Dermaroller – safe, natural, effective

You know how every now and then something comes along that just seems ‘right’? That’s how we feel about Dermaroller treatment. Although the jade roller has long been a part of the traditional Chinese approach to anti-ageing, the recent availability of purpose-designed medical devices now make this form of treatment safe and controllable.

In our view Dermaroller therapy is unique amongst current skin care treatments in being:

• safe
• natural
• effective

So much so, in fact, that we now routinely recommend Dermaroller treatment for the majority of our patients, including those having face lift surgery.

What is Dermaroller therapy?

Dermaroller therapy is a skin rejuvenation treatment that uses the skin’s own healing mechanisms. The Dermaroller is a single-use sterile device which consists of a rotating wheel studded with precision engineered 1.5 mm long needles (see photo). The needles are designed to penetrate the epidermis and to stimulate collagen and elastin production in the dermis.

Which Dermaroller device do you use?

We use only genuine sterile single use Dermaroller devices. These are the only CE-marked device currently available which means each device has undergone stringent quality and sterility testing.

What are the benefits of Dermaroller treatment and what is it used for?

Dermaroller therapy appears to be of significant benefit in

• rejuvenating skin by improving the appearance of fine wrinkles and shrinking pores
• improving and levelling skin tone
• improving the resolution of scar tissue
• improving the appearance of stretch marks

It can therefore be used to improve the thickness and tone of ageing skin, improving the appearance of fine wrinkles, areas of altered pigmentation and large pores. It is of particular value in the treatment of acne scarring, chicken pox scars and post-surgical scars. Dermaroller treatment can also be used to improve the appearance of stretch marks.

How does Dermaroller treatment work?

Dermaroller treatment is a good example of a modality termed ‘collagen induction therapy’. Effective application results in approximately 300 perforations per square cm of skin treated. However, because the needles are so fine the epidermis remains intact – the holes close very quickly without actual damage to the skin. Nevertheless, this is an adequate stimulus to cause the skin to mount an injury response. Undifferentiated skin cells are stimulated to become fibroblasts which produce new collagen and elastin fibres which thicken the skin and repair scars. Furthermore, the stimulus also causes growth of new capillaries, thereby improving blood supply to the skin. When viewed under the microscope, treated skin is indistinguishable from normal healthy skin.

What happens during treatment with Dermaroller?

The area to be treated (typically the face) is numbed with local anaesthetic and cleaned with antiseptic solution. The Dermaroller is lightly rolled over the treatment area until the end points of pin-point bleeding, redness and mild swelling are reached. Typically a treatment session will last 15 – 30 minutes. After treatment the area is cleansed and a soothing cream and sun block applied.

Is Dermaroller treatment painful?

No – it can be mildly uncomfortable. We always numb the skin before treatment either with local anaesthetic cream or nerve blocks. You may feel as if you have moderate sun burn for 24 hours or so after treatment.

Are there any risks or side effects of Dermaroller treatment?

The treatment is remarkably safe in trained hands. There are a few case reports of skin infection resulting from inadequate skin antisepsis. Recurrence of cold sores has also been reported – for this reason we prescribe prophylactic anti-viral treatment for the at-risk group.

How many treatment sessions will I need and how soon will I see results?

For some people a single treatment session is all that is needed to significantly improve the texture and appearance of their skin. Most people will require up to 3 treatment sessions, typically at six week intervals. For patients with severe acne scarring, up to five Dermaroller treatments will be needed. Improvement in skin texture and tone may appear one to three weeks after the initial treatment, although in some cases up to one year may be required for the full effect to be achieved. The improvements are permanent, although Dermaroller treatment does not ‘stop the clock’.

Does Dermaroller treatment have any advantages over chemical peels or laser resurfacing?

The technique has a number of significant advantages. Firstly, minimal skin preparation is required (two weeks of topical Vitamin C serum) – this is a major advantage over chemical peels. The latter are also extremely painful to perform. The downtime associated with both chemical peels and ablative laser treatment is typically several days or even weeks.

The major advantage is in decreased downtime after Dermaroller treatment – your face may appear slightly flushed the day after treatment and then return to normal by the next day. We particularly like the fact that Dermaroller treatment is completely natural – it does not involve any chemicals or drugs and no foreign material is left in the skin.

Dermaroller therapy also has the following advantages over laser and peel treatment:

• there is no risk of permanent scarring or skin discolouration
• it does not induce sensitivity to ultraviolet light
• it can be used on thin atrophic skin
• laser treatment tends to cause impairment of skin blood supply

Dermaroller treatment is also much less expensive than either chemical peels or ablative laser treatment.

What about aftercare and downtime after Dermaroller treatment?

A major advantage of Dermaroller therapy is short downtime – your face will appear reddened (like sunburn) for approximately 24 hours after treatment and then settle back to normal. You may experience some skin flaking for a few days after treatment. We supply a soothing skin preparation and sun block for use after treatment. You may apply fresh new makeup a few hours after Dermaroller treatment if you desire.

How much does Dermaroller treatment cost?

A single Dermaroller treatment for the entire face costs £275 (this includes post operative skin care treatments). If the face and décolletage area are treated together, the cost is £375 per session.