Dry needling: all your questions answered

Among the most cutting-edge cosmetic treatments on the market today is one that many people have never heard of (yet) but those who have, swear by it.

Welcome to the world of dry needling – a place where you might just find yourself very keen to visit…

What is dry needling?

A natural practice with Western roots and principles, dry needling uses fine, solid filament needles to penetrate the skin up to 1mm deep and fix a number of cosmetic beauty issues. The needles stimulate the natural healing process of soft tissues by generating new cells, thickening the skin and improving its texture and appearance.

The treatment is 100% natural and works by encouraging the production of natural collagen in the body. Dry needling has been recognised as a practice since the 1980s but its popularity has increased significantly in the past few years, in part thanks to its few side effects and long-lasting benefits.

How does it work as a cosmetic treatment?

I’m going to take a deep breath here as the conditions that dry needling has been known to help are many and all too common! These include: scar and wrinkle reduction (including post-surgical scars and scarring from chicken pox, acne and burns), skin discolouring, uneven pigmentation, stretch marks and dark spots.

It can’t be used to treat raised or red scars, or very new scars – as these will be too soft. It is recommended that scars should be a minimum of one year old before patients go for dry needling treatment.

Tell me about the procedure…

It is not a painful process and most patients will barely even feel the needle. The procedure usually lasts for at least an hour and will depend on how large the scar is/how deep the wrinkles are, and so on.

The process works by generating new collagen, which essentially pushes the skin up from underneath and reduces lines, wrinkles, scars and other similar body imperfections by around 80%.

Are there any side effects?

You may experience mild soreness for up to two days after treatment, while in some cases patients experience bruising. Simply applying ice or a heat pad to the affected area will soothe symptoms.

I can also recommend a number of ointments, serums, peptides and zinc-based sunscreen after treatment to reduce redness. Mineral make-up is also very easy on the skin and will help the healing process.

Results and top-up treatments

One of the reasons that dry needling is so popular is that it’s a fuss-free treatment with long-lasting results – benefits can often be enjoyed for years after treatment. The regenerating effects will be noticeable after just a few weeks and your body will continue the process over a few months.

Everyone’s body is different and depending on factors such as lifestyle, age, genetics, the procedure will have varying effects and success rates. One thing’s for sure – needling will always go some way to smooth out scars and wrinkles, and tone down discoloured or damaged skin. The procedure naturally thickens and tightens skin, restoring structure and elasticity.

I would recommend an average of 1-3 treatments for most patients with around a 6-8 week gap between each treatment. It’s also advisable to have maintenance therapies over a longer period of time to counter the impact that our natural day to day lives has on our bodies.

If you’d like to talk to me about how dry needling can help you, do contact me.