If you have children, you know schools and teachers are struggling to keep TikTok “trends” from taking over the schools. The social media platform is home to countless tips and DIY hacks for beauty, too—and some of them are very dangerous. VIDA is committed to helping clients achieve their skin goals safely and in the hands of professionals. That’s why our medical director, Dr. Glen, personally supervises and trains every staff member.
One of the top-ranked “worst” viral beauty trends on TikTok is at-home microneedling. According to South China Morning Post, which included screenshots of TikTok influencers showing their botched at-home microneedling jobs, this trend is unfortunately on the rise. There is a high chance of getting wounds on the face as well as spreading around bacteria to other parts of the face and body. In short, “Get it done professionally,” urges the paper.
The Ugly Side of Beauty
Microneedling is a quick, comfortable, and safe treatment that has been available for decades by professionals. It’s a form of collagen induction therapy and works by creating tiny micro-injuries or micro-channels in the skin with medical-grade needles. Proper microneedling devices are only available to professionals, such as MDs and medical day spas. However, you’ve probably seen at-home microneedling kits and devices for sale. These devices do not have the same quality needles of the right depth and width to achieve safe results. The best-case scenario is that an at-home kit does nothing. The worst-case scenario can be found on TikTok and Instagram.
Unfortunately, people are trying all sorts of modifications and hacks to achieve the results from microneedling that you can get in-office. When skin undergoes a controlled trauma, like after microneedling, collagen production is kick-started at the site. However, there’s a fine line between a controlled injury inflicted by a certified professional and a serious injury that can have dire consequences. Permanent scarring is not uncommon with at-home microneedling, and severe infections (such as cellulitis) can also occur.
How to Really Use Microneedling
Microneedling is a popular in-office treatment by itself but also a fantastic complement to many other treatments. Because it’s so relatively gentle, it’s easy to add microneedling on to a lot of appointments. For instance, it’s a fantastic match for facials like DiamondGlow. It can take some laser treatments to the next level. Microneedling works by tapping into the power of your own body, making it a wholly natural treatment for skin that is youthful, plump, and dewy.
Many who love microneedling book appointments every 4 – 6 weeks to sustain results. However, if you’re a first-timer, know that the results from microneedling are cumulative and not immediate. Your skin will look a little pink right after your appointment, but that side effect quickly fades. There’s a lot happening underneath the surface in the days and weeks following your treatment, and you’ll start to notice some overall improvement to the skin about four weeks after your session. If you commit to routine appointments, you’ll be able to sustain and improve results over time.
What Microneedling Treats
Microneedling is effective at treating virtually every skin concern including lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, skin laxity, dullness, and can even help with medical conditions like rosacea. Since microneedling is so fast and easy, it’s a favorite lunchtime appointment (and don’t worry, the redness is mild and won’t have anyone wondering “what you had done”).
Although microneedling was first discovered and used as a means of helping traumatized skin, often in post-war situations, it is so effective that it quickly became a must-have for the masses. Of course, with popularity comes imitation. If you see a DIY microneedling kit for sale in stores or online, know that it cannot legally be of the same caliber as what you can find at VIDA or at other medical offices. These kits are pointless and sometimes dangerous. You and your skin deserve to have the best treatments and tools at your disposal, and that’s exactly what you get at VIDA.
If you’d like to try out microneedling, learn more about this treatment, or find out what to pair it with for your upcoming holiday aesthetic, get in touch! Contact VIDA by calling the office or filling out the online form for the fastest response.
