Does microneedling help with sun spots and sun damage?

Our office has many different treatments for scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic scars and indented scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture. Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your scarring.

Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Hi @PLJohnson. Microneedling can help with sun sports and sun damage. I would also recommend 3-6 sessions of IPL. Best of luck, Dr. Nima!

Hello. Microneedling can effectively treat fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging caused by sun damage. However, treating pigmentation issues such as dark spots can require the proper skincare treatments or ingredients, which can both be added to your microneedling treatment and used on their own to help brighten the appearance of dark patches of skin. You might consider a laser treatment such as fractional CO2 resurfacing to achieve a more even skin tone and texture. Of course, you will be able to get more customized recommendations with an in-person consult.

Hi! Thanks for the question! Microneedling can help reduce the appearance of sun spots and sun damage. It would require multiple treatments and follow up maintenance. We find that using treatments like BBL/IPL, Laser Resurfacing and Chemical Peels work best for more immediate results. I would recommend consulting with a practitioner in your area to see what would work best for you. Best wishes!

Sun spots can be improved with microneedling but in our practice we treat acne scaring, pore size, and skin texture with microneedling.  Sun spots need to be treated with BBL, Halo,  or Chemical peels.  Best of luck to you. 

Hello there,
     Micro needling can definitely help with these issues. I typically will recommend using a growth factor serum and hydroquinone in conjunction to further decrease the appearance of these dark spots. I would also recommend using an approved retinol when your skin has healed to assist with dark spot reduction and maintenance. If you do not see the type of improvement you wanted, I would recommend considering some type of Laser or light treatment to target them more aggressively. Brown spots are a chronic issue that will need to continue to be treated at least yearly. Good luck!
Sarah RN BSN 

Thank you for your question! Microneedling is an effective treatment for signs of aging due to the sun such as fine lines and wrinkles by promoting collagen production and new cell growth. This gives the face a fresher, smoother and younger-looking appearance. Skin pigmentation can also be addressed by microneedling, but depending on the severity you may be a good candidate for a laser treatment called Three For Me. The first step is an IPL treatment that addressses skin discoloration (freckles, age spots, brown spots) and facial veins. The second part of the treatment boosts collagen production using microbeam laser technology. We recommend up to three Three for Me treatments and up to 5 mincroneedling sessions. Consult with a board-certified dermatologist to decide which treatment (or combination) will work best for you. 

Microneedling promotes skin renewal and cell turnover to diminish the appearance of skin damage and discolorations like hyperpigmentation and melasma. We recommend a course of multiple microneedling treatments spaced roughly one month apart. With each treatment, your skin tone will become clearer and fuller to achieve a more youthful, healthy glow. Depending on the severity of your sun damage, you may be a better candidate for a treatment like Clear + Brilliant, a gentle laser resurfacing treatment that is highly effective at erasing signs of sun damage. A skincare specialist near you will be able to assess your skin and recommend the most effective, long-term solution for your case. 

Microneedling can help with sun damage but it often takes numerous treatments and needs “up keep”—say a treatment every three months.  In my practice we like to target the sun damage with laser treatments initially and then maintain the results with microneedling.  Microneedling is amazing for smoothing texture and minimizing pores as well.  
Hope this is helpful.  Best,
Dr. Amy

Microneedling alone is not very effective, but when combined with the appropriate serum the improvement can be significant. That is because microneedling creates micro-channels in the skin which enhance penetration of topical serums and medications, dramatically increasing their effectiveness. Published scientific studies have shown a 340% increase in absorption of topically applied serums after microneedling when compared with normal skin. In my office, we use the ProCell Therapies system which combines motorized micro-needling with concentrated human growth factor serums made from human stem cells and have seen very nice improvement in sunspots and sun damaged skin. These treatments can now also be safely done at home with a new microneedling treatment kit from Célage Bioscience. This kit will enable you to do home microneedling treatments using a similar growth-factor serum derived from stem cells.