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Why Microneedling is the Best Treatment You Can Give Yourself
The skin and hair experts reveal why this spiky technique could yield wonders for skin texture and hair growth. What’s more, you can unlock these benefits with a simple DIY.
In an era in which glass skin and glossy hair are deemed the ultimate beauty asset, is it any wonder we are on an endless quest for crystal clear skin and full, luminous hair at every age? Health is the new wealth and our beauty routines are no exception.
Widely considered the gold standard treatment for remodelling skin and scalp, microneedling is the method that aestheticians and medical professionals trust most.
Though rudimentary needling has been available as early as 1905, dermatologists have been harnessing the wound healing powers of medical microneedling for nearly 30 years, due to its ability to promote collagen rejuvenation. More collagen, better skin and scalp.
Proven in numerous scientific studies to successfully treat a number of skin concerns from enlarged pores to stretch marks, stubborn acne scars and wrinkles, microneedling is increasingly being harnessed to stimulate hair growth, in isolation or alongside energy devices such as fractional radiofrequency. In conjunction with PRP (platelet rich plasma) or a topical growth factor serum, microneedling reaps visible benefits in a natural, minimally invasive way.
How does microneedling work?
Microneedling delivers needles over the surface of the skin at varying depths, depending on skin type and the severity and type of condition, to create tiny wounds that penetrate the stratum corneum to reach the deeper levels of the dermis where regeneration takes place. These controlled injuries trigger wound healing by sending signals to the fibroblasts to make more collagen and elastin, which over time, results in firmer, smoother, and healthier skin.
Microneedling on the scalp for better hair growth
According to Pharmaceuticals, a scientific journal published by MDPI, 50% of men and 30% of women suffer from hair related issues. Topical medical solutions such as Minoxidil and Finasteride are conventional solutions, however satisfactory outcomes are hindered by poor scalp absorption. Enter microneedling, a complimentary treatment that aids the absorption of hair loss solutions while signalling collagen repair through controlled micro injuries.
"For some years, medical clinics have been using microneedling to increase blood flow circulation to the scalp to try to increase hair growth.” Says Dr. Manav Bawa, an award-winning plastic surgeon and founder of of Time Clinic Medical and Aesthetics in London. He believes however in the combination protocol, where microneedling is paired with the right topical products.
In his clinic he has been using the Calecim Advanced Hair System, a 6-week treatment system that uses the brand’s proprietary source of stem cell growth factors and exosomes, called PTT-6® to help invigorate sluggish hair follicles. “The addition of PTT-6 was the game-changer: it is an elegant solution for hair thinning as the topical application is simple, and results are consistent with regrowth usually observed between the 6th to 12th treatment”.
Medical professionals appreciate the system not only for its effectiveness but also for its ease of use for patients at home. When a clinic visit is not always convenient, the Advanced Hair System allows for simple at-home application using the provided dermastamper. This ensures treatment compliance for optimal results.
Using the derma stamp to prime each section before applying the hair growth serum, super fine needles penetrate the scalp at a depth of 0.5mm allowing the active ingredients to be absorbed efficiently. Two applications a week for six weeks is recommended, followed by a maintenance phase of once a week.
Beauty influencer, Jude Chao, who suffers from hair shedding had been trialling this at-home procedure. "I had tried dermastamping on my scalp before on a similar schedule, but with a different serum, and it didn't really do anything.” Adding Calecim’s hair serum to the regimen made the difference, and she has recorded her dramatic decrease in hair shedding on her IG account @fiddysnails. “For me, the serum is key. I have tried other hair loss products, but there is nothing that comes close to the results I have had with the Advanced Hair System."
The best Serum for Microneedling
The aesthetic professionals believe the best results for a skin microneedling treatment are gleaned from a combination of microneedling with a topical application. Applying stem cell growth factors to the treatment helps with collagen remodelling; delivering more plump and firm skin by jump-starting the skin’s production of key proteins such as hyaluronic acid and elastin.
It has also been clinically observed that a combination of microneedling and the right topical products can help reverse acne scarring, a notoriously difficult to treat condition. In an article in Aesthetics Journal, a case study was put forward by aesthetic nurse Adrian Baker on how he performed clinical microneedling on a patient with Calecim’s Professional Serum to correct scarring left by years of acne. The patient was delighted that the scars were almost completely healed at the end of her 12 week treatment. Such results can be transformative, and yet considerably more economical than other clinical procedures.
When used to improve skin texture or to treat acne, scarring or wrinkles, PTT-6® acts not only as an anti-inflammatory healing serum, but as a messenger that wakes up the fibroblasts, prompting them to act as they would in young healthy skin.
Explains Dr Carlos Escobar, Medical Director and surgeon at The Axis Clinic, "Microneedling is a very popular clinic modality as it is a simple and effective procedure for improving skin texture and fine lines. With the addition of PTT-6, healing is optimized and there is enhanced production of collagen and elastin, leading to firmer, more supple skin. It is especially important to add this as a post-procedure protocol for darker skin types to prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation."
PTT-6 and its role in maximising the results of microneedling
The proprietary ingredient in Calecim’s stem cell serum is PTT-6®. Derived from mesenchymal stem cells ethically harvested from the brand’s unique source of stem cells, PTT-6® contains more than 3,000 types of proteins, growth factors, cytokines (essential proteins) and exosomes that signal cells to regenerate, increase cell turnover and stimulate the natural production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.
