The Dangers Of DIY Derma-rollers
Have you heard the buzz about dermarolling or micro-needling yet? In case this is the first you’re hearing of it, micro-needling has emerged as a sought after, trendy skin rejuvenation procedure in recent years. A relatively painless procedure that uses a group of very small needles to puncture the top layer of skin. This sought after treatment works wonders to rejuvenate your skin by increasing collagen production, which in turn decreases the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines while greatly improving the texture of your skin– if done correctly.
When done correctly, it can make your skin look smoother, healthier, and more youthful over time. But be warned, micro-needling isn’t all sunshine and rainbows and glowing skin – it can result in damaged skin, too! If not performed properly and by an authorized and skilled professional, you may end up with undesirable skin pigmentation, prolonged inflammation, scarring, and infection! With more DIY and at home treatments being tested from our own homes during the pandemic, a wide range of at home micro-needling tools have become available online touting the same promising results as a professional micro-needling treatment.
So, What’s The Difference Between Micro-needling, Derma Rolling, And Micro-pens?
Both Micro-Pens (such as the Dermapen) and dermarollers are types of microneedling used to create microscopic injuries to the skin and thus stimulate the production of collagen. So what is the difference? Micro-needling is a treatment done in-office (ideally by a trained professional) where an automated pen with minuscule needles is used to make controlled micro-injuries to the skin. Dermarolling on the other hand is (usually) done at home and involves using a mini wheel covered with tiny needles to gently prick the face.
Benefits Of Micro-Needling
- Enhances skin texture
- Reduces pore size
- Known to help with the production of collagen
- Can help reduce the visibility of scars and hyperpigmentation
- Can reduce the visibility of fine lines, wrinkles, and stretch marks
The Risks Of Performing Micro-needling, Or ‘Derma Rolling’, At Home
Unfortunately, the truth is that most people who try dermarollers at home suffer from side effects; some are non-permanent such as skin pigment changes, infection, and adverse reactions to topical serums that are used for the treatment. Micro-needling is a very precise procedure using a sophisticated device. Practitioners are also required to have extensive training as well as a thorough knowledge of aesthetics and/or dermatology to administer the treatment properly.
Here are some reasons to consider having a professional treatment instead of doing it yourself at home;
Higher Risk Of Infection
It’s a misconception that more frequency will bring you faster results when it comes to micro-needling. Users need to beware that performing micro-needling too often (more than once a day) increases one’s risk to infection. There have been cases where individuals will get staph infections due to not cleaning their at home roller properly. Micro-needling pens are disposed of properly after every service. So, please be cautious with your at-home treatments!
Scarring
Using at-home dermarollers to treat scarring can actually worsen the condition if it isn’t carried out correctly and/or the wrong pen is used. Needle depth is something that can be altered with micro-needling Pens, whereas the rollers can only reach a single depth. The advantage of fine-tuning needle depth is that it allows us to take into consideration different parts of the face that call for different depth levels for optimal results. This is very important when tackling specific skin problems such as acne scarring, or delicate sections of the face like the eye area. Penetrating too deeply can result in rupture of capillaries. On the other hand, shallow dermaneedling won’t achieve the desired effect on the scarring issue.
Prolonged Inflammation And Hyper-pigmentation
One of the things that users of dermarollers don’t understand is that the skin needs adequate time to repair itself in order for its to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. Performing DIY micro-needling too often can be a bad thing, and the skin problems you wish to overcome will only get worse. To avoid hyperpigmentation issues, skin inflammation, and prolonged healing – it is recommended to keep to the instructions that come along with the skin pen. A dermatologist or authorised Dermapen provider might also share some guidance on how to do micro-needling safely and effectively at home.
Dermarollers are hot sellers, but the at-home micro-needling tool can sometimes do more harm than good
In Conclusion
Micro-needling can be a really great treatment for wrinkles, scarring, stretch-marks, hyper-pigmentation, and skin texture issues – but it doesn’t come without risks, especially when done at home.
“When done by an experienced technician it really addresses elasticity and wrinkles like nothing else,” New York City-based celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas, who has worked with clients like Sofia Coppola and Maggie Gyllenhaal says.
Dermatologists are generally against using the tools at home because they say the needles aren’t the right size to penetrate properly into skin, so you’re essentially damaging your face for no reason. Not to mention, without appropriate sterilization, dermarollers can harbor harmful bacteria that can lead to infections, breakouts and can trigger skin conditions such as rosacea, which causes redness and bumps on the face; eczema, itchy inflammation spots; and melasma, brown patches on the skin.
If you’re ready to try the next big thing in skincare and get that dewy glow everyone seems to be after – then before you risk damaging your skin with a DIY roller from Amazon – come in and see one of our experienced aestheticians at Spa Estique! We have updated our procedures and policies to ensure the health and safety of both our clients and employees, and are happy to be open Tuesday through Saturday 9-6pm. Give us a call today at (928)-367-6500 or book an appointment online here!