Microneedling

A dermaroller rotates as it moves, so its needles enter and leave the skin at an angle and drag sideways. That tears the surface and creates a wider wound than the needle length suggests. The Dermapen 4 drives its needles vertically instead. The channel is clean and the depth is exactly what your clinician set. Home devices have their own problems: very short needles that only reach the outermost layer, no way to adjust depth per area, and a real infection risk if they are not properly sterile. They are not comparable treatments.

Exosomes are the tiny vesicles cells use to send instructions to one another, carrying signalling proteins, growth factors and lipids. In skin, those signals help coordinate repair and renewal. Microneedling opens temporary channels through the surface, so it is an ideal moment to introduce an exosome serum. It reaches the living layers of the skin instead of sitting on top. We use dp Dermaceuticals exosome formulations, made by the manufacturer of the Dermapen. The numbers give a sense of scale. The manufacturer states that around 7,000 exosomes fit on the tip of a single 33-gauge needle. One oscillation of the cartridge delivers roughly 112,000 into the skin.

The dp Dermaceuticals exosomes are bio-identical, meaning they are made to match the exosomes your own cells produce, in the same way body-identical hormones are used in HRT. According to the manufacturer they contain no cells and no DNA. They do not alter the DNA of your cells, and they are not a form of gene therapy. The formulation is patented and immune-tolerant, designed so the skin does not become less responsive with repeated treatment. The serum is applied topically into the micro-channels, never injected. As with any product applied to the skin, tell your clinician about any allergies at consultation.

Most people find microneedling very manageable. Numbing cream is applied and left to work for 20 to 30 minutes beforehand. Patients typically describe a vibration, a scratchy sensation or some warmth rather than pain. Bonier areas such as the forehead, the hairline and around the nose feel sharper than the cheeks, and the deeper settings used over scarring are felt more. Tell your clinician if anything is uncomfortable, as they can adjust as they work.

A course of three to six microneedling sessions spaced four to six weeks apart is the usual recommendation. That interval is not arbitrary. Collagen remodelling continues for weeks after each session, and treating again before the skin has finished healing adds inflammation without adding benefit. General texture and radiance often need three sessions; established acne scarring usually needs closer to six, sometimes more. Many patients then have a maintenance session two or three times a year.

Microneedling often gives a fresh, plumped look within a week, but that early glow is largely hydration and swelling rather than new collagen. The real change is gradual, because building and remodelling collagen takes time. Expect genuine improvement from around four to eight weeks after a session, with the full benefit of a course visible around three to six months after you finish. Good skincare and daily sun protection are what maintain it.

Yes. Microneedling is well established in the dermatology literature for indented acne scarring, and the Dermapen 4 is FDA cleared for the treatment of facial acne scars. It works best on rolling and boxcar scars, where it gradually rebuilds tissue under the depression so the surface lifts. The device has a dedicated scar setting that increases depth and adjusts speed for this purpose. Deep ice-pick scars respond less well to needling alone and may need a combination approach, which your clinician will discuss with you. Active, inflamed acne has to be settled first.

Yes. Microneedling creates a physical injury rather than a thermal one, and it does not target pigment the way lasers and light-based devices do. The risk of post-treatment pigmentation problems is therefore comparatively low. That makes microneedling one of the more reliable resurfacing options for deeper skin tones. Diligent sun protection afterwards is still important for everyone.

Microneedling of the scalp is used to support hair density, and it is often combined with a serum infused through the channels or paired with other scalp treatments. Whether it is appropriate depends entirely on the cause and pattern of your hair loss, which needs assessing properly first. Your clinician will advise honestly on what is realistic for you and whether another approach would serve you better.

Microneedling is not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or if you have an active skin infection, an active cold sore or inflamed acne in the treatment area. It is also avoided in people with keloid scarring, certain bleeding or clotting disorders, and while taking oral isotretinoin or blood-thinning medication, depending on the circumstances. Recent sunburn, recent injectables or a recent peel or laser treatment may mean waiting. Tell your clinician about your full medical history and medications at consultation so this can be assessed properly.

The cost of microneedling depends on the areas treated, the serum infused and the number of sessions in your plan. Your clinician will confirm the full cost in writing at your consultation, with no obligation to proceed.