HOW TO...
Use a Dermaroller
T
o look at, a dermaroller has more
in common with a medieval torture
device than an at-home skin care
tool. However, despite appearances, it is
one of the best ways to improve the results
of your current routine and get yourself out
of a skin care rut, without forking out for a
completely new set of products.
Derma-rolling or micro-needling involves cre-
ating tiny holes in the surface of the skin by
rolling a wheel packed with miniscule needles
over the face. It sounds horrendous, we know,
but the process is almost completely pain-free
and is easy to do once you get the hang of it.
The reasons why micro-needling is so effective
are that a) it forces the skin to produce more
collagen, as a response to the mild trauma suf-
fered at the surface, and b) these microscopic
holes create an unobstructed pathway to the
dermis, meaning any serum you apply afterwards
can penetrate deeper into the skin and get to
work faster. In short, your skin becomes notice-
ably plumper and firmer in a short space of time.
To get the best out of any dermaroller, you need
to remember three things: keeping it clean and,
most importantly, sterile is vital to prevent
irritation; you don’t need to use a lot of pressure
to see results; and take your time. For the treat-
ment to work, your skin needs to be clean and
dry. Once cleansed, mentally split your face into
four sections (forehead, each cheek, and chin)
and work each section separately until you have
covered the entire face.
Take your dermaroller and roll it gently back and
forth over each section of your face in different
directions. Start off by going horizontally, then
vertically, and then diagonally, before moving on
and repeating the same routine on the next section
of your face. If you take your time, the whole
process should take around ten minutes.
Afterwards, it’s almost guaranteed that your skin
will look flushed but this is normal. You’ve liter-
ally just rolled a load of tiny needles over your face.
Once the whole face has been micro-needled, you
can apply your favourite serum and moisturising
cream. While active formulas are great, avoid
anything too concentrated, like a high strength
Vitamin C or Retinol serum. Hydrating formu-
las are best, but peptide-rich serums can work
wonders too. And don’t forget to spend time
cleaning your dermaroller ready for the next time
you use it, which, ideally, would be after at least
three days or longer depending on your skin type.
Another thing to remember is never use a der-
maroller on broken skin, during a breakout or
if you have easily irritated skin. Now, let’s get
ready to roll!
ISSUE #09 | 2018 | SkinHealthMagazine.com 13