Medical Skin Needling For South Asian Skin

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is documented to occur and observed more commonly in pigmented skins and the treatment of atrophic acne scars and skin rejuvenation treatments are always a challenge in dark skin (type IV, V and VI) as many of the procedures used often induce inflammation, disruption to the basal cell layer and increased sensitivity to UV light, all of which further increase the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Micro-medical skin needling when conducted with the correct technique and sterile single-use medical devices is a procedure that can create multiple columns of physical stimulation in the dermis whilst leaving the epidermis intact helping enhance the safety and recovery profile of the treatment.

At the recent FACE conference on London, I reviewed the medical device, the procedure, the mechanism of action and anticipated results. A course of treatments are normally conducted at least 6 weeks apart and this can provide a good opportunity to carry out combination treatments.

I have combined micro-medical skin-needling with 35% Glycolic Acid peels and presented a study in 30 patients with atrophic box and rolling acne scars, the patients were of skin types III, IV and V, aged 20-35 years.

Method: Thirty patients of skin types IV, V and VI, aged 20-35 years, with atrophic box and rolling acne scars received 5 micro-medical skin-needling treatments, using the Dermaroller™ MF8 sterile single-use medical device, conducted 6 weeks apart. In addition five 35% glycolic acid peels were conducted between these procedures also 6 weeks apart.

Results: Good to excellent improvements were seen in the box and rolling acne scars. Patients experienced minimal downtime and no adverse effects were noted in any of the patients.

Conclusions: Micro-medical skin-needling using glycolic acid peels as an adjuvant for the treatment of box and rolling acne scars is an effective in-office/in-clinic procedure with an excellent safety profile that provides minimal risks of prolonged erythema (redness), scarring or post inflammatory hyperpigmentation or delayed hypopigmentation (light skin areas) even in Indian skin types.

I also conducted a brief micro-medical skin-needling demonstration to show the main techniques.

If you want to read more, the experts at Consulting Room really know what they're talking about and have put together some Micro-medical skin-needling, acne, scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, and skin rejuvenation FAQs just for you.

If you have more questions, you can use the Micro-medical skin-needling, acne, scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, and skin rejuvenation questions feature to talk to our panel of trained medical experts.

If you're keen to get started with acne treatment right away then you're in luck - those clever folks also have a list of trusted, accredited Micro-medical skin-needling, acne, scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, and skin rejuvenation clinics in your area.

Dr Jaishree Sharad
Consultant Cosmetic Dermatologist, India

Dr Sharad is a CEO of Skinfiniti Aesthetic Skin & Laser Clinic, practising in Mumbai.

She is also currently the Vice President of the Cosmetic Dermatology Society of India.

She has recently been elected on the executive board of the European Society of Cosmetic and Aesthetic Dermatology. She has spoken at various international conferences and meetings.