“My greatest beauty secret is being happy with myself. I don’t use special creams or treatment – I’ll use a little bit of everything.” — Tina Turner

THERE are many ways for us to enhance our beauty and to stimulate the production of the constituents that give the skin a glow. We have not all been endowed with Tina Turner’s ability to remain “uncracked” from sunlight and gravity, but indeed, dermarolling with a good skin regimen can be quite useful. See a physician before deciding to use, as it is not useful for everyone, or for all skin issues.

Dermaroller skin therapy is an all-natural cosmetic procedure which can be done in your own home, but a physician who

is familiar with the process should be contacted for directions in this regard. This is also known as microneedle therapy, non-surgical facelift, and skin needle therapy.

It also helps ingredients and nutrients to be quickly absorbed through the skin, enhancing their efficacy so it can also be used for transdermal medication delivery.

It is very effective for:

* Stretch marks from any origin or body part;

* Acne hard-to-heal scars and light acne scars;

* surgical scars;

* Wrinkle improval;

* Anti-ageing effects;

* Chickenpox scars and ice pick;

* Cellulite reduction;

* Other scars or any origin;

* Large black or not black pores;

* Sagging (lack of firmness on face or body);

* Age brown spots and sunburn damage;

* Under-eye puffy bags;

* Hair loss (Alopecia — best used with PRP therapy); and

* Hyperpigmentation.

Most of the latter are due to a lack of collagen. By the micro trauma, the skin is confused into thinking that it has been traumatised. With this collagen, free-radicals scavengers, and a small amount of stem cells will rush to the area. The skin will renew and repair itself to a cosmetic level. Laser therapy does the same thing, and is much better than dermarolling, but if one is unable to afford laser therapy, significant gains in skin health can be achieved from this method.

The roller head should have a large number of needles. This gives a quick, less invasive, and is more painless with a shorter healing time.

The procedure

Microneedling is a simple office-based procedure. The physician can then show you how to continue doing this at home on your own. Topical anaesthesia can be put on prior to the procedure, this needs to be done for 45 minutes to one hour before. The area is washed properly, and toning may be done as usual. Rolling is done 15-20 times in horizontal, vertical and oblique directions on the different areas of the face.

Sometimes pin-point bleeding may occur, but it is very mild and is controlled by wiping it off with sterile gauze. After treatment, the area should be wetted with sterile saline serum pads, cold pads. The entire procedure should last for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the extent of the area to be treated.

A minimum of six weeks is recommended between two treatments as it takes that long for new natural collagen to form. Three to four treatments may be needed for moderate acne scars. Facial cream may be used at this point. For wrinkles and age spots, for example, retinol and vitamin A and E are excellent. These can be placed on the skin at this point, and will be absorbed quite nicely into the deeper aspects of the dermis.

Contraindications of Derma Roller System Therapy

* Any active infections

* Chronic skin disorders

* Blood clotting problems

* Poor healing

* Skin malignancies

* Active acne

* Eczema

* Rosacea

* Psoriasis

* Severe solar keratosis

* Raised moles or warts

Cleaning the dermaroller

The dermaroller unit needs to be washed right after using. Soap and water can be used, chlorhexidine-containing solution is best. Brush away any residual debris after using it. Then soak about five to eight minutes with 90 per cent alcohol, or use ultraviolet radiation (sunlight) to disinfect for about 45 minutes. You can also use a cold steriliser, like clorexhidine solution. Chlorine, autoclaves, steam, and high temperature sterilisation methods should not be used.

Even with all this, “happiness is the greatest beauty secret”. Tina Turner said that too.

Dr Simone Van-Horne is a consultant in Internal medicine. Currently, she is a hospitalist, where she does inpatient-hospital medicine in Florida, and sees patients in a medical spa setting at Metamorphosis Medispa Wellness Center Inc in Hollywood, Florida, and at The Face Place Ja at 3 Carvalho Rd, Kingston, and The Skin Bar, #16 Freeport Shopping Centre, Montego Bay. Contact info@spamorph.com and www.spamorph.com for questions.