What I love about micro-needling is similar to what I love about acupuncture, it stimulates your body to heal itself.

We all know beauty comes from within. In Traditional Chinese Medicine we work to create balance within the body for optimal health. Using this foundation I have expanded my practice to include Micro-needling facials and Light Therapy. We all want to age as well as we can. Combining internal health with natural skin care can help us age gracefully.

Micro-needling isn’t new, but it has become more refined. Essentially micro-needling creates micro-wounds in your skin to encourage the production of collagen and fibrinogen. We all have different healing abilities, because of this results vary.

Each session will be customized to encourage maximum results. Depending on the depth of the needle penetration, this can offer skin rejuvenation for the enhancement of product absorption to the clinical treatment of scars, wrinkles, stretch marks, and dark spots. Micro-needling can be done safely on the face, neck, decollote, hands, scalp and non-raised scarring anywhere on the body.

At Silver Spring Wellness we offer a unique holistic approach to resolving the root cause of skin concerns. We do this by adding a customized serum formulated to address the underlying cause of skin imbalances. In certain cases we also recommend adding a series of acupuncture treatments to accompany the monthly micro- needling sessions for a more comprehensive and long-term solution to address the patient’s goals and concerns.

Typical treatment includes consultation, numbing cream applied to face followed by LED light therapy treatment, and then microneedling treatment using custom serums to address your specific skin care goals.

Micro-needling has been shown to help:

Micro-needling has anti-aging benefits thanks to its ability to produce new skin cells and increase the skin’s production of elastin and collagen, which can help improve skin elasticity. Thus, this procedure can potentially address the most common signs of aging that affect our complexions, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging.

Acne Scars

Acne vulgaris is common and scaring from it can be disfiguring and difficult to treat, especially in people of color. According to a study done by Babar Rao,” Micro-needling provided better treatment outcomes compared to 35% glycolic acid peels for acne scar treatment in our patient population with Fitzpatrick Skin Phototypes IV to VI. What micro-needling does is restore collagen in the area, essentially filling in the gaps where this protein is lacking in the dermis. “

https://dermnetnz.org/topics/skin-phototype

Helps with Hair loss

Micro-needling can potentially treat thinning hair and hair loss—caused by the aging process or fluctuating hormones—by stimulating and strengthening hair follicles. In other words, it is believed that this procedure helps promote the health and wellness of hair follicles, resulting in more hair growth or thicker hair. Growth factors that promote healing are released after Micro-needling and these same growth factors may promote hair growth. The trauma of the micro-needling may also stimulate stem cells to grow which are helpful to grow new hair. It can be even more effective when used in conjunction with other hair loss treatments.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35930041/

Improves Scars and Stretch Marks

Another one of the many skin needling benefits is the ability to improve the look of stretch marks. Stretch marks can occur when the skin stretches rapidly and damages the proteins within the dermis layer. Micro needle skin therapy can help rebuild the proteins within the dermis, making the stretch marks appear much less noticeable.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31985622/

Reduces Hyperpigmentation

Age spots and hyperpigmentation from sun damage can cause your complexion to look uneven and blotchy. Micro-needling has been proven to be helpful when it comes to lightening age spots, hyperpigmentation, and other dark spots that form due to exposure to toxins and free radicals. In fact, a 2015 study showed that collagen induction therapy can help reduce the appearance of dark spots and melasma.

Shrinking Pores

Large pores can make your skin health and texture look less than ideal. Even from afar, large pores can be visible. By stimulating collagen, micro- needling helps pores tighten and shrink. Remember, pores don’t actually open or close, but rather can be stretched when filled with oil and dead skin cells.

Improves Skin Care Penetration

Micro needling skin benefits skin by improving the penetration of your topical skin care products by up to 3000% so that they can work their best within the many layers of your dermis.

Micro-needling Side Effects

• Bleeding, irritation, & redness - These are common side effects. With all those needles pricking your dermis during the micro-needling process, it stands to reason that you can experience irritation like redness immediately following treatment. But it usually doesn’t last very long.

• Bruising - Swelling and bruising may occur in those with sensitive skin, but this is rare.

• Sun sensitivity - Your dermis has been breached with needles, so it will be more susceptible to sun damage. Avoid sun exposure for 24 hours after treatment and wear only zinc based sunscreen after the 24 hour period.

• Peeling - The skin might peel after treatment, especially if you have sensitive skin that is prone to peeling when treated with strong topical products or skin therapies.

• Infection & other side effects - As your skin gets damaged by the device and bleeding occurs, the risk of infection can happen but it is very rare.

Note: Micro-needling is generally discouraged for those who are pregnant, those with open wounds, those on certain acne medications, those with certain skin issues like psoriasis and eczema, those with a history of scarring easily, and those who have had recent radiation therapy.

How Long Does It Take To Heal From Micro-needling?

Micro-needling is a minimally invasive procedure so, it does require some recovery time, which varies depending on your skin, the device, and the length and density of the needles used.

After a micro-needling procedure, your skin will be pink and red and you may experience minor bleeding within 8-24 hours.

Micro-needling Aftercare

1. You will be red for 8-12 hours.

2. No exercise today, sweat can irritate the face.

3. Stay out of the sun the day you get Micro-needling. Rec: use mineral sunscreen a week after Micro-needling.

4. No make up on the day you receive Micro-needling.

5. Use hyaluronic acid when you feel dry and before bed the night of your treatment.

6. Do not use facial cleansers the same day. Wash with warm water only.

7. Back to your regular facial routine the day after your treatment.

8. Facial products have a much higher absorption rate the week after Micro-needling.

9. It takes 2 weeks to fully see the results from the treatment.

10. You must wait 1 month before doing another Micro-needling treatment.

11. Nano-needling can be done weekly to speed up results.

What is Nano-Needling?

Nano-Needling uses the same type of oscillating motion to treat the skin but the cartridge encompasses 81 silicone tips.

These microscopic hair-like cones separate the cells within the epidermis to allow active products to be pushed into the skin. Nano-Needling only affects the epidermis, treating within the upper .15 mm of the skin. The benefits of this serum infusion treatment include pigmentation reduction, increased cell turnover, skin rejuvenation and an immediate glow with no downtime. This treatment can be done weekly to exfoliate the skin.