Will MCA Micro Needling Bring New Life to Damaged Skin?

Lisa Henning
By Lisa Henning

Lisa Henning of Beautiful Ink Heaton Mersey, South Manchester is a Fully qualified trainer and technician in Cosmetic Micropigmentation.


Dry tattooing (also known as MCA Micro Needling) is an exciting alternative treatment that works directly on damaged skin, relaxing and smoothing scars, also reducing stretch marks.

Any micro-needling treatment essentially brings new life into damaged skin, and using a digital tattoo machine is a very quick way and precise way of making this happen. No pigment is tattooed into the skin, however, pigmentation begins to normalise as a result.  

Dry tattooing is not a new service to the market, but it’s not widely heard of outside of hospitals where it’s better known as MCA Micro-Needling. MCA Micro-Needling is an advanced course available to those already specialising in cosmetic and medical tattooing. Clients generally hear about this treatment by referral from a doctor or consultant.

At my clinic, Skin Confidence in Brighton, I’ve decided to call this treatment dry tattooing.

It’s a term more easily understood by the public whom I’m aiming my service at. Dry tattooing distinguishes the treatment from other micro-needling, skin needling treatments such as the derma roller or Derma Pen.  

Using the same principles of causing the growth of healthy new collagen as a derma roller, dry tattooing works on the specific areas of affected skin only i.e. each stretch mark and only the scar. Areas that are not affected are not treated.

The digital tattoo machine causes blood to come into the treated area, without removing the top layers of skin. Over the weeks and months, new collagen is formed i.e. healthy new skin rather than poor quality scar tissue, stretched or creased skin.

A 20-50% improvement can be seen in just one session, with a course of 3 recommended for best results

Dry tattooing can be used on all colours of skin, with only dark skins prone to over pigmentation and keloid scarring advised not to go ahead.

Once approved for treatment, scarring, hypo or hyperpigmentation are unlikely risks, as no heat is used and the surface of the skin is not removed.

 

Dry Tattooing (MCA Micro Needling) treatment
Dry Tattooing (MCA Micro Needling) treatment

Before (above left) - Stretch mark reduction for fine silvery stretch marks on skin area with good elasticity. Duplicate area on other side, total area size 3 hands. £600 for a course of 3 or £250 per session

After (above right) - These results are after one session and a small trial patch. A second treatment was carried out and my client was surprised I still found stretch marks, as she could not see them.  

Normal pigmentation has almost completely returned to the treated areas. Dry tattooing uses no pigment, this happens naturally in most cases. The stretch marks are still there and will develop and blur over the coming months. Results are very individual

Dry Tattooing treatment
Dry Tattooing treatment

Before (Above left) - Fine silvery stretch marks on inner thigh, skin area is lacking elasticity. Treatment area size 4 hands, £300 per session or course of 3 sessions £700

After (Above right) - 3 sessions and 3 months of healing.  Stretch marks have tightened and the thin skin is filling up.

The area will still be developing over the coming months and any further sessions would use a Derma Roller to tighten as we did not do a combined treatment.

Face-lift scar before and after treatment
Face-lift scar before and after treatment

Expected results for stretch marks

If skin lacks elasticity or is loose, like on the bust or tummy, whilst dry tattooing will firm any stretch marks, the rest of the skin will still look loose, and the stretch marks less likely to blur away.  

A combined Derma Roller/Dry Tattooing treatment would be suggested to tighten any loose skin, this can be carried out in the same session.

If the skin has good elasticity, fine, silvery-white stretch marks are likely to disappear after 2 or 3 treatments.

Colour begins to naturally return, the shine of thin skin disappears and the stretch marks thicken and tighten and blur into normal skin.

Medium and wide stretch marks are more difficult to treat and a client’s expectations need to be well managed.  

If the skin is tighter, and the marks looking and feeling firmer can be accepted as a result, then all is well as any result more than this would be very individual and medium to wide stretch marks disappearing is unlikely.  

Medium to wide stretch marks needs to be treated while they are fresh, still very pink or red, to get any result and this would be with specific creams rather than any needling.

Finally, if stretch marks are already normal skin colour and not shiny or striated, it's harder to see any difference of skin thickening, until they blur into normal skin.

It's unpredictable how much this will happen for medium and wide stretch marks.

Natural re-pigmentation of scars and stretch marks

After dry tattooing, with new life brought into damaged tissue, natural pigmentation starts to return.

This can be helped by gentle sun exposure.  

This means white and shiny scars and stretch marks blend away, and shades of pink and brown scars begin to normalise, often turning white before normalising.  

A pilot randomized control trial of scar Re-pigmentation with UV light and dry Tattooing -

Objective: This study assessed the utility of focused scar injury with an ink-free tattooing technique combined with UV light exposure for the treatment of hypo-pigmented cervico facial scars.

Conclusions: Dry-tattooing followed by UV light exposure may provide a safe and effective means for the treatment of hypo-pigmented scars.

Original Article Michael G. Brandt, Corey C. Moore, Anne E. Conlin, John D. Stein, and Philip C. Doyle

Before (Above left) - Stretch mark reduction for fine silvery stretch marks on skin area with good elasticity.  Duplicate area on other side, total area size 3 hands.  £600 for a course of 3 or £250 per session.

After (above right) - Result after one visit.  Area in front of ear almost returned to normal, area behind ear is less stretched.  Treatment area size 1 hand. £150 per session or £400 for course of 3. Pain factor, none reported

Dry tattoo scar treatment before and after
Dry tattoo scar treatment before and after

Before (Above left) - Treatment area size 1 hand. £150 per session or £400 for a course of 3. Pain factor, during the treatment my client found this area a bit twitchy, but not really painful. She reported her arm was a little painful the next day, and was very itchy.  Itchy is good, new life into the area.

After (above right) – Results after one session.  Scars look whiter as they are now firmer and smoother. Gentle sun exposure will help the new tissue to naturally re-pigment over the coming months and the scar will blur into the surrounding skin. Second treatment was carried out

Dry Tattooing scarring treatment before and after
Dry Tattooing scarring treatment before and after

Before (Above left) - Operation scar, scar is pink and tissue irregular. Treatment area size 1 hand. £150 per session or £400 for course of 3. Pain factor, my client found the ends of the scar very ticklish, no pain was reported.

After (Above right) – Result after one session. Scar is now totally smooth and redness has gone. Scar looks whiter as it is now firmer, gentle sun exposure over the coming months will return new tissue to normal colour. Second treatment was carried out

Expected results for scars

Loose scars respond just like stretch marks, dry tattooing causes new collagen growth to the thin and stretched tissue, helping to create firmer skin.

As new tissue grows in response to dry tattooing, miscoloured scar tissue achieves a more natural tone, and white scars return pigmentation.

No pigment is used, this is the bodies natural reaction to scar tissue being needled, and dry tattooing being the most precise and intense form of it.

Dry tattooing also relaxes the fibres of tight scar tissue, with restricted scars or burns softening, allowing a much larger range of movement.

Atrophic and Hypertrophic scars are smoothed, with pitted acne scars being treated individually. The finest needles can be used, chosen depending on the scar to be treated.  

Active keloid scars cannot be treated. Inactive keloid scars can be treated with discretion, and not all raised scars are keloid.

Active keloid scars grow, cause pain, itching and numbness. Inactive keloid scars do not grow and their colour is pinkish or normal skin colour

Scar reduction - Managing expectations

There isn’t the same emotional attachment to stretch marks as there is to a scar one thinks unsightly.  

It takes some doing to mentally revisit a scar and hope to improve it, especially if it was a traumatic experience.  

This is why on my website I have chosen to show the immediately after treatment photos, so clients know exactly what to expect.  

I believe bodies have painful memories, and I see my clients, just before I start treatment, suddenly remembering that it hurt to create, surely it’ll hurt to treat… forgetting that they’ve had numbing cream on the area for at least 30 minutes.  

How much a scar improves is very individual, and results can’t be promised, but we’re giving the body a chance to re-heal in a more controlled manner, rather than the rush of scar tissue that formed when the wound was healing.  

The emotion my clients generally feel is excitement, that they’re doing something that makes sense.  

Scar tissue is stuck; we’re gently and precisely waking it up so it can heal again

Results don’t happen overnight, you’ll see I add dates to my photos, and one of the reasons I’ll be adding more and more photos to my website is so viewers can see there are no standardised before and after photos.

There is nothing to judge your result against, only seeing each person’s scar improving.

I recommend 3 dry tattooing treatments, and then leave the area to settle and develop for about 4 months before considering having any more.

Some clients book these treatments regularly; others wait to see a development before returning. I’m of the view the 3 sessions of regular stimulation will work best, as ultimately we want to stimulate the skin so it can re-heal.  

If you want to read more, the experts at Consulting Room really know what they're talking about and have put together some scarring, stretch marks, micro-needling, cosmetic skin camouflage, micro-pigmentation, pigmentation and also derma roller or Derma Pen FAQs just for you. 

If you have more questions, you can use the scarring, stretch marks, micro-needling, cosmetic skin camouflage, micro-pigmentation, pigmentation and also derma roller or Derma Pen product question feature to talk to our panel of trained medical experts. 

If you're keen to get started with any of these treatments right away then you're in luck - those clever folks also have a list of trusted, accredited scarring, stretch marks, micro-needling, cosmetic skin camouflage, micro-pigmentation, pigmentation clinics, and also clinics that specialize in derma roller or Derma Pen products in your area.

Types of microneedling (medical skin needling) devices currently available in the UK: 

BIOSKIN JETTING (BIOSKIN SMOOTHING)

BioSkin Smoothing uses electrical micro-current in addition. The controlled trauma caused initiates a healing reaction and the formation of new collagen to minimise the imperfection.

COLLAGEN P.I.N.

The Collagen P.I.N. (Percutaneous Induction Needling) device is an automated micro-needling device. It is designed to treat a wide variety of issues, including fine lines and wrinkles, skin ageing, pigmentation, uneven skin tone, acne scars, and stretch marks.

DERMAPEN ™

Dermapen™ is used for a treatment referred to as medical skin needling, collagen induction therapy, percutaneous collagen induction, micro-needling or simply electronic dermarollering.

EDERMASTAMP ™ ( EDS ™ )

The eDermastamp™ or eDS™ Skin Rejuvenation is used for a treatment referred to as medical skin needling, collagen induction therapy, percutaneous collagen induction, micro-needling or simply electronic dermarollering.

GENUINE DERMAROLLER™

The Genuine Dermaroller™ device is marketed for the treatment of Medical Skin Needling or Collagen Induction Therapy.

MICRONEEDLE THERAPY SYSTEM - MTS-ROLLER™

The Microneedle Therapy System or MTS-Roller™ is marketed for the treatment of Medical Skin Needling.

RÉJUVAPEN

Réjuvapen is used to treat the signs of ageing, scarring, burns, and uneven skin tone by activating cell regeneration and enhancing the absorption of active serums and topical agents through collagen induction therapy or medical skin needling.

SKINPEN PRECISION SYSTEM

SkinPen Precision System can help improve the appearance of facial acne scars, reduce the signs of ageing and improve skin health through collagen induction therapy.

Thanks to the author of this blog Lisa Henning from Beautiful Ink Heaton Mersey, South Manchester.

Lisa is a fully qualified trainer and technician in Cosmetic Micropigmentation, Saline Tattoo Removal, and Advanced Skin Needling

Lisa has been in the industry since 2012, specializing in eyebrow tattooing, removals, and corrections. 

She has also developed Dry Tattooing, an advanced skin needling treatment to improve scars and stretch marks.

Thanks to the author

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