Is Derma-Rolling Safe?– My Answer: A blog about dermarolling and its potential side effects.
Derma rolling, a.k.a. microneedling or collagen induction therapy, is the newest skin care trend to cross over into mainstream beauty products.
With its ability to reduce pores, smooth fine lines, soften acne scars and stretch marks, and increase product absorption, it’s no wonder why people are going crazy for this skin treatment.
But how safe is derma rolling? Can it cause damage deep within the skin? Are there any real side effects to worry about aside from a little bit of redness and mild bruising?
To help answer these questions, I’m going to share with you my own personal experience with derma rolling as well as my research on the subject.
My Personal Experience with Derma Rolling
Do I think derma-rolling is safe? Yes. I do.
But this is a pretty bold statement, right? What if something goes wrong? What if you get skin irritation or worse? Well, if you want a more careful answer, the answer is that derma-rolling is safe as long as you use it properly.
Every medical procedure has side effects. Even injecting water into your veins can have harmful consequences (water intoxication). So what about derma-rolling? Is it safe? Yes and no.
The most common side effect of derma-rolling is skin irritation. This can happen when you roll over broken skin or when you don’t use enough oil in between your skin and the roller. Both cases are easy to avoid by applying some oil (or hyaluronic acid) on your skin before rolling and by not rolling over areas that are bleeding or inflamed.
Another common complaint among dermarollers is redness of the skin after rolling. This happens because the tiny needles prick your skin and make thousands of little wounds which results in blood flowing to the area and slight swelling. This side effect doesn’t last longer than 24 hours though so it’s nothing to worry about. The redness usually disappears within 2 hours if
I am often asked the question: Is derma-rolling safe?
My answer is no. It is not. It is very risky.
As a dermaroller expert, I get emails from people who want to know if derma-rolling is safe. The answer is: Yes, it is very safe. But there are a few things you need to know in order to avoid any risks and problems.
Although the procedure is called microdermabrasion, there is no abrasion or skin damage that occurs. The method uses needles that gently penetrate the top layer of skin and make tiny punctures (that heal over rapidly). These tiny punctures increase blood flow and stimulate the production of new collagen and elastin, which improves your complexion.
Derma-Rolling can be used in conjunction with topical skin care products so they are absorbed more effectively. It’s also great for reducing acne scars and stretch marks!
I am a dermatologist and I have been using derma-rollers on my patients since 2002. Microdermabrasion is expensive, painful and takes time, while derma-rolling results in similar outcomes but can be done painlessly at home.
Derma-rollers have no significant risks, but of course overdoing them may cause local skin reactions and even scarring if the needles are not properly sterilized. The reactions resolve with time and proper treatment, so that is why it’s important to use sterile tools.
Microdermabrasion is a popular treatment for sun damaged skin, hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and aging skin. Microdermabrasion is a noninvasive procedure that uses fine crystals or a diamond-tipped wand to exfoliate the top layer of skin. The result is smoother, more even toned and rejuvenated skin.
The procedure can be performed at home using a commercial microdermabrasion kit or at a spa or dermatologist’s office by a qualified technician.
At home microdermabrasion kits are popular but do they really work? Alternatively, you can use a derma roller to rejuvenate your skin. Derma rolling has become very popular in the past few years. One of the biggest advantages it has over microdermabrasion is the low cost (you can get 100% titanium dermaroller for as low as $3) and ability to do it at home (there’s no downtime). Another advantage over expensive microdermabrasion treatments is that dermarolling is much safer and causes less irritation in most cases.