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Apparently, during Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, women who want to mimic the royal highness’ pale skin would undergo bloodletting until they had their desired paleness. During the Victorian period, women are said to have taken pills with tapeworms to help them lose weight. We definitely don’t practice bizarre beauty treatments like these anymore, all thanks to beauty innovations that are groundbreaking, a whole lot safer, and much more effective.
Case in point: micro-needling or Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT). Don't let the concept of skin needling scare or intimidate you! It’s a technology utilized in a comfortable treatment setting that delivers amazing results.
What is CIT?
CIT, skin-needling or micro-needling, as the term implies is a face and body treatment that uses tiny needles of various lengths that quickly pierce through the skin. This action induces collagen production, strengthens the skin barrier, boosts skin elasticity, treats wrinkles and fine lines and fights the signs of ageing overall.
But before you say “ouch,” it must be emphasized that topical anesthesia is given prior to the treatment, making it bearable and only with minimal discomfort depending on your pain tolerance.
How Microneedles Work
The micro-needling pen or skin-needling machine that is used in the CIT treatment punctures the skin’s barrier and creates tiny wounds, which then trigger a healing response within the body. The needles from the dermal needling pen pierce 150 strokes per second but don’t fret, the tiny wounds created do not permanently give texture to your skin. CIT respects the integrity of the skin’s layers (i.e., epidermis and dermis). The quick motion means skin-needling pens don’t tear or scratch the skin. On the other hand, the treatment induces a quick regeneration process that introduces new collagen into the body, resulting in a renewed skin appearance.
A quick refresher: collagen is a protein that our body produces. It’s one of the major components of our skin. It strengthens our skin and makes it elastic and hydrated. Collagen, however, is not a supply that lasts forever. As we age, our body produces less and less of it and that’s when the wrinkles and dry skin start to manifest. Regular microneedling encourages the body to regenerate collagen and elastin production within the skin.
Various Treatments Skin Needling Provides
Microneedling which is minimally invasive is also an extremely versatile treatment that can be used to treat a multitude of different common skin concerns on both the face and the body. Suitable for most skin types, skin needling has also been clinically proven to help improve overall skin quality as well as helping to treat some of the most common signs of ageing, including:
- Helps to refine skin texture and tone
- Promotes overall skin rejuvenation
- Boosts skin’s elasticity and help volumise complexions
- Reduces the appearance of fine lines and deeper wrinkles
- Reduces the appearance of scars on both the face and body (ie. acne scars)
- Helps to improve, resurface and fade stretch marks
- Targets hyperpigmentation and assist in fading sun damage or discolouration
What About Aftercare?
The downtime after this treatment is minimal in comparison to other skin rejuvenation treatments that require you to stay home for at least three days. After every CIT treatment, you can expect your skin to feel warm, tight and reddish almost like a sunburn. But this is only for the first couple of hours, with only mild redness remaining the next day.
But the good news: CIT delivers fresher, younger, and brighter skin within 4-6 weeks, after about 4-6 treatments depending on your individual needs.
More great news: CIT doesn’t discriminate. It’s suitable for almost all skin types, great for men and women, and treats a myriad of skin conditions for the face and body.
