Tough love: should you peel to heal?

This columnist gives microneedling a shot in her quest for perfect skin

Who in their right mind would create wounds on their face with a bunch of needles? The idea may be outrageous, but it’s perfectly acceptable in the world of microneedling, a procedure that’s becoming as popular as Botox and retinol. And if you, like me, aren’t yet comfortable with the idea of injectables, this could be one way to achieve smoother, tighter skin, with minimal downtime. “It’s popular because [when done correctly], the micro injuries cause a cascade of cytokines — a category of small proteins important in cell signalling — and growth factors to rush to the injury site for repair, thereby increasing collagen production,” says Mumbai-based cosmetic dermatologist Dr Jaishree Sharad, who was the first to bring the technique to India in 2006. She also explains that deeper needle lengths (upto 3 mm) break up fibrous bands in the skin, thereby reducing acne scars. “Lastly, the punctures create micro channels, which increase product penetration by more than 40% as compared to topical application.”