Derma Rolling at Home
Having a skincare routine has become less of something you give random thought to, and now an intricate part of every person's life. And with the rise of social media platforms that rely on visuals to spread their message (Instagram), brands and skincare professionals can reach out to everyday consumers - who may not be visiting a dermatologist regularly - to share the most current trends and proactive, effective treatment options for different skin types.
While for some people, skin care may seem easy, for those with problematic skin, it can seem like every day is like climbing Everest. I have been living with horrible hormonal acne for years, and it has been nothing but heartbreaking every time a product or technique doesn't work for me. That is, however, until I came to discover a method known as derma rolling. In this post, we will detail what derma rolling is, the potential benefits, and the different types of rollers available from Petunia Skincare.
What is derma rolling?
A derma roller is a skincare device that creates micro pathways in the skin to allow for serums and treatments to be better soaked up by the skin. When using a derma roller for this purpose, many skincare professionals will suggest a 0.25mm needle, as the smaller needles are a perfect way to allow your products to absorb and penetrate the skin. However, there is a larger size on the market, such as a 0.5 mm, which would be more for what is termed as "wound healing stimulation." This size of the needle - while still small - creates tiny pricks around the skin and allows for enough space for your body's wound healing response to activating; basically, this process causes you to grow new healthy skin. When I was dealing with acne scars, this is the size I used, and I was shocked at how quickly my skin was transforming before my eyes. My skin was becoming plumper, smoother, and more even than it had ever been. It helped me treat my acne scars and decreased the regularity and intensity of my breakouts.
Should everyone be using this technique?
This is one of those yes, but no questions; and why it is so crucial for people to understand their skin type. When discussing this treatment with friends in the skin care profession, I was warned of things that would prevent them from suggesting this technique. For example, if you have certain skin conditions - such as eczema, warts, or psoriasis - derma rolling could worsen the situation rather than help relieve the issue. The reason being that these conditions are prone to spreading, or are due to bacteria which - if rolled over - could actually inflame your face more. If you have concerns about any of these conditions or if you have cystic acne or any open wounds on your face, discuss this method with a dermatologist before you add this to your regular routine.
Now that we understand what the process is let's talk preparation. How do you get ready to roll?
As this technique is mostly poking holes into the skin, the likelihood that you may draw blood is high, so cleanliness is crucial. The surface shouldn't just be cleaned with water, but thoroughly cleansed of oils, dirt, bacteria, everything. When I am getting my skin ready, I start with a gel cleanser to remove any makeup, surface level dirt; followed by a water-based foaming cleanser and a toner to balance PH. I do this routine every day, but on days I am using my derma roller, I also treat the skin with an antiseptic cleanser before I begin rolling.
Now that your skin is prepped let's talk about the care of the derma roller. Before and after use, I clean my roller with a CaviCide or Barbicide to kill any bacteria and remove any dirt. As it needs to be on a clean surface, if I am going section by section, I lay down a clean paper towel to place my roller on in between applications.
Okay, so wait, how do you actually use a derma roller? Is it as simple as rolling it all over your skin?
This is a question I get all the time. You want to make sure you aren't just haphazardly rolling around your face and that you have a solid game plan, so you aren't just steamrolling all over your face. I derma roll at night so that whatever products I use to have the time to seep in and do their job overnight. It is also better to do this treatment at night as to avoid exposing your skin to the sun, as the rays make you more receptive to damage negating whatever work you had done. Here is what I do:
1) I roll horizontally over my forehead, cheeks, and chin in a back and forth motion.
2) I roll vertically on the forehead slowly up and down no more than 5 times (it depends on the day how many times as to what my skin is willing to endure).
3) Lastly, I go diagonally across the face, going one direction not moving back and forth like in the other steps.
*A quick tip: I always start in the center and move outwards on my face - except on my nose, where I work downward exclusively. *
Once I've completed the rolling process, I go in with my activated skincare products. This is when you would want to utilize a vitamin C serum or an anti-aging product to jumpstart the skin. This would also be an excellent time to grab your favorite collagen or brightening product. What you use on this step is entirely up to what you want to improve on your skin.
The all-important question - does derma rolling hurt?
For me, I've not felt a huge amount of pain using the derma roller, but I have a high pain tolerance and have a couple of tattoos. If you have sensitive skin, you may feel some pricks, and in many professionals opinion, the more sensitive your skin, the more you may want to leave this technique to the professionals.
In terms of needle size, the larger the needle, the more painful it can potentially be. You want to make sure when you are rolling that you don't press hard into the skin, but that you are using a light hand and moving around the surface. You need to make sure you feel it, but it shouldn't be uncomfortable or wince-inducing. As this process is done to create an inflammatory response, as discussed in the previous sections, to promote your body's healing process, you want to stay away from blood thinners or pain medication.
How long will it take until you see results?
For me, I notice results almost immediately. It's best to start out rolling once or twice a week to get accommodated to the process and then going to twice or three times a week, which is where I am now. However, if you are using a smaller needle than what I regularly use (which is the 0.5 mm) then you can do it a bit more often; but always make sure you are listening to your skin and not doing more than your skin can handle.
I immediately noticed laugh lines vanishing, and acne scars lightening and disappearing. In the human body, it takes collagen about a month and a half to two months to grow, so you will start to see an incredible difference in that time.
What products do we offer?
At Petunia Skincare, we offer derma rollers, and products to use with them. The three sizes offered are 0.5 mm derma roller, 1.0mm roller, and a 1.5 mm derma roller (available either individually or as set of 200 needles and 540 needles). Here are descriptions from the website detailing the benefits of each size:
- The 0.5mm derma roller is the perfect needle length for those experiencing shallow wrinkles, light scarring, and hyperpigmentation from the sun and is usually for the face only.
- In addition to all the benefits that the 0.5mm has, the 1.0mm needle can treat deeper scars, acne scarring such as ice picked scars, uneven skin texture, deeper wrinkles, and even light stretch marks. With the 1.0mm, you'll more likely see faster results and smoother and tighter skin.
- The 1.5mm is ideal for the hands, arms, abdomen, thighs, deep scars, stretch marks, and decollete areas. It is recommended that beginners do not use the 1.5mm without prior experience with derma rolling.
BUY 1.5MM DERMA ROLLER
These rollers as a set are perfect for anyone wanting to start out with derma rolling, allowing you to work your way up and help you gain comfortability with using derma rollers.
Overall, derma rollers are an excellent addition to anyone's skin routine. For those of you who are new, comment below any questions or comments you may have about derma rolling. And for those of you with experience, let us know what you think, is derma rolling the future of clear skin care? Let us know in the comments below!
