What is Holistic Microneedling
Skin needling has been performed safely for hundreds and even thousands of years in Asia for cosmetic purposes. Tools such as the 7 star needle were used cosmetically for scarring and beauty treatments. This was complemented by traditional techniques such as the jade roller and Gua Sha providing an element of luxury to the treatments. Modern micro needling can be perfectly adapted into the traditional theories and principles of acupuncture. This provides a fantastic holistic therapy with excellent scientific evidence of effectiveness and high patient compliance. We refer to this system as holistic microneedling.
By combining the ancient principles of acupuncture with modern micro needling it is possible to work on the skin for scarring, stretch marks, cellulite, hair loss and anti aging using entirely natural techniques. As a cosmetic acupuncturist, it is well known in the industry that using the smallest needles possible achieves the best results. Interestingly research supports the fact that collagen is only inducted up to 0.5 to 0.6mm deep even when longer needles are used.
Using holistic micro needling techniques it is not necessary to bleed the skin, in fact better results are achieved without it. The patient compliance is also higher as well as a huge reduction in potential side effects that are created by the use of topical retinoids, which typically results in extremely dry and irritated skin. There is no scientific proof that vitamin A (topical retinoids) enhance the treatments.
What the research shows
New collagen and elastin fibres. In a study by Dr M. Schwarz, twenty blinded biopsies were evaluated by the dermatopathologist Dr Laaff, comparing needled skin against adjacent untreated skin from the same patients six to eight weeks later. New collagen and elastin fibre formation averaged an increase of 206%, and in one case a 1,000% increase was recorded.1
Epidermal thickness. In a controlled animal study, percutaneous collagen induction combined with topical vitamins produced a 140% increase in epidermal thickness, alongside increased expression of collagen I, glycosaminoglycans and growth factors including VEGF, EGF and FGF7, with thicker and more loosely woven collagen fibre bundles in both the papillary and reticular dermis.2
Absorption. Microneedles applied to human skin produced a 1,000 fold increase in the absorption of the applied substance, and removing the needles rather than leaving them in place produced a 10,000 fold increase, which is the pierce and go action a roller performs.3
Because of that increase in transdermal absorption, holistically it is best to use ingredients that have been tested for a very long time, thousands of years in the case of China, and are known to be safe taken internally. Eastern Asian herbs have the additional advantage of also having been combined with acupuncture for thousands of years demonstrating their safety and effectiveness.
The application of these ancient techniques to modern micro needling increases a clinician's understanding of skin needling. This allows them to perform far more painless skin needling when taught correctly.
It is also fantastic to integrate into modern micro needling techniques that compliment skin needling and that were used alongside cosmetic acupuncture in China. These are principally the use of acupressure, jade rollers, facial gua sha and topical herbal serums. The order to use them in is set out in your ritual.
References
1 Liebl H. Abstract reflections about Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT): a hypothesis for the mechanism of action of Collagen Induction Therapy using micro needles. First edition February 2006, second revision January 2007. Reporting blinded biopsy evaluation by Dr Laaff of a study by Dr M. Schwarz.
2 Aust MC, Reimers K, Kaplan HM, Stahl F, Repenning C, Scheper T, Jahn S, Schwaiger N, Ipaktchi R, Redeker J, Altintas MA, Vogt PM. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, 2011;64:97 to 107.
3 Henry S, McAllister DV, Allen MG, Prausnitz MR. Microfabricated microneedles: a novel approach to transdermal drug delivery. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1998. Erratum in J Pharm Sci 1998 Sep;88(9):948.