Derma Roller: Stories

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Derma needling requires a self-disiplined commitment - Bay Area, CA

  • Worth It
  • Cost: $60
  • Me (San Francisco Bay Area)

I'm in my fifties and my skin is pretty good...

  • 29 Jan 2012

I'm in my fifties and my skin is pretty good but I have some fine lines I dislike and those unattractive nasolabial folds are starting to appear, so I want to see some tightening. I recently gave myself some TCA peels and that didn't help much so two months ago I started with derma needling. I use a 1.5 millimeter roller which I got on Amazon and I roll each section of my face once (very thoroughly) every two weeks. The rolling procedure is painful, there's no doubt about that, and you really have to push yourself to keep doing it after you start. I only do sections of my face at a time so it's not quite so horrible. Anyway, so far I can say that a couple of tiny scars I had are gone, but that's the only major difference after two months. Supposedly you don't see results with this until you've been doing it for at least six months. I use copper peptide serum, right after rolling and you have to use moisturizers every day when you're doing this treatment, because it does make your skin quite dry. Anyway, I'll keep this updated as I go...

Update: 2/19/12 I've recently switched to the...

  • 19 Feb 2012
Update: 2/19/12
I've recently switched to the derma stamp and I like that much better. It's less painful and the needles seem to penetrate better. I'll be taking six week breaks between needling sessions with the derma stamp, though, as it's more intense than the rolling.

Oh, and I think I'm finally starting to see an overall improvement in my face. It seems to be tightening a bit.

Okay, I've been doing the derma needling for...

  • 19 Mar 2012
Okay, I've been doing the derma needling for nearly four months now and I can say that it really does work but the improvements come very slowly -- and the changes aren't dramatic. I would highly recommend derma rolling (or better: stamping) to those who have a lot of self-disipline because it's painful and requires sticking with it despite the lack of fast & obvious results. I can't speak for how it work on acne scars, as that wasn't my particular issue, but if you are really, seriously commited to improving your skin & your skin isn't too bad to begin with -- and you don't want to spend a lot on doctors -- this is a good option. I'll update in another month...

I've continued to use the 1.5mm derma stamp,...

  • 19 Apr 2012
I've continued to use the 1.5mm derma stamp, repeating each section of my face every four weeks. My face is continuing to show overall improvement. I use a vitamin C cream every day also. Progress is slow with this method but derma needling does work.

In the past two months I increased the frequency...

  • 30 Jul 2012
In the past two months I increased the frequency of my needling attacks on my face -- now I'm at it every ten days. I've come to the conclusion, based on my experience so far, and what some other (happy) women have reported, that the needling needs to be done fairly frequently to really make a difference. I know that some believe it shouldn't be done more than once every two months, but here's why I don't agree with that: needling doesn't really damage your collagen, it mainly just triggers the body's healing response. collagen doesn't have to remodel because needles don't really damage it. That's my theory, anyway. I've also, in the past month, added retin-A to my regimen (was using retinol cream, but went to .1% Retin-A). With this two pronged attack I'm really starting to see an improvement in my face. And I am not kidding -- I'm finally really happy with the improvements I see in the mirror.

UPDATE 1-23-2013 I stopped doing derma...

  • 23 Jan 2013
UPDATE 1-23-2013

I stopped doing derma needling and switched to the Stop Radio Frequency device, which I recently found out about. I've been doing that for 6 weeks and so far don't see much difference anywhere, except for around my eyes. I'll update again when I've been using it longer. I quit needling because it just hurt too much and was too much of a chore. It also wasn't doing anything for my neck or around my eyes. It's really hard to needle around the eyes and the neck area, so that was another reason I went for the Stop device. I'll update in a month or two, and let ya know how it goes...

It's Feb. 24 2013 today, and I wanted to update. I...

  • 24 Feb 2013
It's Feb. 24 2013 today, and I wanted to update. I recently saw a video interview with Dr. Des Fernandes and I was really impressed with the condition of his skin at age 70, after several years of regular needling. It inspired me to go back to my needling routine, although I'll be doing it only once every four weeks now, in addition to my Stop device routine twice a week. I also use DeVita's copper peptide serum, which I highly recommend. It works very well.

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Comments (48)

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KTA 6 May 2013
Yes....I would like to know what you mean by a single needle and where can you purchase it. Wondering if a derma stamp or pen would work the same. I don't roll that area, I just use the derma stamp on upper lip/smoker lines. I have been doing it once a week for about 3 months, and I'm not sure if I see a difference, but they haven't gotten worse either.
THX1138 5 Apr 2013
Thank you for your great reports on your experiences with needling. I just purchased two rollers, one for my face-an 0.5 and one for cellulite and weight loss-a 2.5..Your posts are inspiring and have helped me with my initial reservations about using this method.
N101 2 Apr 2013
Hi , thank you got this wonderful post .... I'm a fan of needling too . I'm not sure if you are aware if this or not but using a 1.5 roller on your face Is not going to give you the results you are looking for ....for sucess with derma rolling the needles need to be 0.5 or 1mm at most for sucess with fine lines and scars . Hope that helps you ... Good luck !
marisabella_v 16 Feb 2013
wow! you look fabulous! I too just got my face done and I'm very excited of my results already! I will too get more treatments done to hopefully look somewhat normal! For dark skin people this procedure is heaven sent! worth every penny and/or slight discomfort!
KTA 4 Feb 2013
Hi Boston 84: I got instructions for cleaning when the roller and stamp came and it said to clean them in denture cleaning tablets. You put the tablet in a cup of water and let them soak for a while. It is antibacterial, etc. and makes sense to me. They also said alcohol was fine but the denture tabs were better.
KTA 25 Jan 2013
Thanks Vikki b. I just ordered a derma stamp and derma roller. I have filler under my eyes and on upper lip for smoker lines. I'm not going to start on those areas. I'm going to start on my forehead, but eventually I want to do those areas. I know filler is supposed to go deeper then the roller needles, but I still don't want to take a chance.
KTA 25 Jan 2013
This may sound like a dumb question, but can you do derma rolling where you've gotten fillers? I don't know if the filler is still there...it doesn't look like it, but i don't want to cause any bad infection or any other adverse event if there is still some in there.
vikki b 25 Jan 2013
I honestly can't answer this question....never thought of it.
KTA 24 Jan 2013
Thanks Vikki b. I wanted to try this a few years back but there really wasn't a whole lot of information out there about it. They suggest you to go to a professional but no one offers it! It probably isn't going to make much money for the docs because it seems so simple! But...I don't understand what these online companies are thinking, not giving a cleaning solutions. Do they give any instructions on how to clean them yourself? I mean....you have to clean the thing if you are giving yourself puncture like wounds!
Boston84 31 Jan 2013
I got a derma stamp and they did not send with cleaning solutions but they did give instructions on how to clean. They said to spray with rubbing alcohol before use. I let it airdry and then stamp. Then they say to rinse with cold water. I let it airdry and then put away. It comes with a cap but I still put it in a Baggie and seal it too.
vikki b 23 Jan 2013
No they do not... I'm not completely sold on this process. I really don't see much of an improvement
KTA 23 Jan 2013
Also....do they give you cleaning solutions with the at home derma rollers??
KTA 23 Jan 2013
I think that doing the derma rolling yourself at home is a good idea because there are NO docs or PS in my area that offer it. And I live in a big city! The problem is, which roller are you to buy and I'm not sure what to use with it as far as creams, etc. Everything makes me break out and I am in my 50's.
Boston84 31 Jan 2013
You can try looking up info on owndoc.com I've emailed them questions about what and where I want to correct and they've suggested what to get. I derma stamp with and 85 needle stamp at 1.5mm long needles
xoxoxo 21 Oct 2012
I recommend Derma Roller to be done by a skin care professional. Never buy a made-in-china cheap roller from Amazon.. There are techniques for derma roller and protocols.. I read tons of reviews of derma-rollers in amazon and these people don't know what they are doing. I love the way professionals do derma-roller in Australia. Contrary clients down here in the U.S. who think they are doing a great job by shopping for the lowest quality rollers on amazon and ebay.
vikki b 25 Jun 2012
I am not seeing alot of improvement.. done a couple with 1.5 derma roller. Ill keep at it and keep posting. I would think alot would depend on what you put topically right after since the idea is that it will be absorbed better.
Jean77 30 Jul 2012
Vicky, try adding a strong Retinol cream or Retin-A to your needling regimen. I did that and I am *really* seeing improvement now. You have to be patient when you first start with retinol though, it brings on skin irritation in the first week or two, which you have to get through.
vikki b 30 Jul 2012
Hi Jean, I just did a glycolic peel followed by needling. It was intense. but see some improvement unless its just swollen. Thenks for the Retinol cream. I dont particularly want to spend for the Retin-A prescription. Any idea on what is a stronger Retinol? Thanks a bunch!
Jean77 3 Aug 2012
I was using Green Cream 9 for a long time, it's fairly strong but it's pretty expensive. Neutrogena has a few different types out which are okay but less strong. I'd check out what's on Amazon dot com, see what's getting good reviews and what's on sale etc... They have tons of choices there.
vikki b 3 Aug 2012
thanks Jean77. I've used Green Cream also....I liked it but agree it's not in my budget. Good advice about Amazon...will do.
Robert B. Winslow, MD 12 Dec 2012
Stay with Retinol because it does DNA repair. Retin A does DNA damage. You will receive all of the benefits over time with Retinol
View answers from Robert B. Winslow, MD
Jean77 9 Feb 2013
Well, that's a bit of a difference, good to know. But I think I'll finish up the tube of Retin-A I'm on now and switch back to retinol afterward. Being frugal I like to use up all the beauty crap I buy :)
kathi5981 10 Feb 2013
Isn't Retin A what all the dermatologists prescribe? Why on earth would they have most of their patients using something that is known to cause DNA damage? Is there a resource you can direct me to to read up on this? This is pretty scarey if true. I won't trust my dermatologist again, and I've been going to him for thirty years!!
Jean77 10 Feb 2013
Kathi, you ask a good question. I did a little research and as far as I can tell there's no hard evidence to show that Retin-A does DNA damage, but it is a theory held by some.
kathi5981 25 Jun 2012
louise79, Try White Lotus. They also have many informational videos on their site.

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