At-home dermarolling: the basics you need to know
In the skincare world, there’s always something newer and better to achieve perfect skin. The latest two skincare trends to hit social media is medical micro needling, and derma rolling, both known as collagen induction therapy.
Medical micro needling is a treatment offered at the Earth4Me clinic, and for this treatment the depth in which the needles penetrate into the skin are deeper than a dermal roller. going further into the epidermis layer.
This involves an electronic pen that contains fine surgical grade needles with different lengths and vibration selections, for more on this treatment head over to the Clinic page on our website.
Derma rolling on the other hand is an at home maintenance treatment where the needles are smaller and penetrate into the shallower epidermis layer of the skin working to stimulate your body’s natural collagen to plump up the skin and break down scar tissue without damaging the epidermis.
The science behind collagen induction therapy isn’t anything new. As each fine needle punctures the skin, it creates a channel or micro-wound. The controlled injury triggers the body to fill these micro-wounds by producing new collagen and elastin in the papillary dermis, helping to improve the skins texture and firmness, as well as reducing scars, pore size and stretch marks.
How to choose your dermaroller
You’ll notice that derma rollers come in varying lengths, starting at 0.2mm to 3mm. The longer the needles, the deeper the penetration to the skin resulting in different wound results. I only recommend going to a 0.5mm needle, finding this most effective for all skin types. You are not wanting to create excessive trauma that the skin is left damaged and unable to heal from.
At earth4me, I stock at 0.5mm derma roller which I find to be the safest yet most effective product on the market assisting with
- stimulating collagen production
- reducing acne pitting and scarring
- reducing fine lines and wrinkles
- reducing skin hyperpigmentation
- reducing premature aging
- enhances skin texture
Keeping your derma roller clean
Here are a few ways to clean a derma roller:
- You can dissolve a denture tablet in warm water and sit the head of your derma roller in the solution for 30min
- Dip a toothbrush into a solution of water and tea tree oil and clean the needles individually.
After your chosen cleaning method you must always complete the process with pouring boiling water over the needles followed by spritzing them with pure alcohol leaving them to dry.
This process should be completed before and after each application.
My five easy steps to at-home derma rolling
- Clean your roller thoroughly with 70% alcohol (very important)
- Double cleanse your skin with Clarify Me Cleansing Minerals
- Prep your skin with one of our Earth4Me alcohol-free botanical toners
- Now visualize the face into four even parts, (the forehead and temples, cheeks, and chin) making sure to avoid the delicate eye area. Gently roll the derma roller up and down across each section of your face 3-4 times using an equal speed and light pressure, first roll vertically, then horizontally and then diagonally think of a (Union Jack pattern). Complete this on each area.
- Once completed, apply our 100% natural Treat Me Healing Serum.
Common derma roller questions answered
When should you avoid derma rolling?
Never use a derma roller on active acne or open skin abrasions.
How often should I use my derma roller?
I would recommend using your 0.5mm derma roller every 4-6 weeks as the skin is being traumatised, it needs time to repair in between treatments. Repeat the treatment over a 6-12-month period to see best results.
When is the best time to use my derma roller?
I recommend to derma roll at night, so your skin is kept clean and has time to recover, while eliminating redness.
How often do I need to replace my derma roller?
As long as you are diligent with cleaning your derma roller thoroughly after each use, ensuring to keep it free from bacteria, you should get 6-8 months use before the needles become blunt and ineffective.
After Care
For the next two days your skin is on a rapid healing journey. In this time I recommend feeding your skin on our nutritious plant based products which will help increase the production of collagen and elastin, while accelerating the anti-aging process. Avoid active skincare for three days including our Activate Me vitamin A, B and C serums.
In the first 24 hours after using your derma roller, completely avoid touching your face, and if you have to, ensure your hands are clean and sanitised.
If you can, avoid wearing make-up or use a mineral based make-up instead.
For the next 2 days, avoid chemical based skincare and peels, reduce unprotected sun exposure, excessive sweating, steam rooms, saunas and swimming. Your skin will be at a higher risk of breakouts or a bacterial infection.
Risks and how to manage them
If you suspect that you have experienced a side effect, apply a clean cold compress. If symptoms persist, make an appointment to see your esthetician or a dermatologist as soon as possible.
One of the main risks of derma rolling at home is bacterial infection; however it is easy to minimise this risk by:
- ensuring your derma roller is thoroughly clean every time you use it
- double cleanse your face to ensure there is no dirt, oil or bacteria on your skin before derma rolling
- avoid touching your face while you’re using your roller
- do not touch the needles
- don’t use active serums for three days after using your roller, this will cause irritation, sensitivity and can cause infections
- if you want to touch your face, make sure you wash your hands with liquid hand soap and warm water, and dry on a clean towel. The aim is to have no bacteria touching your face.
I will be uploading a video to my IGTV for you to see exactly how to use the derma roller at home, along with my recommended skincare products while derma rolling. Head over to my Instagram account and make sure to follow my page to get all the tips and tricks on keeping your skin naturally healthy and glowing.
You can also sign up for free VIP membership where you get specials and discounts.
Natasha Brock is a trained beauty therapist and skincare specialist with over 15 years experience in New Zealand and Australia. In addition to offering customised skin care products, she runs a clinic in Port Hedland, Western Australia.
