Skin rejuvenation, acne scarring, surgical scars, melasma, stretch marks enlarged pores, post‑traumatic/burn scars, alopecia, and transdermal delivery of all-natural, physiological regulating formulations, such as PRP and even Stem Cells, are just a few of the cosmetic conditions microneedling, also known as Collagen Induction Therapy, is effective in treating.
Watch the video : What is Collagen Induction Therapy?
Microneedling is safe, minimally evasive and produces excellent clinical results with little to no post-treatment downtime.
Explore individual patient results before and after a series of microneedling treatments.
Explore individual patient results before and after a series of microneedling treatments.
It’s all about the Collagen
As we age, our skin’s ability to produce collagen diminishes. Depending on our lifestyle proclivities, from spending too much time in the sun to unhealthy habits like smoking, poor diet or heavy drinking, collagen breakdown can leave us looking much older than our chronological years.
Collagen is a tissue that is perhaps most responsible for giving facial skin its youthful and healthy appearance. When you are young, new collagen fibers are produced by the fibroblast cells in your skin. The fibers are linked together in tightly-bundled, and densely organized, cross-bridging layers, known as “laminar” layers. They are responsible for the fullness, firmness, resilience and elasticity of your skin.
The Cause of Collagen Breakdown
Everyone will experience a slow-down in the amount of new collagen generated as well as an overall loss in the amount of collagen production as they age.
Additionally, due to sun exposure and other physiological stresses the deterioration of facial collagen is inevitable, causing it to lose its structural integrity.
As we age the process of “solar elastosis” causes the deterioration of our collagen leading to wrinkles and sagging skin.
The process is called “solar elastosis” and is characterized by the breaking of cross-bridges, and the disorganization and loosening of the laminar layers, which results in the appearance of enlarged pores as well as the thinning, sagging, and wrinkling of facial skin.
But just because you (and everybody else) inevitably experience a diminishing of facial collagen does not mean that the collagen cannot be revived!
Reviving Your Own Natural Collagen
Your skin is an amazing organ and comes equipped with a natural ability to combat all this damage and revive new collagen through a variety of natural physiological mechanisms which:
- Repair damaged fibers.
- Remodel disorganized layers.
- Remove fibers beyond repair.
- Generate new collagen.
Our microneedling protocols are designed to interact with and amp up these various mechanisms to naturally and effectively restore a youthful and healthy glow to your face.
AMA Regenerative Medicine & Skincare’s unique multiple-modality protocols engage each of these mechanisms, stimulating them to perform at a physiologically younger and more vital level, before aging and stress took their toll.
The Science of Microneedling
Microneedling is a unique, minimally invasive treatment to recapture a youthful and healthy texture and glow to the skin by engaging the patient’s very own physiology to regenerate new healthy collagen.
Micro-holes are made in the skin with a microneedling pen-like device. The needles are exquisitely engineered much like acupuncture needles, producing holes of such precise shape and thinness that they completely heal in minutes.
Microneedling stimulates fibroblast cells which are responsible for the creation of new healthy collagen.
These micro-holes induce changes in the micro-electrical currents flowing between cells, triggering the release of a wave of growth factors. This causes new blood vessels to form (neovascularization), that nourish the migration of new fibroblast cells and the new young collagen that these fibroblast cell generate.
Microneedling also breaks down old, hardened, scar collagen strands. Over a period of a few weeks following treatment, Type III collagen in scar tissue is broken down and removed by the bodies natural processes and replaced with healthy Type I collagen. This breakdown of old collagen and replacement with new collagen results in noticeable skin tightening and the reduction in the appearance of scars.
Studies have shown that one year after undergoing a series of microneedling treatments patients have up to a 400% increase in new collagen, enhanced elastic fiber deposition, a thicker epidermis and a normal stratum corneum (the outer most layer of your skin).
Transdermal Delivery of Physiological Regulating Formulations
Microneedling can also be used to infuse the skin with physiological regulating formulations, such as Platelet-Rich Plasma and even Stem Cells. It does this by bypassing the stratum corneum and depositing the formulation directly into the dermis.
The combined use of microneedling with physiological regulating formulations catalyzes and amplifies the body’s natural production of new young collagen, detoxifies the Extracellular Matrix of the skin and improves the overall health of the skin anywhere on the body.
Microneedling uses a specially developed micro-needle system comprised of an array of acupuncture needles.
The final result is the creation of new, strong, and healthy collagen fibers throughout the patient’s skin, giving his or her face a younger, healthier, and more beautiful appearance.
The Microneedling Treatment
The microneedling treatment begins with the application of our proprietary topical anesthetic. This makes the treatment virtually painless. Most say they don’t feel a thing.
The treatment itself is simple but you need to know what you are doing. The depth of the needles will vary from the forehead (where you have very little collagen to the cheeks (where you have a lot of collagen). It takes a clinician skilled in microneedling to know which depths to use where.
Using a pen-like automated microneedling device with disposable needle tips, the treatment consists of a series of horizontal, vertical, and oblique device passes over the treatment area. This is repeated 3 to 6 times or until small pinpoint bleeding is noticed.
When treating scars, a “rocking” or “stamping” method is used to improve the density of microneedling channels formed (micro-holes).
Depending on the condition being treated, treatments are scheduled every 3-8 weeks apart. A series of treatments are required to obtain optimal results. Following treatment, collagen will continue to rebuild and improvement of the treated area will continue for 3 to 6 months.
Explore the photos below to get an in-depth view of microneedling of stretch marks and the face.
Explore the photos below to get an in-depth view of microneedling of stretch marks and the face.
Common Conditions Treated with Microneedling
Microneedling is frequently used in conjunction with topical tretinoin and vitamin C to treat acne scarring and skin regeneration. Another application is the penetration of platelet-rich plasma for alopecia. It also improves the efficacy of photodynamic treatment by enhancing the action of 5 aminolevulinic acid to treat actinic keratosis and photoaging.
Skin Rejuvenation
Microneedling causes the restructuring of existing collagen fibers as well as the formation of new collagen, elastin, and capillaries, which causes a tightening of the skin. This results in a more youthful appearance by minimizing fine lines and wrinkles, shrinking pores, and increasing suppleness and elasticity.
When paired with mesenchymal stem cells, as in a stem cell facial, microneedling becomes “supercharged”. All the benefits mentioned above that come with tighter skin are enhanced significantly.
Acne Scars
Microneedling is famous for it wonderful results in treating acne scars. A number of studies have shown it is most effective in the treatment of rolling and boxcar scars.
It can be performed on all skin types, requires little downtime and the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is almost nil. For the best results a minimum of 4-6 sessions are necessary.
Other Types of Scars
Microneedling has been utilized to treat many types of scars, including varicella and smallpox, hypertrophic and keloid, post-operative and post-traumatic scars, all of which have shown significant clinical improvement.
Studies have shown that microneedling is even effective in reducing the appearance of burn scars by up to 80%.
Cystic Acne
The introduction of radiofrequency microneedling has broadened the applicability of microneedling to active cystic acne. RF microneedling works directly on the sebaceous glands to reduce sebum production and is also known to inhibit keratinocyte hyper-proliferation.
Radio frequency microneedling can treat both active cystic acne and acne scars at the same time.
Radiofrequency microneedling has also been found to be effective in acne scars. This makes it possible to treat both active acne and acne scars at the same time.
Androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata
One of the most recent advancements is the use of microneedling, combined with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), on the scalp for alopecia.
Microneedling has also been used with topical triamcinolone acetonide treatment in alopecia areata, with improved results.
Pigmentation—Melasma and Periorbital Hypermelanosis
Microneedling has been used in conjunction with different skin lightening treatments and chemical peels to treat melasma and periorbital hypermelanosis.
The mechanism of microneedling activity on pigmentation is not completely understood. Following the treatment, there is an increase in melanin transcutaneous elimination due to early keratinocyte growth.
Furthermore, microneedling improves photoaging patterns in the skin, such as solar elastosis and pendulum melanocytes, while also reconstructing damaged basal membranes.
Stretch Marks
Microneedling in the treatment of stretch marks has the benefits of fewer side effects, quicker recovery time, and lower cost. Microneedling works in the same way as laser treatment in that it encourages new collagen production and dermal remodeling by inducing skin injury.
Microneedling is a low-cost and highly effective treatment to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
A recent study showed that after a series of treatments, all of the patients stretch marks improved by more than 50%. Some of the participants stretch marks improved by 75%. The study also found that there was no difference in effectiveness between individuals with various skin types or between thicker and thinner skin regions.
Final Remarks on Microneedling
Microneedling is a safe, minimally invasive, and effective aesthetic treatment for a variety of cosmetic issues such as acne, scars, alopecia and stretch marks. Particularly in individuals with skin types IV and V since it is far less likely to cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation than other treatments.
Microneedling provides impressive results when used alone and even greater results when combined with other treatments such as platelet-rich plasma, laser skin resurfacing and deep chemical peeling.
Furthermore, microneedling’s quick post-treatment recovery certainly makes it an appealing treatment to those who want to avoid having to deal with many days of healing and downtime.
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References - Read the Science of Microneedling...
Everything on our website comes from from reputable publications, books and scientific journals, most of which are available on PubMed and other government websites. These include Meta-Analysis’, Randomized Controlled Trials, Clinical Trials, Systematic Reviews, Books and Documents. We encourage you to read the science, in order to separate fact from fiction, so that you can arrive at a full understanding of what is best for your skin. We would be honored to be a part of that educational journey with you.
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- Zduńska K, Kołodziejczak A, Rotsztejn H. Is skin microneedling a good alternative method of various skin defects removal. Dermatol Ther. 2018 Nov;31(6):e12714. doi: 10.1111/dth.12714. Epub 2018 Sep 24. PMID: 30246914.
- Saki N, Rahimi F, Pezeshkian FS, Parvar SY. Comparison of the efficacy of microneedling versus CO2 fractional laser to treat striae alba: A randomized clinical trial. Dermatol Ther. 2022 Jan;35(1):e15212. doi: 10.1111/dth.15212. Epub 2021 Nov 30. PMID: 34796595.
- Kim ST, Lee KH, Sim HJ, Suh KS, Jang MS. Treatment of acne vulgaris with fractional radiofrequency microneedling. J Dermatol. 2014 Jul;41(7):586-91. doi: 10.1111/1346-8138.12471. Epub 2014 May 8. PMID: 24807263.
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