Can Derma Rolling Be Used As a Maintenance Treatment? How Long Should It Last?

Is there a need for derma rolling therapy to become a maintenance treatment? If it is how long should it last?Ā

You may have heard a lot about dermarolling or microneedling. As it is one of the hottest topics on the net today.Ā It is a minimally invasive technique that offers low cost treatment for various skin conditions such as:

Acne Scars
Wrinkles
Melasma
Rosacea
Alopecia
Burn Scars
Stretchmarks
Skin Rejuvenation
Transdermal drug delivery
And many others.

Microneedling or percutaneous collagen induction is the newest addition to the different treatment modalities in treating common skin disorders. It has recently attained its popularity in effectively treating acne scars. The procedure uses a derma roller device studded with hundreds of microneedles.

It is used to pierce the superficial skin layer to induce the formation of collagen and elastin. It is believed that this two skin components are the oneā€™s responsible for the tensile strength of the skin. The procedure also helps make the skin look younger and firmer.

You need at least a minimum of six weeks interval before the next follow-up treatment. For moderate acne scars, it is recommended to have four treatments. The exact duration of treatment is a case to case basis.

It depends on the extent of the skin damage. For mild to moderate cases, it may take weeks before treatment is completed.

As to the question, whether it could be a lifetime treatment, it also depends on:

What is your indication for using an,
Ā If your skin can tolerate prolong treatment.
The micro needle length of the dermaroller can also affect the duration of the treatment.

How long dermarollers should be use?

The length of microneedles will determine the duration of the treatment. Shorter needle length can be used every day as long as your skin can tolerate daily treatment. It can also be used continuously for months, if your skin can tolerate multiple dermarolling treatment.

For 0.25 mm ā€“ you may use it every other day or daily.Ā Do this if your skin can tolerate daily microneedling.
5 mm ā€“ use it every seven days or once a month. You may continue as long as your skin can tolerate weekly treatment.
75 mm ā€“ You may use it every four to six weeks or twice a month. Continue using this needle length if your skin is able to tolerate multiple needling.
1 mm ā€“ use it every four to six weeks or twice a month, if your skin can tolerate multiple treatments.
5 mm ā€“ use every four to eight weeks only with the supervision of professionals
0 mm ā€“ use every four to eight weeks with professional supervision

If you are new to dermarolling and you are unsure on which needle length is right for you, it is recommended to use 0.25 mm first every other day or 0.5 mm every four to six weeks.

Red Flags in Dermarolling

You have to take note that there are some indications when to stop the microneedling treatment. Although, for some, it is safe to derma roll every day, there are others who have different response to treatment. If you see the following warning signs, you should stop the treatment and consult a dermatologist.

If there are skin irritation and redness caused by previous treatment, you should stop and wait for your skin to heal. Before starting a new treatment, make sure that your skin is completely healed.

If you observe hyper or hypopigmentation, wait until your skin recovered before starting the treatment. Although, this is a common reaction for dark-skinned individual, these can be a red flag for others. Make sure that if you observe any adverse effect, discontinue the treatment and wait until your skin is completely healed.

Duration of Microneedle Use Depending on Your Skinā€™s Condition

The indication for microneedle treatment also depends on your skin condition. There are certain conditions where you need shorter treatment duration while there are skin problems where you need prolong treatment.

Wrinkles and Acne Scars

Treating wrinkles and acne scars will be based on the needle length and your skinā€™s tolerability in daily or multiple treatments. You may use 0.25 mm microneedle daily, if your skin can tolerate day-to-day treatment. You may proceed with every four to six weeks treatment if your skin can tolerate weekly dermarolling.

Stretch marks

Treating stretch marks can be done every four to six weeks and you may need longer needles because of the depth of the scars. This timeline is recommended to allow your skin to fully recover. Using smaller needle size such as 0.25 mm to 0.3 mm may not be effective.Ā It is best if you could use 0.5 mm to 2 mm depending on the depth of the stretch marks. Please be advice, that longer needle length needs professional supervision. If you are not comfortable in using longer microneedles, better to seek professional help.

Using 1.0 mm microneedle can be tolerable for most individuals.Ā Keep in mind that treating stretch marks is not a quick fix. More so, do not expect an immediate result. Approximately, you have to wait at least four to eight months, before you can see visible improvement.

Do not set high expectations. Microneedling is not a miracle treatment. It may not be able to completely eliminate all your stretch marks but it can help make it less visible.

If you plan to use 1.5 mm or 2 mm microneedles, make sure that you donā€™t use it in your face. If improperly used, longer microneedles may cause collagen breakdown. You also need to seek professional advice for longer needle length. You may also need to use numbing cream or topical anesthesia because it could be painful and it may induce further bleeding.

Is Microneedling for Lifetime Use?

Users of dermarolling treatment experience permanent reductions in wrinkles, acne scars, and stretch marks. The results are visible after the third treatment as new collagen is formed by this time. Some users also reported 60% reduction of scars after six treatments.

Prolong usage of microneedle depends on your skinā€™s response to treatment. You may use it for longer periods as long as your skin is able to tolerate prolong treatment. You also need to let your skin rest for a while to allow it to heal completely.

Works Cited

Byalekere Shivanna Chandrashekar, Rashmi Sriram, Rajdeep Mysore, Sapnashree Bhaskar, and Abhishek Shetty. (2014). Evaluation of Microneedling Fractional Radiofrequency Device for Treatment of Acne Scars. J Cutan Aesthet Surg , 93-97.