Table of Contents Show
Before knowing about Microneedling for stretch marks, we have to know about stretch marks.
Skin can stretch out and return to its natural state, but sometimes rapid growth in weight can cause your skin to stretch above its capacity. A stretch mark is a type of scar that develops when our skin shrinks or stretches quickly.
As the skin heals, stretch marks may appear. Not everyone develops these marks on their body. You may also have a higher risk if your family members get stretch marks.
When stretch marks occur, they seemed to be red, pink, or brown, depending on your skin. Early stretch marks may feel slightly itchy. It is difficult to battle scars like stretch marks.
Stretch marks affect more men than women. The cutting of the dermis forms them. It causes rapid skin growth or rapid weight changes.
The 30 days treatment of micro-needling for stretch marks 1can lessen stretch marks’ appearance and often make them disappear. The next few sections will highlight microneedling for stretch marks.
1. Microneedling For Stretch Marks: Top 6 Amazing Facts
1.1. What is Microneedling for Stretch Marks?
Microneedling for stretch marks is a simple procedure treated using small needles to prick the skin with a derma roller. It is a chemical-free procedure2 suitable for all skin types and skin tones. It treats stretch marks, acne scarring, hair restoration, wrinkles, and large pores.
The purpose of treatment is to create new collagen and generate skin tissue for smoother and toned skin. It helps in the process of skin tightening. It is also known as collagen induction therapy in the cosmetic industry. Microneedling for stretch marks has been around for over the last two decades.
It is minimally invasive. It’s considered safe for people who are in overall good health. The procedure isn’t safe for people who use certain medications, for people having open wounds, for people having skin diseases, or for women who are pregnant or willing to get pregnant.
It’s also used in anti-aging treatments such as eyelid surgery and sunspots. Microneedling leaves the outer layer of the skin for 12-24 hours of redness.
Besides, professionals can use micro-needing to treat medication such as topical tretinoin or vitamin C.
Cost:
Microneedling is an expensive treatment. It can cost anywhere from $100 to $700 per session for each patient. The cost depends on the size of the affected area that is going to be treated by the surgeon. It does not cover any insurance.
1.2. The Invention of Micro Needling for Stretch Marks
The concept of microneedling for stretch marks is invented in 1995 when Orentreich described dermal needling in the form of surgical procedures for scar treatment3. The microneedling procedure was further shaped by a German inventor, Liebl, in the year 2000.
A plastic surgeon in the year 2006 designed a drum-shaped device by himself with multiple fine needles. He used it for collagen induction for the treatment of top-layer stretch marks in various cases.
The formal medical derma roller has a 12cm long handle with a 2*2 cm wide drum-shaped cylinder at one of the ends studded with 8 rows and 24 circular arrays of 192 fine microneedles. Usually, 0.5-3 mm in length and 0.1-2.25 mm in diameter.
There are different varieties of derma rollers in the market. Dermaroller with a narrow width of the drum is meant for smaller areas such as eyelids and noise. There are other excellent Dermarollers with 540 needles and Standard Derma rollers with 192 needles.
1.3. Microneedling for Stretch Marks Procedure
Microneedling for stretch marks is a simple method that lasts for ten-twenty minutes concerning the area to be treated.
Before starting the treatment, the surgeon must explain the completed procedure to the patient. He must be counseled before the treatment to explain the expected outcomes, delayed response, and need for multiple sittings.
The skin should be taken perfect care of for at least a month with vitamin A and C formulations twice a day to get control dermal collagen formation and get ready for treatment.
The procedure is performed by providing anesthesia to the patient. The anesthesia must contain a eutectic mixture of lignocaine and tetracaine or prilocaine for forty-five minutes to one hour.
After preparing the area ready for the treatment with an antiseptic and saline, the skin is stretched with one hand. And with the other hand, rolling is done five times each in horizontal and vertical directions.
The endpoint of treatment is identified when pin-point bleeding4 takes place. The bleeding can be easily controlled. Then, the patient is advised to follow a few protective measures given by the surgeon. The patient can involve in their daily work without any rest from the very next day.
Treatments are performed at 3-8 week intervals and multiple sittings. This is usually done to achieve desired results for the skin. This is because the final results are not achieved until the new collagen is formed approximately three to six months after treatment.
1.4. How Does Micro Needling for Stretch Marks Work?
Micro-needling for stretch marks works by encouraging your skin to make more collagen. It may also help rejuvenate skin. It increases the production of collagen and other important rejuvenating factors in the skin.
It is important to know that micro needling for stretch marks is not a quick fix, as it involves the growth of new skin. It can take several months for a person to see the full results of the procedure.
Microneedling for stretch marks uses fine needles to make microscopic punctures into the skin to boost collagen and elastic development. This technique can be used on different body areas, mostly on the face, to rejuvenate the skin.
It defends to create micro-injuries on the abdomen or thighs to eliminate the stretch marks. The natural healing process of the skin appears in three different steps:
1. Inflammation:
When the skin is punctured, new tissue forms, remove debris, increases blood flow, and naturally recovers the wounds. This is called inflammation.
2. Proliferation:
Here, the world itself starts to rebuild with the new cells, the new network of blood vessels, and the temporary collagen and elastin.
3. Remodeling:
The collagen formed in the above process is replaced by stronger collagen. It allows the skin to contract and create a tightening effect on the skin.
When the natural production of collagen is disturbed by the formation of fine lines, stretch marks. Microneedling for stretch marks procedure will help in restarting the production of collagen. The overproduction of elastin and collagen5 will also help heal the damaged connective tissue in the dermis that created the stretch mark.
This micro-needling treatment for stretch marks also penetrates the skin deep enough. The micro-needling creates a reaction with the same layers of the skin so that the stretch marks are instead resting on the surface of the skin.
Collagen is one of the most important proteins in human cells. It is an important component that holds your body together.
Its main duty is to give great strength. It is found throughout the body, like skin, bones, and tendons.
1.5. Microneedling for Stretch Marks Using Skinpen
Skin pen is a medical-grade micro-needling tool available to all medical professionals to treat stretch marks. The longer needles of the Skinpen allow reaching the dermis of the skin without causing any harm to the skin.
And also, without bending or breaking the dermis of the skin. So, you won’t have to be concerned or worried about scarring or infection.
At the time of treatment, we will gently move the skin pen across the area where there are stretch marks. The tiny needles in the skin open to create micro-wounds6.
The treatment period depends upon the number of areas and the size of the areas that will be treated. One session of the treatment can take about 30 minutes on average.
The treatments will be performed keeping the number of areas that the skin is affected by stretch marks in mind.
Microneedling for stretch marks using a skin pen is safe as it is effective for all skin types and tones. It is an alternative to treatments like chemical peels or chemical lasers. It can also produce better results when compared to other types of treatments.
1.6. Microneedling Vs Home Rollers
Microneedling is a professional procedure that is performed by certified doctors only. Patients themselves use home rollers. These are not as uncomfortable as professional rollers that are used in microneedling.
To save money, some people choose home rollers instead of micro-needling. In micro-needling, the rollers puncture the skin hard and deeply, but it is not possible with the home rollers.
Using home rollers may be less expensive than the derma rollers and less painful while treating, but it won’t achieve essential results and even damage the skin. If you need a long time and better results, micro-needling is preferable instead of home rollers.
These devices are more difficult to clean, increasing the risk of infection or injury to the skin while treating. However, these devices will increase blood flow and brighten the skin temporarily.
2. Conclusion
So now you might get an idea of micro-needling for stretch marks and the treatment procedure used in it. This is a complex yet safe method of removing unwanted stretch marks on your body.
- Pająk, Justyna, Jacek C. Szepietowski, and Danuta Nowicka. “Prevention of ageing—the role of micro-needling in neck and cleavage rejuvenation: a narrative review.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19.15 (2022): 9055. ↩︎
- Impoolsup, Tawee, Naphaporn Chiewchan, and Sakamon Devahastin. “On the use of microwave pretreatment to assist zero-waste chemical-free production process of nanofibrillated cellulose from lime residue.” Carbohydrate polymers 230 (2020): 115630. ↩︎
- Rabello, Felipe Bettini, Cleyton Dias Souza, and Jayme Adriano Farina Júnior. “Update on hypertrophic scar treatment.” Clinics 69 (2014): 565-573. ↩︎
- Pai, Shobha G., et al. “Bleeding Eye.” Delhi Journal of Ophthalmology 24.4 (2014): 283. ↩︎
- Davidson, Jeffrey M., et al. “Regulation of elastin synthesis in pathological states.” Ciba Foundation Symposium 192‐The Molecular Biology and Pathology of Elastic Tissues: The Molecular Biology and Pathology of Elastic Tissues: Ciba Foundation Symposium 192. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2007. ↩︎
- Martinelli, Roberta, et al. “Release of cellular tension signals self-restorative ventral lamellipodia to heal barrier micro-wounds.” Journal of Cell Biology 201.3 (2013): 449-465. ↩︎
Last Updated on by laibaarif
Author
