Microneedling with a safe and effective device like the SkinPen can help soften and even eliminate textural anomalies of the skin that are caused by scarring or the process of aging. Because it is a chemical-free, heat-free treatment it is appropriate for all skin types and excels at treating skin of all ethnicities. What’s more, is that the SkinPen is the first microneedling device that is FDA-cleared. The skin care specialists at Bryn Mawr Dermatology trust the rigorous clinical testing required to get this clearance, and depend on the device manufacturer’s unparalleled commitment to safety and efficacy. There are many microneedling devices on the market, even ones that claim to produce results when you perform them at home, but there is only one that has proven to deliver dependable results without risk of infection or injury. Every treatment is one step towards smoother, softer, and more radiant skin.
In a clinical study, 90% of patients said they would recommend SkinPen treatments, and that’s not surprising. The results are in, and the proof is in the pen.
The SkinPen was designed to target and treat some of the most common aesthetic conditions that patients are looking to address: acne scarring and wrinkles. It is also effective in treating enlarged pores and stretch marks.
According to the The Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 95% of individuals with acne end up with some degree of scarring, with about half of these cases being clinically relevant. The pigmentation and textural changes left behind after acne clears, is a long-lasting reminder of the often-traumatizing stigma associated with having breakouts.
Wrinkles are a part of life. As we age our skin becomes less resilient and the expressions that help us communicate (big toothy smiles, death glares, frowns of discontent, etc.) leave our skin marked by their repeating presence. We develop crows feet, linear lines between our brows, horizontal lines on our foreheads and a crosshatch of lines all over our faces and bodies.
During clinical trials, researchers found that one-month post treatment, 80% of patients noticed improvement in acne scars in the treated area and 94% of patients noticed an improvement in how their fine lines and wrinkles looked. These significant findings allow us to implement this cosmetic procedure with the knowledge that we can provide patients with visible outcomes that make it easier to face the mirror and daily life with confidence.
Microneedling, by definition, is the use of tiny sterilized needles to mechanically cause microperforations to the skin in order to activate the skin’s natural healing processes. Technically, the “pen” portion of the device is a hand-held plastic casing that houses a small motor. Sterile needle cartridges that contain a grid of 14 hair-thin, stainless-steel, medical-grade needles can be applied to the tip of this pen. When the device is calibrated and turned on, the motor will then propel the needles to pulse up and down a pre-set quantity of millimeters, very rapidly. During treatment your skin expert will glide the needle cartridge over your skin, which causes 1600+ micro-channels per second to be created in the treatment area. The depth of the pulses is variable, and will be selected by your provider based on proven protocol that is most appropriate to treat your major cosmetic concerns.
The treatment causes a predictable series of responses that lead to the ultimate results:
Before each appointment (you should expect at least three, spaced one month apart), we recommend that you discontinue all anti-acne or anti-aging products that you are using at home about a week in advance of your appointment. These products may contain active ingredients that make skin more fragile, and we want to make sure that we are not unknowingly aggressive with your skin.
SkinPen treatments can be completed in less than an hour, of which about half the time is used for preparation. Our providers will cleanse the skin and then apply a topical anesthetic that eliminates the majority of any discomfort the procedure may cause. The treatment area will then be prepared with special attention to remove any possible pathogens that could lead to infection. Your skin specialist will then apply a specially-designed serum to the treatment area in order to help the SkinPen glide seamlessly over the contours of your face. During treatment it is likely that the SkinPen settings will be adjusted to accommodate the different terrains that it passes over in order to most effectively treat each section. Most patients feel a pinching sensation at the sight of treatment which rapidly resolves as soon as the device is moved.
The skin will likely be darker or red after treatment. It may also feel warm and tight, like you have a mild sunburn. You may also experience some visible sloughing of the skin during the healing process. These side effects will ease after no more than 72 hours, and the majority of clients are comfortable returning to normal activities immediately after the treatment.
The best part about using the SkinPen to help reduce the visible signs of aging and the appearance of scarring is that it is appropriate for just about any patient. Most procedures that address the topography (texture) of the skin depend on light energy, which produces heat, to cause the controlled damage required to activate new skin remodeling. This type of treatment is not safe to perform on people with skin of color or skin that is particularly sensitive to UV exposure. By using a mechanical process to manually initiate the production of new collagen and elastin, we can avoid the potential of burns and skin irritation. We can also control exactly how intense each treatment is with the click of a button or rotation of a needle tip. If you find yourself frustrated with acne scars that are still present long after your breakouts have ceased, or want to get a jump-start on softening those creases and lines that inevitably develop as you age, then a series of SkinPen treatments might be right for you. Book a consultation with one of our friendly and well-versed aestheticians to discuss your options today.
Any time the skin’s natural ability to rejuvenate is accelerated by the implementation of an aesthetic device or procedure it results in new, healthy skin cells and surrounding support tissues. Ultimately, we are inducing your own body to go into overdrive to repair and replace the damage to the skin we have caused. The process is entirely natural and dependent on your body’s ability to heal itself. Some of the visible results of this cellular remodeling are:
Although the SkinPen brand is one of the newer microneedling devices on the market, the process of using controlled mechanical damage to resurface skin has been used and perfected over many decades. Dr. Christine Stanko upgraded to the SkinPen device once it was deemed superior by the FDA as a cleared device, and once scientific study proved that it is not only safer, but also produces predictably remarkable results. Each one of our aestheticians was trained on this new device by a representative of Crown Aesthetics, the manufacturer, in order to ensure that she knows how to best utilize the technology and the newly-developed safety enhancements.
The aestheticians who work out of our Collegeville and Villanova offices have been honing their craft for over a decade and take pride in personalizing each patient’s experience. They are expert listeners and pride themselves in understanding the unique needs of patients and translating that into results. They are intimately versed in the workings of all the devices they utilize. More than the sum of their licenses and experience, our aestheticians love their jobs, and they love their patients. They take extra special care with every individual to ensure that their goals are heard and enjoy the challenge of finding the combination of treatments and clinical skin care products to meet (and hopefully exceed) those goals.
As you age the ability to produce the essential building blocks of smooth, supple skin naturally slows down. SkinPen treatments serve to ramp up these processes and focus them on the specific area of concern, resulting in hyperproduction of collagen – to make skin stronger, firmer, and more uniform – and elastin – to make skin more resilient and decrease active wrinkles. The process starts with controlled damage to the treatment area, and because your body’s ability to clean up dead skin cells and produce new skin structures is at least 28 days, we ask that you be patient. After the first session with SkinPen you should start to see a positive change in the appearance of your skin. And each session will produce cumulative results. The ultimate goal is to see the final outcome approximately one month after your final treatment, so if you are preparing for an event like a wedding, TV appearance, or special birthday, plan accordingly.
How do you retain these results you ask? Well, an at-home clinical skin care regimen is the first step. The essentials are a simple, yet effective cleanser, one (or more) anti-aging treatment that will likely include a retinoid or strong antioxidant, a daily SPF of 30 or more, and a moisturizer chosen just for you to keep skin hydrated and glowing. And secondly, the most predictable way to keep seeing beautiful skin is to come into BMD and get an annual touch-up SkinPen treatment.
The easiest way to determine if Microneedling is right for you is to Request an Appointment with our skincare experts and board-certified dermatologists. During your consultation, our friendly staff will evaluate your concerns and determine an ideal treatment plan to meet your needs. Our office is beautifully equipped, so you’ll feel at home as soon as you walk in the door.
Get started today by calling our dermatology team at 610.525.7800 or easily book an appointment by clicking the Schedule Now button at the top of the page. We look forward to caring for you!
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