Micro-Needling is the best treatment for scars and stretch marks!
The tissue in scars and stretch marks is not that different from the tissue in normal skin. It is, however, very different in its appearance. Scars have large amounts of collagen, but the collagen in a scar is thick and woven in a different pattern than that of normal skin.
Our bodies fix things that are broken. Scar tissue, while not attractive, is seen by the body as normal.
Micro-needling forces the body to remodel the scar and triggers a healing response. Our bodies won’t replace the scar tissue completely, especially if the scar is deep; but they will replace the parts that are injured by micro-needling. It creates a mixture of scar tissue and normal tissue and results in a smoother, better looking, softer scar. Indented scars fill and raised scars flatten. It doesn't work in all cases; but in most people, it does work.
Needling hypo-pigmented scars (light spots) also causes pigment producing cells from the surrounding skin to move into the scar. This improves the color of the light spots so they blend in better with the rest of your skin.
Micro-needling works extremely well to reduce acne scars, chicken pox scars, stretch marks, surgical scars and burns.
Micro-needling is the best treatment for scars and stretch marks. Learn more in our blog posts, What is micro-needling? AND Micro-Needling Acne Scars AND Acne Scar Treatment. If you'd like to see before and after photos, be sure to check out our Scar and Stretch Mark Reduction Results page. Below is a picture of the SkinPen® by Crown Aesthetics. It's a micro-needling pen used by medical offices.
Micro-Needling Scars and Stretch Marks | What to Expect
A topical anesthetic cream is applied to the scar, burn or stretch mark prior to treatment so there is little to no pain during the treatment.
Immediate effects vary among patients, and can include redness, flaking, and mild irritation on treated areas. These should disappear in 24-72 hours. There is very little down time after a micro-needling treatment. You should expect your skin to look and feel sunburned for about 24 hours afterward. Your skin will also start to flake after a day or two as the skin cells slough off. It can be difficult to apply makeup over flaking skin, but don't exfoliate - it will only irritate your skin. After about a week, you’ll see new, bright, smooth skin.
To get the best result, multiple treatments are needed. Six treatments have been found to deliver the best results, but response is highly individual and there's no way to predict who will respond best to scar reduction.
Check out this video from LIVE! With Kelly & Ryan! and Dr. Doris Day
An interval of 8 - 10 weeks between treatments is recommended. There's no limit to the number of treatments.
The technique works great for sunken areas on the skin caused by acne, but not for deep, narrow “ice pick” scars, dermatologist, Doris Day told The Wall Street Journal. Dr. Day says she generally sees a 60% to 70% improvement in the broad acne scars with four to six treatments.
Ready to Learn More About Micro-Needling? Read These:
- Medical Micro-needling - An Overview
- 6 Reasons to Try Micro-Needling for an Active Lifestyle
- Micro-Needling Is in the News!
- Cosmetic vs. Medical Micro-Needling | How They're Different
- Micro-Needling Is Better Than Other Kinds of Skin Rejuvenation | 9 Reasons Why
- Micro-Needling Results | Pictures of Our Patient, Jane
Amy Takken, RN
Amy Takken is a registered nurse with 20+ years of experience helping people improve their health. Her in-depth skincare articles have been featured on Nazarian Plastic Surgery and The Palm Beach Center for Facial Plastic & Laser Surgery. She's also been quoted on Dermascope.com. Amy loves research and constantly watches for new products and treatments to help you improve your skin’s health – because healthy skin is beautiful! To reach Amy, visit our contact page.
Masterpiece Skin Restoration is your online resource for all things medical aesthetics, skincare, beauty, and wellness. We keep you up to date on leading edge technology and the services available to help you restore your natural beauty.
We have all the information you need to restore your skin.
If You Liked This Page, You'll LOVE These:
References:
Disclaimer:
The Information provided on our website is not medical advice and should not be viewed as such. By law, only a medical doctor can diagnose or give medical advice. As a registered nurse, my goal is to educate, so I provide information on skin care, skin care products, and skin care treatments. If you have any condition that concerns you, please see a medical doctor. While most skin conditions are benign, some - like melanoma - can be deadly. If there is any doubt, please, please consult your physician. Thank you!