Acne is something that every person deals with, especially if they’re prone to excessive sebum production. The problem is that about 47% of these individuals end up with acne scars that give the skin a rough texture. Unlike acne, these scars have the potential to be permanent.
Microneedling has been acknowledged as an effective treatment to reduce different skin texture issues to smooth out the surface of the skin. But does it work for acne scars as well? This blog will give you some insight.
How Microneedling Works for Acne Scars
Before diving into how microneedling helps with acne scars, you first have to understand how the procedure works. Microneedling is a treatment that uses a device equipped with tiny needles to create micro-punctures in the skin. These don’t cause long-term damage, but they’re enough to trigger your healing response.
When the procedure creates those microchannels, the skin responds by producing elastin and collagen. Acne scars form because the skin doesn’t have the time to produce enough collagen and elastin, causing it to heal with a hollow indent. Microneedling restarts collagen production in the area to give the skin another chance to heal properly.
Timeline of Microneedling Results
Here is what you can expect with the microneedling timeline:
- • Initial Healing
During the first few days, you won’t notice many improvements in your acne scars. The skin can feel slightly tighter, but this stage is for healing. You can expect some redness and healing, which lasts one to three days (depending on the setting of the microneedling process). You may notice a slight glow, especially if medical-grade serums were used after the treatment.
- • Skin Resurfacing
About a week after the procedure, you’ll see the top layer of the skin begin to flake off. This light peel is a good thing because it’s a sign that your skin is regenerating. The glow’s getting stronger now that the redness has gone away, and the skin gets a slightly smoother texture. Acne scars might start lightening a bit at this point, although the pit will still be there for the time being.
- • Initial Collagen Induction
After about a month, the body has created enough collagen for you to see the initial results. Deep acne scars might still be there, but they will not be as visible. Toothpick scars and pores should decrease at this point. The skin should become smoother, and you’ll notice fewer acne breakouts because the smaller pores are no longer overproducing oil. This means fewer acne scars to worry about in the future.
- • Long-Term Skin Improvement
Collagen starts maturing after about one month or more, depending on the individual. Since the cells are created and mature at different rates, it can take up to three months to see the full results. Smaller scars should disappear at this point, and deeper scars should be less visible. You may notice that your skin feels tighter, making imperfections less visible.
How Many Treatments Do You Need?
One microneedling treatment has great potential for significant results. However, for multiple scars or significant acne scarring, it’s best to get more sessions spaced one month apart. A consultation is recommended to determine a treatment schedule that works with your specific situation.
Mild to moderate acne scarring typically responds well to two to three sessions, leaving enough space between them for the skin to heal. Severe scarring might need about six or more sessions. Depending on the severity of the treatment, professionals at RESTOR Medical Spa could suggest complementary treatments to improve the results (e.g., radiofrequency and medical-grade skincare).
Schedule Your Microneedling Treatment Today!
Microneedling can be a useful treatment for skin irregularities like acne scars. Thanks to its collagen induction properties, it can smooth out the skin and make it look more youthful in the long term. Schedule an appointment with RESTOR and solve your acne scar concerns!
For more information about microneedling, contact RESTOR Medical Spa at 720-524-8429. We can create a treatment plan that effectively reduces acne scars. As an alternative, you can fill out the online contact form on our website, and we’ll get in touch with you soon.
