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Tag: Acne Treatments

  • Is Microneedling Safe? All Your Questions About Skin Needling Answered – POPSUGAR Australia

    Is Microneedling Safe? All Your Questions About Skin Needling Answered – POPSUGAR Australia

    Microneedling, also referred to as skin needling, is a minimally invasive skin treatment that uses a device that contains fine needles. These needles are used to create tiny punctures in the skin, improving the appearance of wrinkles, scars, and stretch marks.

    Microneedling has become popular in recent years, considered by some to be a safe alternative to injectables, providing similar results to treatments like Botox.

    “Botox is primarily focused on reducing dynamic wrinkles but doesn’t improve the skin’s texture, tone, or overall health,” says Samantha Apell, founder of The Skin Bar, which has locations all across Sydney and in Melbourne’s South Yarra and Gold Coast’s Mermaid Beach. Enter ‘SKINBAR30‘ when booking for 30% off your first treatment.

    “Skin needling plump collagen all over the face, where botox will not improve skin texture and only paralyse the muscles in that specific area,” says Apell.

    Image: The Skin Bar

    There are several benefits associated with this treatment — we will discuss the various benefits of microneedling and how it can help improve the appearance of your skin.

    What Is Microneedling and What Are the Benefits of Microneedling for Your Skin?

    Dermapen microneedling is a minimally invasive skin treatment that involves the use of a handheld device that has 12-14 micro-needles. The size of the needles ranges from 0.5mm to 1.0mm for the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles, and 1.5-2.5mm for the treatment of acne scarring. 

    These needles are used to create controlled micro-injuries to the skin in order to promote collagen production and neocollagenesis. As a result, this can help improve the appearance of wrinkles, scars, and stretch marks. Additionally, microneedling can also be helpful for improving skin tone, texture, and pore size.

    How Does Microneedling Work?

    Dermapen microneedling is a popular treatment for acne scars, wrinkles, and other skin concerns.

    Microneedling uses small needles to create microscopic injuries in the skin. This triggers the body’s natural healing response, which stimulates the production of collagen and elastin. As these new proteins are produced, they help to fill in acne scars and smooth out wrinkles.

    Dermapen treatments are usually performed every four to six weeks. Some people may see results after just one treatment, but most will need a series of treatments to get the best results.

    What Are the Side Effects of Microneedling?

    Dermapen microneedling is a relatively new treatment that has been shown to have a lot of benefits for the skin. However, like any other type of treatment, it also has some potential side effects.

    There are a number of potential side effects associated with microneedling, though most are mild and temporary. These can include redness, itching, pinpoint bleeding, bruising, and slight swelling. In rare cases, more serious complications can occur, such as infection or scarring. It is always important to follow the instructions of your physician when undergoing any sort of treatment and to report unusual side effects immediately.

    Who Is Dermapen Microneedling Best for?

    Microneedling is a truly multi-purpose treatment. Anyone wanting to address fine lines, pigmentation, or uneven skin texture will benefit from the treatment. Some of the most striking results of microneedling can be seen in individuals with deep acne-scarring  (referred to as “ice pick” scars).

    The penetration of the needle has been clinically demonstrated to stimulate collagen and elastin, decreasing the depth of acne scars, and improving pigmentation.

    Microneedling has also emerged as a popular treatment for men. Men are one of the fastest growing consumer groups for skincare and beauty, as reported by Allied Market Research.

    Men are increasingly looking for treatments that give them smooth, even skin without resorting to treatments like Botox and filler. They also typically have a 20% thicker epidermis, compared to women. This means they can tolerate more microneedling treatments and generally find them less painful. 

    Who Should Not Undergo Dermapen Microneedling?

    There are certain skin conditions that make someone a poor candidate for skin-needling treatments. Anyone with active acne should not undergo the treatment, as it could spread bacteria and cause further breakouts.

    The same goes for people with open wounds or cuts on the face, as well as those who have sunburns, cold sores or herpes outbreaks. In addition, those who are taking blood thinners such as aspirin or other similar medicines should not have microneedling done, as they may bleed excessively during the procedure. Finally, anyone who has a history of keloids (raised scars) may also want to avoid dermapen microneedling, as it could exacerbate this condition.

    How to Prepare for Your Microneedling Treatment?

    Here are a few things you can do to prepare for your microneedling treatment: 

    1. Cleanse your skin thoroughly before the procedure – this will help to reduce the risk of infection.

    2. Avoid using any exfoliating products or acids in the week leading up to your treatment. 

    3. If you are prone to cold sores, inform your therapist prior to treatment as you may require a prescribed antiviral cream to prevent them from developing post-treatment. 

    4. Avoid sun exposure, or solarium tanning, in the weeks in the days leading up to your procedure as this can make the skin more sensitive. Continue to avoid it for 3 weeks post procedure as your skin will be more prone to burning and pigmentation. Avoid makeup for 24 hours post-treatment.

    5. Come to your appointment with a clean face – makeup and oils can interfere with the efficacy of the treatment.

    What to Expect During and After Your Microneedling Treatment

    Microneedling treatments generally take around 30 minutes. During the procedure, your aesthetician will clean your skin and apply a numbing cream. They will then pass the dermapen or microneedling device over your skin to puncture it with tiny needles. After the treatment, your skin may be red and sensitive, you could even see some residual blood on the skin.

    These side effects are temporary and should resolve within a few hours. It is important to avoid sun exposure and harsh skincare products immediately after the treatment in order to minimise the risk of irritation.

    POPSUGAR Team

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  • Acne Flare-Up? We Ask the Experts For the Best Acne Treatments – POPSUGAR Australia

    Acne Flare-Up? We Ask the Experts For the Best Acne Treatments – POPSUGAR Australia

    Acne is a word bandied around in the beauty industry a lot, which means there is a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to the different types of acne, how it should be treated and how to diagnose it. Although it is most prevalent in the UK for 16-24 year olds (35 per cent), just under half of all adults will experience ‘problem skin’ and a third will go on to develop adult acne.

    “Adult acne has many similarities to acne in adolescent years with regard to both causes and treatments but can have its own distinctive symptoms and signs too,” explains Dr Sonia Khorana, a GP and dermatology expert. “Adult acne can present with more inflammatory, red papules and sometimes fewer blackheads or whiteheads compared to adolescent acne. It usually affects the lower face, particularly the jawline/chin, the area below the jawline, the neck, and sometimes the chest,” she tells POPSUGAR UK.

    If acne is causing you concern, or you want some information on how to help you get your acne under control and prevent further flare ups we spoke to some of the top skin specialists and dermatologists in the UK to find out all the answers.

    What are the main causes of acne?

    When discussing acne, in general you need to consider the following causes: excess oil production, pores becoming clogged by skin cells/sebum and therefore getting affected by inflammation and bacteria, or cystic acne. Although all the aforementioned play a role, there are some other factors to consider specifically when discussing adult acne:

  • Menstrual cycle and hormones and influence of oil/sebum production
  • Products that you may use on your hair – hair pomades, oils and products which could transfer on to your face and clog pores
  • Medications – corticosteroids, lithium
  • Gym supplements – anabolic steroids
  • Diet can play a role for some people (high glycaemic index foods)
  • Stress
  • Genetics
  • Medical conditions like PCOS

    • “It is still not fully understood what all the causes of acne are,” says Tule Parks, founder of Skin Diligent, a company she launched after her daughter developed acne and she wanted to understand the causes and treatment better. “However, we do know hormones and the gut microbiome have an important influence on acne. In the case of hormones, we know that too much androgens (the sex hormones) play a role in excess sebum creation, oestrogen and stress hormones like cortisol also play roles. For this reason, it may be simpler to say that deregulation of hormones (in plural) could be one of the causes of acne,” she tells POPSUGAR UK.

    “Conventionally, acne has been considered as a genetic skin condition,” she continues. “But we now know thanks to more and more research, that acne is epigenetics – in other words, the food we eat, the assault of toxins in our bodies, and the stress we don’t manage, all have an effect on the development of acne. We may be predisposed to having acne, but our lifestyle choices have a much bigger role in acne.”

    How Should You Treat Acne?

    “A multi-pronged approach works best when it comes to acne,” says CeraVe dermatologist, Dr Alexis Granite. “Therefore it is important to optimise a patient’s entire skin care regimen, incorporating oil free products that provide hydration whilst not clogging the pores, as many acne medications may be drying.”

    Dr Granite believes supplements can help support the skin and for some patients, dietary modifications, may also play a role in the management of acne, but unfortunately not enough to control the condition on its own. “For mild acne, prescription creams such as retinoids and topical antibiotics are a mainstay of treatment,” she tells POPSUGAR UK. “For more moderate to severe acne, oral antibiotics, hormonal treatment such as oral contraceptives or spironolactone, or isotretinoin may also be used.

    However, according to Parks this isn’t always the best strategy. “The legislation on these medicines changed a few months ago, and now a GP or a dermatologist can no longer prescribe this drug without a seeking secondary medical advice,” she explains. “Finally, the conventional practitioners are getting some sense that the overall health risks may outweigh the benefits of this drug.”

    This is why there has been a big movement within the dermatologist and skin care community to push for a more holistic approach which considers all the different causes, as well as what will work for your skin. If you are concerned you should always contact your GP and seek information from the NHS

    Are there any ingredients you should avoid if you have blemish prone skin?

    According to Dr Granite, during a flare-up and to prevent further blemishes, you should avoid rich essential oils and heavy emollients. “These can exacerbate acne by clogging pores and causing congestion,” she explains. “Over-stripping the skin with harsh cleansers can also worsen spots by disrupting the skin barrier, so it’s important to strike a balance between a thorough cleanse whilst not over-drying.”

    She also recommends avoiding mineral oil, petrolatum, essential oils, cocoa and shea butters for those prone to breakouts so it may be worth checking the back of your labels if you’re going through a particularly bad period with your acne. “It’s important when dealing with acne to strike a delicate balance between efficacy and potential for irritation. Many of the ingredients we use to fight blemishes can be drying including salicylic acid, AHAs, benzoyl peroxide and retinoids. When acne-fighting ingredients are in overly-stripping products or are overused, sensitivity and irritation can then occur, leading to potentially more breakouts and/or product intolerance.”

    Are there any ingredients you should include in your skincare regime?

    “This is a controversial question as the conventional treatments will push for efficiency without any regards to the side effects,” says Parks. “Contrary to what many people say, well balanced oils are friends of acne sufferers with a damaged skin barrier (as a result of the harsh treatments they have been using, not caused by acne). So it is important to use good oils, not avoid all products with oils.” Parks also recommends adding anti inflammatory ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, into your skincare treatments as well introducing certain acids (BHAs like salicylic Acid) and AHAs to help slough off the dead skin cells, azelaic acid, and well balanced non-saturated oils like jojoba, moringa oils, for improving hydration levels.

    The Best on the Spot Acne Treatments

Lauren ezekiel

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