Medical Microneedling in Washington, DC
Exceed Medical Microneedling is a collagen induction based skin rejuvenation treatment which improves fine lines and wrinkles of the face, enlarged pores, surgical scars, and stretchmarks. The powerful Exceed Microneedling System allows for both needle depth and frequency control, allowing for highly tailored treatments specific to the goals of improving overall skin texture.
What is Medical Microneedling?
As we age, the native collagen in our skin degrades at a slow rate, starting around the age of 20. However, skin retains the ability to produce new collagen throughout life, however only does so in case of wound or injury. Microneedling relies on the principle of collagen induction therapy, which utilizes the wound healing response to produce new collagen in the mid to upper layers of skin, replacing lost collage and bolstering remaining collagen. Utilizing ultra-fine solid needles rapidly inserted and removed from the skin, microneedling stimulates the skin’s natural wound healing response which results in the gradual production of new collagen and elastin and increased hyaluronic acid, leading to smoother, tighter, and more youthful appearing skin.
What are the Advantages of Microneedling?
As the microneedling induces microscopic mechanical wounds without heat, microneedling is safe and effective in all skin types with minimal to no risk of scarring or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, even in the sunny summer months. We still recommend SPF30 sunscreen for several weeks after treatment, but in patients prone to hyperpigmentation microneedling represents a far safer skin rejuvenation method than many lasers and other heat producing devices. There is also minimal downtime after a microneedling procedure, typically consisting of mild redness and swelling post treatment.
What are other methods of Collagen Induction?
Prior to the advent of mechanical microneedling, lasers and light devices were the principal methods used for collagen induction based skin rejuvenation. Ablative resurfacing lasers, non-ablative resurfacing lasers, RF Microneedling, and Pulsed Light devices all rely on the same wound healing principles as microneedling, with the main difference being the use of heat to induce microscopic wounds instead of direct tissue injury through a needle. In almost all cases results of laser skin rejuvenation are superior to microneedling, however with advantages of low-downtime and minimal pigmentation risk microneedling is an excellent addition to many of the laser skin rejuvenation treatments offered at our Center.
Is Microneedling good for Acne Scars?
While many cosmetic providers will advertise and market microneedling as a treatment for acne scars, several studies have shown that microneedling alone results in little to no long-term improvement to atrophic acne scars. As a recognized expert in the treatment of acne scars, Dr. Adrian does not recommend microneedling for atrophic acne scars. Please click here for more information on the comprehensive acne scar removal program offered at our Center.
If you would like to schedule a skin rejuvenation consultation to see if medical microneedling is right for you, please call our office at 202-966-8814 or click here for our consultation request form.
