Micro-needling is the use of very fine needles to pierce the skin to administer medications, reduce scars, and trigger the skin's natural healing mechanisms that in turn create smooth and healthy skin.

Penetrating or puncturing the skin to heal it is not something new.  Physicians have been using puncturing techniques to treat abscesses and release pressure on wounds for centuries.  Over the past several decades different methods of puncturing the skin for medical benefit have been developed.

During the 1980’s medical researchers realized that certain medications and drugs were better absorbed by the body when administered into the upper layers of the skin rather than by deeper injections or by swallowing pills.  Administering medication through micro-needles was less painful as the needles are very short and do not reach the nerves that are deeper below the skin.  This method of delivering medications has been very effective and is still in use today.

In the 1990’s Canadian surgeon Dr. Andre Camirand began using tattoo guns without ink to treat scars that remained after surgery.  His experiments with the fine needles used on tattoo guns began with creating small openings in the scar tissue to remove the tension and tightness in the skin caused by the scarring.  However he found that after each treatment the skin became softer and some pigmentation began to return to the treated skin.  However his research and treatment method did not become more widely used as it was both time and labor consuming to perform with just one needle.

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When you shop for groceries, do you look at food labels? Are you trying to eat a healthy or natural diet? Many manufacturers and food suppliers are making it easier for you to see what ingredients are in their foods to help you decide what to purchase. Obviously taste and satisfaction are a big part of what you buy and eat, but the long term results of what that food can do to your body may also be on your mind.

But what does that have to do with your skin? Your decisions on what you eat are similar to the decisions you make about your appearance and physical health as well.

Similar to looking at food labels, do you look at the packaging on your skin care products? Many use terms like ‘organic’ and ‘natural’. These are words most of us trust. Organic products are related to or derived from living matter. Natural products exist in or are created by nature. To include natural and organic ingredients in products there is some processing during the manufacturing.

So when you are discussing your acne scar treatment plan with your healthcare provider, ask how each treatment works on your skin and with your body. Ask what type of medical products or devices will be used to treat your acne scars. How will those medical devices work on or with your skin to smooth away your acne scars? Does your skin heal to fade away the acne scars or does your skin heal from the treatment used by your physician that smoothed your acne scars? That might sound a bit confusing, but ask if your post-treatment care is to recover from the actual procedure or are you supporting your body’s natural healing properties....

In your research for ways to treat your acne scars you’ve most likely come across thousands of websites offering solutions.  Some websites are scientifically-based, many are supported by healthcare providers promoting the treatments offered in their offices.  Many others are websites selling products you can use at home.  It can be both overwhelming and confusing.  What is legitimate?  What is safe?  What should you be looking for and where should you be looking for it?

Start with your healthcare provider. This seems like a simple suggestion, but one we don’t often start with. But it is the best place to begin your research and treatment. You don’t need to go to a specialist. Start with your regular physician or clinic. Depending upon what acne scar treatment plan you ultimately decide to go with, your physician can guide you in your decision. Many things factor into which acne scar treatment method may be best for you.  Your physician may recommend an at-home treatment or a series of in-office procedures. Each treatment plan he or she creates is based upon the specific needs of each individual patient.

Your healthcare provider may provide you with several options. Don’t be shy about asking about the benefits, treatment methods and recovery time for each option. You are the person undergoing acne scar treatment; you are your best health advocate. Questions you should consider asking are:

• How many different types of procedures can treat my acne scars?
• Are the procedures safe?
• How is the procedure performed?  Is it in the office or at another location?
• Is topical...

Our website explains Collagen Induction Therapy as: “… a minimally-invasive cosmetic procedure that involves the use of a micro-needling device. CIT is safe and effective on all skin types without the risk of discoloration. The micro-needling procedure can be performed by licensed qualified medical professionals including physicians, osteopaths and naturopaths.”

But what does that actually mean?

Collagen is a natural protein found in your body. It is in your skin and most of your organs. In the skin it is found in the dermal or middle layer, and it works with elastin to strengthen and firm skin. Collagen also works with keratin to provide skin strength, flexibility and resilience. Some scars or stretch marks are formed by the stretching and separating of the collagen fibers in the dermal layer of your skin. Tightening or creating more collagen fills the marks and scarring to create firmer and stronger skin.

Collagen Induction Therapy is a treatment method that helps the body create more collagen. The treatment method uses a Medical Dermaroller ® micro-needling device. The Medical Dermaroller ® is a medical device shaped like a roller. It has micro-needles spread in a specific pattern around the roller wheel. Your physician numbs your skin with an anesthetic and then rolls the Medical Dermaroller ® over the acne scars on your skin in a specific pattern. The micro-needles on the Medical Dermaroller ® pierce the skin to a depth that triggers your skin to produce more collagen to fill the micro-openings in your skin. As your natural collagen fills the openings it creates collagen fibers which fill the marks left by the scars and works together with your body’s own elastin and keratin. Together these three natural body proteins create firmer, stronger...