If you want a facial rejuvenation treatment with proven results, then at Prizant Dermatology in Pittsburgh, PA, we have just the thing for you. Microneedling with PRP combines a tried and tested treatment with a results-boosting healing substance found in your own body and harnesses your body’s natural rejuvenation abilities to leave you with newly radiant skin.
How Does Microneedling with PRP Enhance Skin Rejuvenation?
Using microneedling with PRP enhances your results in a number of ways, leading to firmer, smoother skin. To understand exactly how this treatment works, we’ll examine how ordinary microneedling works and how the addition of PRP to the process gives your skin an unbeatable boost.
What Is Microneedling?
Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, is a cosmetic treatment that involves puncturing the skin with fine needles to create tiny, controlled injuries. These micro-injuries stimulate the body’s natural wound-healing process, promoting the production of collagen and elastin, which are essential for skin rejuvenation and repair.
The increased collagen production stimulated by this treatment leads to a number of benefits. Microneedling is proven to improve skin texture and tone; it can help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation, resulting in smoother and more even-toned skin. It also leads to firmer, more youthful-looking skin over time.
Another benefit of this treatment is that the tiny channels formed in the skin during microneedling allow for better penetration of topical skincare products. This maximizes their effectiveness. It is, in fact, these tiny channels that allow for the absorption of PRP in the combined treatment that we offer here at Prizant Dermatology.
What Is PRP?
PRP stands for Platelet-Rich Plasma. It is a substance derived from the patient’s own blood and is rich in platelets, growth factors, and other bioactive proteins. PRP is commonly used in medical and cosmetic procedures to promote tissue regeneration, accelerate healing, and improve overall skin health.
We obtain the PRP by drawing a small quantity of your blood and then spinning it in a centrifuge. This causes the blood to separate into its constituent parts: red blood cells, plasma, and platelets. This process results in a concentration of platelets that is higher than that of whole blood, hence the term “platelet-rich plasma.” This can then be applied directly to the skin.
PRP works by releasing growth factors that stimulate cell proliferation, collagen production, and tissue repair. When applied to the skin, PRP promotes the formation of new blood vessels and the synthesis of collagen and elastin fibers, leading to improved skin texture, tone, and elasticity. Since PRP is derived from the patient’s own blood, it is generally considered safe and minimizes the risk of adverse reactions or rejection.
How Does the PRP Add-On Enhance Microneedling?
Using Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in combination with microneedling can enhance results over and above those you get just from microneedling in a number of ways.
Increased Growth Factors
PRP is rich in growth factors, such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). These growth factors play crucial roles in tissue repair and regeneration. When PRP is applied during microneedling, the micro-injuries created by the needles facilitate the penetration of growth factors into the deeper layers of the skin. This leads to enhanced cell proliferation, collagen synthesis, and angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels), which contribute to improved skin texture, tone, and elasticity.
Collagen Stimulation
Microneedling induces controlled micro-injuries to the skin, triggering the body’s natural wound-healing response. When combined with PRP, which contains high concentrations of growth factors that stimulate collagen production, microneedling can further amplify collagen synthesis. This results in firmer, smoother, and more youthful-looking skin over time.
Accelerated Healing
PRP contains bioactive proteins that promote tissue regeneration and accelerate the healing process. When applied during microneedling, PRP helps expedite the recovery of the skin following the procedure. It reduces downtime, minimizes inflammation, and enhances the overall healing response, allowing patients to experience quicker results.
Enhanced Skin Rejuvenation
The combination of PRP and microneedling synergistically enhances the therapeutic effects of both treatments. While microneedling creates micro-channels that improve the penetration of PRP into the skin, PRP, in turn, amplifies the effects of microneedling by providing a rich source of growth factors and cytokines that support tissue repair and regeneration. This leads to more significant improvements in skin texture, tone, and overall appearance compared to either treatment alone.
Overall, the combination of microneedling with PRP offers a powerful approach to skin rejuvenation by promoting more collagen synthesis, accelerating healing, and providing longer-lasting results than can be achieved by microneedling alone.
How Can I Maximize My Results When Healing From Treatment?
Recovering from microneedling with PRP involves taking certain precautions and following specific skincare practices to promote optimal healing and enhance results. Here are some steps to help you recover effectively:
Keep the Treated Area Clean
Wash your face gently twice per day with a mild cleanser and pat your skin dry with a soft cloth. Be sure to avoid harsh or abrasive cleansers that may irritate the skin. If you have any questions about which skincare products are suitable to use on your newly treated skin, don’t worry. We can let you know which of your current skincare products are suitable and recommend others if needed.
Apply a Soothing Moisturizer
Use a gentle, non-comedogenic moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated and soothe any post-procedure dryness or tightness. Avoid products containing harsh ingredients or fragrances that may irritate the skin.
Avoid Picking or Scratching
It’s essential to resist the urge to pick, scratch, or touch the treated area, as this can increase the risk of infection and delay the healing process. Let the skin heal naturally without interference.
Protect Your Skin From the Sun
Avoid direct sun exposure, especially during the first few days following the procedure. If you need to go outside, wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and reapply it every two hours. Additionally, consider wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses for added protection.
Get a New Glow
Youthful beauty is no longer exclusive to the young in years. If you want to harness your own body’s healing powers to rejuvenate your skin, then look no further. Get in touch with us at Prizant Dermatology in Pittsburgh, PA, to find out more about microneedling with PRP and schedule your first appointment.