat for a long flight.

Dairy

There are several studies that link too much dairy to struggles with acne. We know this is a hard one to cut out completely (we love our pizza), but if you're struggling with acne, try substituting with some non-dairy options once in a while. Almond milk is delicious!

Sunglasses

Make sure you’re disinfecting your sunglasses often, as they can collect bacteria and cause breakouts. Also make sure you’re wearing your sunglasses, even in the winter! When we forego sunglasses we tend to squint, causing the area around our eyes to form fine lines & wrinkles.

Hairspray

We know the importance of a hairdo that stays but be extra careful around the hairline! Residue from hairspray is likely to cause breakouts on the forehead and along the hairline, so make sure your product is going only where you intend it.

Dips in The Pool

Whether you’re dipping in the pool to swim some laps or cool off from the sun, be cautious of how much time you’re spending in chlorine! The chemicals used to keep pools bacteria-free strip our skin of natural oils. Make sure to scrub a little extra after a swim to ensure all the chlorine is off of your skin.