How PRP Can Enhance Your Microneedling Results

Microneedling has always been a great way to reduce scars, wrinkles, and sun spots, but your favorite treatment just got a boost of power with PRP. Find out how this natural addition amps up the effects of microneedling.

Microneedling is one of the most effective treatments for aging and sun-damaged skin. But a good thing got even better when we added the powerful healing properties of platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

Under the guidance of Dr. Jon Rawson, Ashley Cook, WHNP-BC and Shelly Campbell, FNP-C administer PRP to boost the rejuvenating effects of microneedling. Here, we explain how this works and how to add it to your skin care regimen.

A deeper look at skin damage

It’s not hard to understand how a cut damages your skin or how severe acne can leave scars, but other types of skin damage aren’t as obvious. Here’s a look at some common causes of blemishes and wrinkles.

Sun

The sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays penetrate the outer layer of your skin and target the cells within. They can even alter your DNA and lead to skin cancer. Your body fights back by increasing melanin production, the pigment that gives you a tan. Over time, those pigment cells clump together and form dark spots.

Sun exposure also zaps the natural moisture from your skin, leaving it dry, dull, and vulnerable to damage.

Collagen

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body and is responsible for your skin’s structure and resilience. Unfortunately, your body slows down its collagen production in your 20s at about 1% annually. Eventually, that loss causes your skin to thin and dry out, forming wrinkles.

Scars

Shaving nicks, scratches, and acne traumatize your face and accumulate as you age. Some scars fade over time, but many become more prominent with continued sun exposure. Scars result when your body sends a flood of collagen to the wound to build up new tissue — which is the premise behind microneedling.

How microneedling works

Microneedling takes a cue from your body’s natural healing process. We use the advanced technology of the SkinPen® to create countless micro-injuries in your skin, which triggers your body to go into healing mode.

Microneedling with SkinPen is FDA-cleared and safe for everyone, although you shouldn’t undergo microneedling if the treatment area has skin cancer or open wounds or if you take Accutane.

After your microneedling session, your skin goes through the three phases of healing: inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling.

Inflammation

When the tiny needles puncture your skin, they trigger an immune response. Your body’s defense mechanisms rush to disinfect the wounds, flush out debris, and increase blood flow.

Proliferation

The SkinPen creates thousands of channels in your skin that require healing. So, your body increases collagen production to rebuild that damaged tissue with new cells and creates a new network of blood vessels.

Remodeling

The final healing phase is the part where you see fresher, smoother, younger-looking skin. As new collagen and its partner elastin increase, new dermal tissue forms and reduces the appearance of wrinkles, scars, and hyperpigmentation.

How PRP makes microneedling better

PRP is one of several regenerative medicine treatments that tap into your body’s innate ability to heal itself. Orthopedic surgeons often use PRP to accelerate soft tissue healing after injuries and surgeries.

Our Woodlands Aesthetics professionals use it to enhance your microneedling treatment for the same reason.

The process is simple and natural. We take a sample of blood from your arm, spin it in a centrifuge to separate the individual components of your blood, and extract only the plasma and the platelets.

We add this concentrated serum to your microneedling treatment, and the PRP penetrates the puncture wounds and fills the channels. The platelets release growth factors that reduce inflammation and speed up the healing process. The bottom line is: you see results sooner.

Expect to undergo 2-4 microneedling with PRP treatments about a month apart for optimal results. You can make microneedling with PRP a regular part of your skin care routine, as it’s safe to use long-term.