Officially Offering Microneedling in Denver

The moment you have all been waiting for is here! Glow With Ida is officially offering microneedling in Denver!!! I am so excited to be offering this service AND to teach and discuss with you everything I know about it! 

Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy literally rejuvenates the skin from the inside out by stimulating wound repair of the skin in three distinct phases; Inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. 

What is Microneedling? 

So what exactly is microneedling? You might be familiar with the concept of controlled wounding of the skin, if you have ever had a chemical peel you know how this goes. Essentially your practitioner will utilize a certain modality (such as applying a peel or in this case using the microneedling pen) and monitor your skin while creating the right amount of controlled wounding that will leave your skin in a state that is ready for proper repair without scarring.

The actual microneedling pen is a pen-like device with a sterile disposable cartridge containing 16 tiny needles that move up and down in a vertical motion. Your practitioner is able to control both the speed and the depth of the needles and will apply a serum that will provide both slip and allow for product penetration before running the device along your skin in a specific pattern (I use a 3 pass cross-hatch pattern).

Now what happens to your skin from being microneedled?  Basically as the needles move up and down they are creating little pokes which is the controlled wound! Our skin is so incredible that even before the treatment is completed it begins the healing process. 

As the healing process continues, our body feeds our skin with the nutrients it needs to heal, including new collagen! Now this is where it becomes important that you absolutely see a professional and do not try microneedling at home! Because it is the inflammation that that stimulates collagen production, but too much inflammation can cause scarring. 

Let’s Talk About Collagen 

So let’s discuss collagen a little bit. After the age of 20 we lose 1% of our collagen per year and production drops off around age 40! 80-90% of collagen in the body consists of types one, two, and three (there are five types of collagen total). Neo-collagensis (new collagen) is synthesized by cosmetic procedures. 

With a controlled wound response the skin will send fibroblasts to aid in injury recovery, break down old collagen and trigger the production of new healthy collagen, type one collagen increases as a response to the injury and then the skin starts producing increased amounts of type three collagen to bring it back to a healthy state! What we see from this process is a reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, a smoothing of scar tissue, and the skin begins to thicken. 

This is a treatment that is NOT just for individuals that are trying to reduce acne scars, hyperpigmentation and wrinkling, it is literally beneficial for almost everyone! It really is one of the only treatments that stimulates our body to naturally produce MORE COLLAGEN. Now I know that there are a lot of collagen powder additives, supplements, etc. and I can’t really speak to the exact benefits of every single one because there are A LOT. 

Collagen Supplements

I would say that for myself, collagen supplements noticeably make my hair and nails softer and stronger but I can’t really see how much they do for my skin, and this is because the collagen we ingest from supplements is a DIFFERENT type of collagen that our skin actually produces naturally (as I mentioned above there are five different types). SO, microneedling will allow your skin to regenerate in a way that produces a natural PLUMPNESS, and let’s be honest, we’re all here for plumpness. 

Microneedling results may be seen in as little as 4 weeks from treatment, although for the best results I recommend a series of treatments, at least three to start but it can take up to 6 months to see more dramatic results. Microneedling downtime is minimal which is great! You can expect to be red for the following 4-5 hours post treatment and you will have to avoid any sweaty exercise, pools, saunas, steam rooms or any kind of excessive heat for 48 hours post. 

Benefits of Microneedling

Microneedling benefits are SO plentiful! Here is the list that I will provide for you: 

• minimal downtime 
• promotes greater penetration of approved topical products 
• stimulates circulation & collagen production 
• thickening epidermis 
• reboots cellular function 
• smooths texture
• diminishes pore size 
• increases plumpness 
• evens out skin tone 
• can be used on many areas of the body 
• safe for all skin types! 

Derma Rollers 

You are probably wondering about the ever so popular microneedling roller aren’t you? Microneedling rollers are all over instagram and Tiktok, etc. Well I am here to tell you, just don’t even think about it!! Microneedling rollers cause unnecessary skin trauma and they pose a big risk of cross contamination. With microneedling rollers you are unable to treat small areas and the results are potentially uneven PLUS it is difficult to use at exact depth and cleaning, storage, and needle damage are all issues as well. 

So essentially I do NOT recommend trying to use a roller on yourself and additionally, if you are seeing a licensed esthetician who thinks it is a good idea to use a roller on your face and further more charges you for it? I would question all of their practices and seek out a new esthetician, no shade just the honest truth.  

While I do believe the majority of my clients to be excellent microneedling candidates, there are some contraindications that we must consider before microneedling you! These include: 

• Active acne, Papulopustular rosacea, moles, warts, and bacterial/fungal infections 
• Active herpes, if prone to cold sores, I recommend starting an antiviral 5 days prior to procedure 
• Skin cancer, chemotherapy or radiation 
• Open wounds, sores or irritated skin 
• Keloid scarring, scleroderma, eczema, psoriasis, actinic keratosis, dermatological disease 
• Auto-immune disorder, collagen-vascular disease, hemorrhagic disorder 
• Allergy to stainless steel or anesthetics 
• Diabetes 

Microneedling and Botox 

While microneedling and botox can be a great combination for some, you must wait two weeks post injection to be microneedled. 

Microneedling and pregnancy/nursing unfortunately cannot be combined. 

I ask that you avoid using any retinol, topical antibiotics or hydroquinone at least one week prior to treatment. You will need to have been off of Accutane for at least one year prior to treatment as well. 

After a microneedling treatment you can expect to be red, have mild swelling similar to a sunburn, minor peeling, flakiness and dry skin, and possibly minor breakouts. SOMETIMES bruising can occur however this is typically with deeper microneedling. 

Microneedling aftercare is pretty straightforward. I will ask you to cleanse with a soothing cleanser and tepid water. You will want to use a post procedure balm or serum recommended by your professional for 7 days following the procedure. 

Your skin may feel drier than normal after microneedling so a hyaluronic acid moisturizer is ideal for post treatment. I will ask that you do not wear makeup for 24 hours post treatment and that you keep your skin protected with a broad spectrum chemical free SPF sunblock. 

To ensure the proper environment for your microneedling healing time, I ask that for at least seven days post treatment you DO NOT use any AHA’s, BHA’s, Retinol, Vitamin A derivatives, or any skincare product that is an active product. You must avoid the sun as much as possible for seven days and ABSOLUTELY NO TANNING BEDS. You must not go swimming or hot tubing for at least 48 hours post treatment and you must avoid exercise or strenuous activity for the first 24 hours post treatment.

So far in my journey with treatments I have found microneedling acne scars, microneedling for wrinkles, and microneedling hyperpigmentation to be the most effective and dramatic of results. If you are curious head over to my instagram page and check out my microneedling before and afters! 

Microneedling Cost

Microneedling cost ranges anywhere from $200-$700 depending on your area. Glow With Ida charges $300 for one microneedling session. As I mentioned before I recommend a series of 3-6 treatments, with the most dramatic results coming from 6 treatments spaced 21 days apart. 

So I hope this helps answer all of your questions about microneedling. As always, I do my best to answer any and all of your DM’s so hit me with your questions! There is nothing I love to talk about more than skin, so let’s talk! Let’s book you an appointment for your first microneedling session. 

XOXO 

Lots of Love & Skincare 

Ida