Microneedling with PRP using Skin Pen: all the details!
Microneedling with Skin Pen and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) remains one of our most popular treatments at Skinbeam. The natural, regenerative and nearly non-pharmaceutical aspects of the treatment appeal to many people, and this treatment cannot be beat for improvement of acne scars.
Microneedling with PRP is magic if you are concerned with skin texture or quality. Acne scars, other scars, pore size, stretch marks, and dull texture all improve beautifully after this treatment.
People love the fact that this treatment involves no pharmaceuticals other than the numbing cream (Lidocaine and Tetracaine). We always begin this treatment with strong numbing cream for comfort, and then take a small blood draw to make the PRP by spinning down whole blood in a centrifuge to separate the red cells. The golden PRP is separated, then goes onto the face in sections, and the Skin Pen is used to microneedle over it, allowing PRP to enter the microchannels made by the Skin Pen.
Both the microneedling and the PRP provide their own set of benefits to improve the skin. Microneedling is a research-proven collagen induction therapy. The Skin Pen is FDA approved to treat acne scars as well as neck lines. The thousands of tiny microchannels created by the Skin Pen device vary from 0.5 mm up to 2 mm, depending on the area of the face, and the skin's response to treatment (each face is unique). By contrast, the microneedling you'd receive during a facial from an aesthetician is also beneficial, but not medical depth, as microneedling done by aestheticians is limited to 0.3 mm in California. Deeper medical grade microneedling is capable of making more change in the skin texture. The microchannels activate the body's healing response at an even depth in the skin, and all at once, and this is part of what remodels the skin texture, in addition to collagen and elastin production, growth factor release, and fibroblast stimulation.
PRP also provides a unique set of benefits. PRP is used in many regenerative therapies, ranging from orthopedic applications like joint injections, to wound healing and even some reproductive therapies. PRP contains growth factor, stem cells and activated platelets, and stimulates fibroblasts to create collagen as well.
People without acne scars also enjoy benefits from microneedling with PRP, and these include pore size reduction, glowing youthful skin, reduction in fine lines, and improvement in overall skin quality.
During a microneedling with PRP treatment at Skinbeam, you may choose whether you'd like to have PRP injected under your eyes as well during the treatment at no additional cost. While the skin is numb and we're making PRP - might as well treat the under eyes as well, right? Neck and chest microneedling may also be booked as desired.
Under eye PRP injections smooth the under eye area, reduce fine lines and crepey skin, and improve the skin quality around the eyes. When PRP is injected under the eyes, there is a temporary puffiness for a few hours, and then the liquid portion of PRP is reabsorbed into the circulation, leaving behind the important growth factors, and activated platelets, to rejuvenate the undereyes. Improvement in skin appearance occurs mainly through stimulation of fibroblasts in the skin, whose job is to build connective tissues such as collagen and elastin. There is a chance of bruising, as with any injectable treatment, but this is usually minimal due to use of a very small needle, and avoidance of potentially vascular areas. When under eye PRP injections are requested, we do them at the beginning of the session, when the numbing cream very active, and discomfort is truly minimal.
Downtime from Skin Pen microneedling with PRP is really about 24 hours. We request you leave the mask of dried PRP on your face for 18 - 24 hours, which is the length of time it takes for the microchannels to close. Dried PRP has a slight yellowish-orange hue which has to do with it mixing with a little bit of pinpoint bleeding generated by the microneedling. After 24 hours, you may wash the dried PRP off, and light flaking usually occurs for the following week. Sunscreen and makeup may be applied after 24 hours, but retinoids should be avoided for another 72 hours.
Key Point: strict avoidance of UV is mandatory following this treatment. While the skin is healing and remodeling, it is vulnerable to hyperpigmentation and discoloration from UV. Daily mineral high-SPF is a must, and we recommend Elta MD - you can buy it in our office or on Amazon. When evaluating sunscreens, look for a physical (mineral) SPF with Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide on the back. Not avobenzone or oxybenzone which are shorter-acting chemical sunscreens.
Let me say it again: just wear the sunscreen. Even if you're not going to the beach. Even if it's raining. Even if you're just running errands. And absolutely no tanning beds. Ever.
Got it? Haha
Skin Pen Microneedling with PRP is a natural, regenerative, collagen inducing treatment that benefits all skin types, and is permanently transformative for acne scars and other scars. Let us know if you'd like to give it a try!
