Fight Acne Scars with a Derma Roller

I’m a sucker for any product that has to do with skin care. From chemical peels to snail slime masks, I’m down to try anything. So when I first heard about the derma roller and micro needling, I had to try it.

Micro needling, also called collagen induction therapy, is a practice that uses needles to repair the skin. The most popular micro needling device is a derma roller, which is a roller with little needles on it (picture a tiny paint roller with about 400 short acupuncture needles on it, fun right?).

Now you’re probably wondering why on Earth anyone would want to roll needles on their face voluntarily...

The theory behind micro needling is that its controlled damage to the skin to increase collagen production. For example, if you scrape your knee, your skin repairs itself by building up collagen and creating new skin. That’s basically what a derma roller does, but on a microscopic level so there’s no ugly scar left behind.

Honestly, I hate needles, but as a dedicated natural beauty junkie I had to try this out! After researching the benefits of using a derma roller, here’s what I found.

Micro needling…

· Increases collagen production in the skin.

· Diminishes acne scars

· Lifts pitted scars

· Lessens the appearance of wrinkles

Derma rollers come with different needle lengths for different uses.

· 0.5 – 1.0 mm should be used for acne scars and uneven skin tones

· 1.0 – 1.5 mm should be used for sun damaged and aged skin

· 1.5 mm & above should be used only by trained professionals

There are some websites out there saying derma rolling can get rid of cellulite, but there is no solid research to support that claim. Also, some believe that derma rollers should be used daily, but this can be very harmful by causing too much damage and eventually making your skin stiffen. I tell you this not to scare away, but to make sure you don’t fall for any bad advice.

My personal experience with derma rolling has been amazing

I decided to buy one to get rid of my stubborn acne scars. At first I was afraid that it would hurt to puncture my skin, but after a few minutes of use I got used to the small pricks and barely felt a thing. Afterwards my skin felt like it had been sun burnt and was slightly red so I suggest doing this at night if you try it. The next day my skin was drier than usual and slightly peeling, but I just rubbed on some moisturizer and I was good to go. After a couple days my complexion looked more even toned and brighter!

If you’re worried about the possible pain from the needles, there are numbing creams you can buy to make it so you feel nothing at all during the process. Personally, I find there is minimal pain when I use my roller so I decided not to buy one.

Interested in trying a derma roller? Here are the steps to make sure you get the safest and most effective results.

Preparation:

1. Before your first use, soak the derma roller in alcohol for at least 5 minutes.

2. During this time, thoroughly wash your face and pat dry with a towel.

3. If you’re using a numbing cream apply it to your face now.

4. Take your derma roller out of the alcohol and let it dry.

Use:

5. Grab your roller and start rolling it against your skin in one direction (either “up and down”, “left to right”, or diagonally) making sure to cover all of your face.

6. Then roll the derma roller on the skin again, but in the opposite direction.