Microneedle therapy disrupting the $500-billion beauty industry

Microneedling, also called microneedle therapy, is a cosmetic procedure in which an instrument with a very fine needle is used to puncture areas of the skin that are being treated. This allows cosmetic products or medication to reach deeper regions of the skin for maximum benefit. These products or medication vary depending on the therapy being administered. In this case when the procedure is done for hair regrowth, it is done in conjunction with platelet-rich plasma treatment. This allows platelets-rich plasma (PRP) concentrate to penetrate into the skin and reach the stem cells of hair follicles, stimulating hair growth. The beauty of the procedure is that can be used in both men and women for various conditions like baldness, receding hairline or thinning of hair.

How it works

Background

Platelets are rich in growth factors like platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor, epidermal growth factor to name a few. In the early 90s, scientists discovered that PRP has potent ability to stimulate stem cells in the body and this opened doors to a vast list of medical applications. Any condition where there is loss of stem cell ability to regenerate like in hair loss, can potentially be treated and this new discovery has been effective in managing hair loss. One important advantage is that it's all natural so there is no chance of a person reacting to his or her own plasma. Any side effects that may occur are due to external factors as discussed in a section below.

In order for the PRP to be delivered into the skin, the skin is punctured by a microneedle pen, also called microneedle mesotherapy gun. It comes in various shapes and brands and is readily available for purchase online. The  needle is very thin and makes punctures less than the pin point. The needle is spring-loaded and uses an automatic vibrating stamp-like motion to puncture the skin repeatedly. The needle and tip are disposable hence the risk of cross-infection is eliminated. Microneedling goes deeper than it's similar procedure, dermarolling, therefore it's more effective when the goal is to reach deep roots of the hair follicles.

The procedure

The procedure is done by a dermatologist or qualified medical aesthetician.

1. Preparation

It's important to talk to your doctor before the procedure has been done to rule out any conditions that may increase the risk of skin irritation and or slow down healing. This also allows you to ask any questions and allay anxieties before the procedure is done. Be aware that this is an office procedure and you go home straight after it's complete. Conditions where the procedure is contraindicated or deferred include:

• Skin infection in the area to be treated


• Bleeding disorders


• Inflammatory diseases of the skin


• Malignancy in the area to be treated


• Severe immunosuppression

These conditions need to be brought under control before you undergo the procedure.

2. Process

A topical anaesthetic like lidocaine cream is applied on the area to be treated. This to numb it from pain then it is cleaned off once it has taken effect. The practitioner uses an instrument which is usually the microneedle pen, which is like a tattoo gun except that there is less discomfort with the microneedle pen. The pen is passed over the area being treated and it makes the micro-punctures along the way. It's important to thoroughly cover as much area as possible and the more the punctures the better the absorption of the PRP.

If a dermaroller is used, this makes shallower punctures and is manually rolled on the area being treated to achieve the same effect as a microneedle pen. It has a roller which has more than 100 needles arranged to that when it moves across the skin, they create punctures. The basic principle is the same but the gun is best operated by a qualified practitioner while the dermaroller can be used at home because of ease of use.

After microneedling, the PRP is delivered into the skin via a needle and syringe and it penetrates deep down to the root of the hair. The procedure takes a few minutes but may go up to 30 minutes if the area to be treated is large. After completion of the procedure, the doctor may apply a soothing product with anti-inflammatory properties.

3. After procedure

It is recommended that after the procedure you avoid anything that triggers inflammation of the skin hence cause discomfort or irritation. This includes:

• Going out into the sun. The sun emits ultraviolet radiation which causes skin damage and inflammation of the skin.


• Taking a hot bath or going to the sauna. This triggers sweating and sweat is pro-inflammatory which causes discomfort of the skin


• Using oil-based skin products that remove the natural oils of the skin causing irritation


• Swimming

4. Follow up

The procedure is done every 3 to 4 days a week

Side effects

The procedure is safe. The topical anaesthetic helps numb the pain during the procedure. A temporary itching or numbness is normal after the procedure but it will go away. It's important to follow the post-procedure instructions listed above so that there is no inflammation of the skin.

Cost

Microneedling is  a cosmetic procedure so most insurance companies don't cover for it. This makes it expensive because you have to dig into your purse to make the payment. The total cost depends on:

• Area being treated


• The size of the area being treated


• Number of sessions you have to attend


• Any follow ups that may need to be done

The average costs of microneedling alone ranges from USD$200 to USD$700 per each session and you need 4 to 6 sessions which further inflates the figure. With the addition of PRP, total figure becomes much higher. In America PRP treatment may cost as much as $900 per session. For more on skin care read these articles.