Dermaroller can help fade acne scars, reduce fine lines and tighten the skin
Photo Credit: Camille et les garçons
Dermaroller is the current hottest tool in beauty, used to perform microneedling (also known as collagen induction therapy) which involves creating hundreds of little invisible puncture wounds on the surface of your skin to induce collagen production. Sounds scary? It is actually a minimally invasive treatment sworn by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie amongst many others. The benefits from using a dermaroller are aplenty, such as to tighten and thicken skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, prevents premature aging, reduce hyperpigmentation, fade stretch marks and acne scars.
Dermaroller can work on most types of acne scars
Depending on the severity of the scars, dermaroller can be quite effective on fading mild to moderate acne scars. Generally, there are a few types of acne scars: keloids (raise or hypertrophic scars), indented scars (rolling scars, box scars or icepick scars), and hyperpigmented scars. Dermaroller has proven to be effective for most acne scars except keloids (raised and hypertrophic scars).
Caution: Do not use dermaroller on keloid, raised or hypertrophic scars.
How do dermaroller fade acne scars?
Dermaroller works by rebuilding collagen under the skin. The tiny needles on the dermaroller, when rolled onto the skin, will create many tiny, invisible punctures on the skin. The body will start repairing itself by building collagen to rejuvenate the skin. This is the same principle with most laser rejuvenation treatments, acid peels and other expensive and invasive skin rejuvenating treatments, except dermaroller costs only a fraction of the price with very little healing time.
Indented acne scars require collagen production to heal, thus dermaroller will be extremely effective on such acne scars. Hyperpigmented scars also respond very well to dermaroller since the stimulated collagen production and improved blood circulation from microneedling will help to improve skin pigmentation. On the contrary, dermaroller will not work on keloids (raised and hypertrophic scars) which have been formed due to excess of collagen production. In fact, one must not use dermaroller on keloid scars since the collagen production might worse such acne scars.
Which dermaroller to use for acne scars?
Dermarollers come in different needles length ranging from 0.1mm to 1mm and longer. It is advisable not to use dermaroller on active acnes as it might worsen the problem. For acne prone skin, start with using a 0.1mm dermaroller as it is the most gentle and suitable for even sensitive skin. A 0.1mm dermaroller will also help to increase the effectiveness of your skincare products. If your skin can adapt to 0.1mm dermaroller, you may start moving up to dermaroller with longer needles. Read more on how to correctly use the dermaroller.
What type of serum to use with dermaroller for acne scars?
To treat acne scars, use brightening and healing serums that can target hyperpigmentation and unify the skin tone. We recommend MESO-BRIGHT, a 5 week brightening at-home mesotherapy treatment specially formulated to be used with dermaroller. Each box comes with 5 vials of serum rich in hyaluronic acid and vitamins that will help to fade hyperpigmented acne scars, rehydrate the skin, unify the skin tone and illuminate the complexion. A 0.1mm dermaroller which is gentle for sensitive and acne prone skin is also included in each MESO-BRIGHT box. Read more on the best serum to use with dermaroller.
When can I see results after using dermaroller for acne scars?
For a gentle dermaroller like the 0.1mm dermaroller, it can be safely used 3-4 times a week. From first application, most users have reported tighter and toned skin, increased skin glow and better absorption of skincare products. To see improvement in acne scar reduction, it will take 3 to 6 months of continuous use of a dermaroller. Since collagen production will continue for some time after the last microneedling treatment, the skin condition will continue to improve for several months.
How to prevent acne scars?
- It is important not to squeeze and pick at the acne as it may cause inflammation which eventually lead to worse scarring.
- Avoid sun exposure to prevent further darkening of the acne scars and always wear a sunblock. Choose sunblock that contains zinc oxide as it is not only one of the best ingredients to block UV rays but also an effective acne healing ingredient.
- Of course, the best way to prevent acne scars is to not have acnes. Hydrating the skin without clogging the pores is the key to having healthy and balanced skin. Avoid oil-based products, instead opt for water-based products to balance skin condition.
Start treating your acne scars with dermaroller
A once or twice weekly treatment with dermaroller will keep skin healthy and plump. Dermaroller has proven to be effective on acne scars, and we recommend starting with a 0.1mm dermaroller for acne prone skin. Even though dermaroller is very effective on acne scars, it should not be used on active acne as it may worsen the problem.
