Help Needed with Microneedling routine

[Babushkacatlady]

I bought an adjustable derma stamp which goes from 0.25mm to 3mm adjustable in 0.25mm intervals. I have hyper pigmentation marks and also pit scars on my cheeks and just pigmentation in my brow area. Should I target both areas with a 1.5mm needle once a month to tackle both, or should I tackle the hyper pigmentation first with a 0.5mm needle once or twice a week and then the 1.5mm for the pit scars monthly?

 

[Deleted member 6380]

I dont use derma but interesting nonetheless

 

[SOS-Sonic]

I have been using the Dr.Pen M8 for a while so I will chime in.

From all the videos I watched, I am pretty sure that the 1-1.5mm can treat every type of scar (except keloid/hypertrophic scars), its often the gold standard in many clinics. I have seen people improve every aspect of their skin with only 1-1.5mm. So there is no need to do 0.5 if you are doing 1.5mm. As for the pitted scars, I noticed the depth decrease after 3-4 sessions with 1.25mm.

If you want quicker results for hyper pigmentation, consider tretinoin, just make sure your face is completely healed before applying it. So a good routine to address all of your issues would be 1.5mm/3 weeks + tretinoin.

 

[Babushkacatlady]

I have been using the Dr.Pen M8 for a while so I will chime in.

From all the videos I watched, I am pretty sure that the 1-1.5mm can treat every type of scar (except keloid/hypertrophic scars), its often the gold standard in many clinics. I have seen people improve every aspect of their skin with only 1-1.5mm. So there is no need to do 0.5 if you are doing 1.5mm. As for the pitted scars, I noticed the depth decrease after 3-4 sessions with 1.25mm.

If you want quicker results for hyper pigmentation, consider tretinoin, just make sure your face is completely healed before applying it. So a good routine to address all of your issues would be 1.5mm/3 weeks + tretinoin.

I see. There is often conflicting info on this where some people advise never going over 1mm and others say even 1.5mm+ is fine. I may just do a monthly 1.5mm in that case with some tretinoin, do I have to use a numbing cream for this length or is the pain tolerable?

 

[OOGABOOGA]

I have been using the Dr.Pen M8 for a while so I will chime in.

From all the videos I watched, I am pretty sure that the 1-1.5mm can treat every type of scar (except keloid/hypertrophic scars), its often the gold standard in many clinics. I have seen people improve every aspect of their skin with only 1-1.5mm. So there is no need to do 0.5 if you are doing 1.5mm. As for the pitted scars, I noticed the depth decrease after 3-4 sessions with 1.25mm.

If you want quicker results for hyper pigmentation, consider tretinoin, just make sure your face is completely healed before applying it. So a good routine to address all of your issues would be 1.5mm/3 weeks + tretinoin.

I just got the m8 as well two weeks ago. Also I had a professional needling session done for my acne scars like 3 weeks ago. They used a device quite similar to the m8 at a depth of 1.25.

Ive been using the m8 at 1.5 mm on my scalp the last two weeks on sundays plus minox the other 6 days. Hoping to spark some regrowth from nw2 on top of fin.

The derm recommended that I stop tret and just chill for the time being, I follow up in a few weeks. But going forward, since I’m needling weekly for scalp, what depth do you think would be good for weekly needling on fsce? Or do you think ~monthly at 1.5 is better than trading depth for frequency?

 

[SOS-Sonic]

I see. There is often conflicting info on this where some people advise never going over 1mm and others say even 1.5mm+ is fine. I may just do a monthly 1.5mm in that case with some tretinoin, do I have to use a numbing cream for this length or is the pain tolerable?

Honestly, over 1mm hurts quite a bit. I use numbing cream personally. Most lidocaine based creams are sufficient to reduce the pain by 50-80%; if you want to feel 0 pain at all, get a cream that has lidocaine + prilocaine + benzcaine.

I mean you can push past the pain if u want, but numbing cream is cheap so I would just buy it.

 

[SOS-Sonic]

I just got the m8 as well two weeks ago. Also I had a professional needling session done for my acne scars like 3 weeks ago. They used a device quite similar to the m8 at a depth of 1.25.

Ive been using the m8 at 1.5 mm on my scalp the last two weeks on sundays plus minox the other 6 days. Hoping to spark some regrowth from nw2 on top of fin.

The derm recommended that I stop tret and just chill for the time being, I follow up in a few weeks. But going forward, since I’m needling weekly for scalp, what depth do you think would be good for weekly needling on fsce? Or do you think ~monthly at 1.5 is better than trading depth for frequency?

Depth is way more important than frequency when you are trying to remove pitted scars, 1-1.5mm is generally used for acne scars. You can still use tretinoin, but just wait a few days after your needling sessions.

As for hair regrowth, micro needling will work synergistically with minoxidil and the vast majority of people amplify their minoxidil results tremendously by adding micro needling.

 

[OOGABOOGA]

Depth is way more important than frequency when you are trying to remove pitted scars, 1-1.5mm is generally used for acne scars. You can still use tretinoin, but just wait a few days after your needling sessions.

As for hair regrowth, micro needling will work synergistically with minoxidil and the vast majority of people amplify their minoxidil results tremendously by adding micro needling.

Indeed I’m noticing increased shedding lately, and while that’s stressful, if it’s because of the minox then that could be a good sign that I’m a responder to minox. I just hope the shed isn’t excessive. I’ll stick with this depth and frequency. For my scars, I’ll stick with this depth as well when I start, but what frequency would you recommend?

Also I’m probably gonna stay off tret anyway. Was on for 4 months and didn’t notice much and I’m very easily sunburnt. I’m not gonna turn vampire for the sake of a treatment that may or may not be working.

 

[SOS-Sonic]

Indeed I’m noticing increased shedding lately, and while that’s stressful, if it’s because of the minox then that could be a good sign that I’m a responder to minox. I just hope the shed isn’t excessive. I’ll stick with this depth and frequency. For my scars, I’ll stick with this depth as well when I start, but what frequency would you recommend?

Also I’m probably gonna stay off tret anyway. Was on for 4 months and didn’t notice much and I’m very easily sunburnt. I’m not gonna turn vampire for the sake of a treatment that may or may not be working.

Haha fair enough. I'm not an expert, but from experience, and watching others, people generally take 3 weeks to a month off if they use 1.5mm on their face. Imo, 2 weeks off is fine if you are a fast healer.

And yes, minoxidil is notorious for inducing a shed before working.

 

[OOGABOOGA]

Haha fair enough. I'm not an expert, but from experience, and watching others, people generally take 3 weeks to a month off if they use 1.5mm on their face. Imo, 2 weeks off is fine if you are a fast healer.

And yes, minoxidil is notorious for inducing a shed before working.

Cool man thanks for the lil back and forth I appreciate when folks here are actually helpful