Microneedling (micro needling), also known as skin needling or transdermal therapy, collagen induction therapy (CIT), and percutaneous collagen induction (PCI), is a procedure for skin resurfacing that involves the use of fine needles to create a controlled injury to the skin. Tiny needles break collagen bundles in the superficial layer of the dermis that are responsible for scars with subsequent induction of more collagen immediately under the epidermis. Microneedling is minimally invasive, penetrating the skin microscopically, stimulating the production of elastin and collagen, which results in the reduction of the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and scars.
This procedure is a safe, low-risk skin resurfacing treatment, making it a suitable therapy choice for people with thin, sensitive, or ethnic skin types.
Treatment of acne scarring is always a challenge. Microneedling can be a simple and inexpensive office treatment option for the management of post-acne atrophic scars. Multiple minimally invasive sessions of skin microneedling are an effective treatment for post-acne atrophic scars as it stimulates the repair processes with the advantage of being a relatively risk-free, in-office procedure with minimal patient recovery time.