Even though Micro-Needling treatments and Fractional laser resurfacing can treat similar conditions in the skin, they are not exactly the same procedure. These two technologies show similar results – except that they present very different side effects, costs and downtime.
When it comes to the choice between having a treatment with a fractional laser and a treatment with Dermapen micro-needling – it’s sort of a no-brainer. Micro-needling wins hands down.
Dermapen® versus Fractional Laser Resurfacing
How it works
Both technologies work on the principle of creating micro injury to the skin to trigger the body’s natural wound-healing response.
The difference lies in which kind of injury that is triggered and how this is done. With fractional laser treatment, the injury produced is a result of the laser charring the epidermis, causing light-thermal injury. This light-thermal injury results in ablation and coagulation of proteins, which leads to necrosis of the cells (cell death). The process of necrosis is disruptive to the body and leads to increased inflammation. Additionally, in darker skin types, melanocytes which are the cells that produce a pigment called melanin, can be damaged or over excited, releasing too much or too little pigment and causing white or dark patchy discolouration to appear on the skin. For that reason, darker skin types cannot be effectively and safely treated with laser resurfacing.
On the other hand, the kind of injury experienced with Dermapen® micro-needling isn’t thermal. Dermapen® uses microscopic needles to pierce the skin creating micro channels. This procedure works by gently activating the body’s natural skin renewal process, encouraging it to release growth factors from fibroblasts, keratinocytes and monocytes. Because heat is not used, melanocytes are left dormant and thus, this treatment is appropriate for all skin types – and side-effects such as discolouration of the skin often occurring in clients treated with fractional laser treatments, is not of concern with Dermapen micro-needling.
MORE Reasons Why is Micro-needling better?
While both Micro-needling treatments and Fractional Laser resurfacing treatments will result in some redness, this is more prominent with a fractional laser. Micro-needling recovery is about 1 day of possible redness and/or swelling, while laser downtime is on average 4 to 7 days with swelling and redness that may take longer to dissipate as the injury was caused by heat (thermal-injury).
The most well known drawback to fractional laser treatment is that it cannot be performed in certain skin tones, primarily Mediterranean, Hispanic, Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern and African ethnicities, because of the increased risk of burn and concerns with pigmentation.
Other concerns specific to fractional laser resurfacing treatments include:
· Persistent redness (thermal injury takes longer to heal)
· Increased pain and discomfort
· Viral and bacterial infections (including facial herpes)- heat from laser stimulates the virus that cause herpes to become active
· Post-inflammatory hyper/hypo-pigmentation (darkening and lightening of the skin)
Dermapen® micro- needling treatments can be performed on all skin tones, as it does not rely on the skin’s interaction with turning light into heat. In addition, post-inflammatory hyper/hypo pigmentation is very rare with proper use of a physical sunblock, following an appropriate post-care treatment guide and using the correct products to decrease healing time to achieve best results.
Overall, Dermapen® micro- needling is safer, more effective, less expensive, and less risky treatment to achieve skin rejuvenation. It does not damage the skin but rather leads to thicker, healthier skin. It can effectively treat indented acne scars and surgical scars, improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and stretch marks and even diminish redness caused from rosacea. It can dramatically improve the overall health of the skin by increasing collagen and triggering a natural healing response from the skin rather than thinning the epidermis by the use of a laser device that uses heat. There is no doubt Dermapen is a far more advanced treatment that show visible results much faster with significantly less cost and downtime!
SkinGlow is proud to work with the newest model of the Dermapen® Systems: DERMAPEN 3.
Book in TODAY for your FREE Dermapen® Micro-needling consultation.
Call us at 604-566-GLOW (4569) or send us an email with any questions to info@skinglowlaser.ca