SkinPen also known as Dermal needling… A natural approach to skin rejuvenation.
By Debra Knight, PVPS Aesthetician
Question: What is SkinPen or Dermal Needling?
Answer: SkinPen is a unique device used to create microscopic wounds in the skin.
Question: How does it work?
Answer: The device looks like a large pen. At the end of the pen is a disposable cartridge with twelve, 25 gauge needles. When the pen is turned on it begins to vibrate up and down, penetrating the skin to create microscopic wounds. Your skin responds by releasing Growth Factors which aid in the healing process.
Question: Does the procedure hurt?
Answer: Your Aesthetician will apply a numbing agent prior to the procedure which helps to minimize discomfort. Therefore most patients experience very little discomfort. In most cases, the patient tolerates the procedure just fine.
Question: How much downtime should I expect with this treatment?
Answer: Recovery time can vary from person to person. However, most heal within 72 hours.
Question: What can I expect during the first 72 hours following the treatment?
Answer: Directly after the procedure, the skin is tight dry and very red. Most of the redness is gone within the first 12 hours, but your skin will remain tight and dry for several days following the procedure. Some flaking and peeling have been reported.
Question: What will I use after the procedure to help in the healing process?
Answer: Hyaluronic Acid serum is applied directly after the treatment and should be applied frequently for the next 8 hours. Keep in mind, your hands should be sanitized before applying the serum. After 12 hours, you may cleanse the skin then apply the Hyaluronic Acid Serum, followed by a Chemical Free sunscreen. Makeup can also be used if needed. 72 hours following the procedure you may go back to your normal skincare regimen. However, I would not recommend using any aggressive products such as Retin-A / Tretinoin, Glycolic acid or Salicylic acid for at least 5 days. A Growth Factor product such as TNS Recovery Complex will aid in the healing process, but not before 72 hours following the procedure.
Question: When can I expect to see improvement?
Answer: In most cases, patients will notice a slight improvement about two weeks after their 2nd treatment. Realistically though, you should not expect to see much of an improvement until 28 days after your 3rd. treatment. The wonderful thing about SkinPen or Dermal Needling is that you will continue to see improvement in your skin for a full 2 years after your last treatment.
Question: How many treatments will I need?
Answer: For skin rejuvenation, you should plan on 3 to 4 treatments, 4 to 6 weeks apart. If the treatment is for acne scarring or surgical scars then you should plan on 6 to 8 treatments, 8 weeks apart. Surgical scars should be at least one year old before dermal needling is performed.
Question: What type of improvement should I expect with SkinPen?
Answer: SkinPen or Dermal Needling helps with texture issues such as enlarged pores, fine lines, and wrinkles, acne scarring, surgical scars over one year old and hyperpigmentation.
