As if that wasn’t good enough, it creates a channel to the deeper layers of skin to fast-track your skincare ingredients to make them work even harder.
“It’s an all round skin treat,” says Fatma Shaheen, skin expert and founder of cosmecuetical skincare and treatment brand, Skin Design London. “It delivers instant radiance to the skin and is an inexpensive, easy and effective way to rejuvenate the skin and deliver a healthy glow.”
However, if you have active acne, rosacea or a skin infection, it’s best to opt out of microneedling as it could aggravate the skin.
It’s especially good for scarring and pigmentation
According to the experts, microneedling works on all skin types but is especially effective on those who have scarring and pigmentation. “It can be used in acne treatments to help improve the appearance of scars by breaking up the scar tissue and stimulating the induction of new collagen and elastin,” says Dr Zamani.
“It can also be used on hyperpigmentation because it helps shed the top layer of the skin while also helping the absorption of topical agents that can be used concurrently to help prevent the formation of new pigmentation,” she continues.
You can get it in-clinic or do it at home
At a time when beauty treatments seem increasingly high-tech (Frotox, hydrofacials, and injectable moisturiser, anyone?), the beauty of microneedling is that it is available in clinical settings, but it can also be done at home a few times a week for similar benefits. Good at-home microneedling tools include the cultish Beautybio GloPRO Microneedling Regeneration Tool, Face Gym’s Youthful Active Roller and the Nurse Jamie Beauty Stamp 1 Piece.
That said, at-home microneedling is a divisive subject for dermatologists. Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme, founder and medical director of the Adonia Medical Clinic, is quick to point out the hygiene issues of using a dermaroller on your skin, throwing it into a dusty draw overnight and then rolling it over your skin again, potentially transferring bacteria and dirt into the tiny indentations.
If you do want to try the treatment at home, keep the roller on a sterilised surface and spray it with colloidal silver or isopropyl alcohol before and after each use.
Likewise, Kate is a big believer in the merits of professional microneedling, which, although more invasive, serves up more transformative results. “With at-home microneedling the main benefit is to increase product penetration,” she says. “Although professional treatments create a micro-channel for effective product penetration, the goal is to initiate trauma deep within the skin,” she says. “This will kick-start the wound-healing cascade, leading to the production of hyaluronic acid, collagen and elastin within the body.”
In other words, if you have acne scarring or hyperpigmentation, you may need to hold out for a professional appointment.
How to do microneedling at home
After cleansing your skin apply a serum as it will elevate the experience and enhance the results. “To tackle pigmentation, scarring and wrinkles, opt for something with a high-quality retinol or lactic acid in it to boost cell renewal,” says Shaheen, who likes to pair the treatment with her own Skin Design London Retexturing Serum, which is infused with antioxidants.