Dermal needling or microneedling creates thousands of microscopic channels in the skin and can be categorized as either medical or cosmetic. You will find many different microneedling devices on the market including rollers, stamps and electronic devices.

Cosmetic microneedling devices use needles that are 0.1 to 0.3mm in length and create microscopic channels to increase the absorption of topical products into the skin. They also stimulate skin cells to release growth factors, which increases cell turnover.

Medical microneedling devices use needles that are 0.5 to 3mm in length. They produce a controlled skin injury, which triggers the wound-healing cascade. This stimulates skin cells and fibroblasts (cells that synthesize collagen) to release of growth factors resulting in enhanced skin cell turnover and increased collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production. Studies have shown improvements in scar appearance, wrinkles and pore size with microneedling treatments. Medical microneedling devices are to be used by physicians, nurses and other trained skincare professionals, not at home.