Rolling, rolling, rolling. Rawhide?

I am a sucker for every and any new beauty trend and discover or may I use the medical term, guinea pig?  I know I will be getting too old when I don't even want to try something new - not necessarily when I get too many wrinkles to count.

However, when I first saw the dermaroller, I did not jump at the first opportunity to try it out.  It looked so menacing that it would not look out of place in a Japanese horror film.  If you haven't seen this before, you have got to be raising an eyebrow by now.

I only started to use it when I was in a French pharmacy and it was part of the general beauty section and available for purchase straight off the shelf and not behind the counter. I thought that this has become so mainstream in France that I need not worry.  Filorga, a French brand, did a set with a special spray that preps and soothes after needling. It gave great instructions that were simple to use and easy to understand.  This is the kit I started out with and is available in French pharmacies or online

http://www.filorga.com/en/details_produit.php?id_articles=124

I was not game to use it straight away on my face and decided to use it on a burn mark that turned into a scar on my wrist.  I had used quite a few scar serums but with no improvement for two months.  I then started using the dermaroller on my scar for about a month in conjunction with scar serums and it has improved by about 40%.  I wish I had taken photos of my scar from the beginning to show the marked improvement.

This is a picture of my scar now and will continue to needle and show my progress in another month time.

Dermarolling or otherwise known as skin needling originated in ancient China from the effects of acupuncture when physicians noticed that inserting a needle stimulated the collagen and elastin in the punctured area.

In the U.K., skin needling is still very much administered professionally and the rollers are harder to obtain in the high street and not available at Boots...yet.  Skin rolling is particularly beneficial for scarring from severe acne, stretch marks and burns.

It also has a strong effect on preventing and softening wrinkles and evens out skin tone.  Salons also use it to stimulate hair follicles for hair loss and increasing blood flow to the scalp for healthier hair.

But due to the lack of knowledge and confidence by a beginner, it probably is best to get your first treatment at a salon or start somewhere on the body while you perfect your technique.

There is a method on how to use the roller on the skin as shown below.  You want to make sure you cover as much surface area as thoroughly as possible. You roll side to side, up and down, and then zig zag as shown below.

Remember that dermarollers come in different lengths from .25 mm to 2 mm.

Most experts that .25 is not worth the bother unless you are using it for hair loss and using it once a week on your scalp. 1 mm upwards should only be used by the pros or very experience home users.  So if you want to start needling at home, start with the .5 or .75 and go gently.  Remember to wash and sterilize after use and try to get a reputable online retailer.  Here are a few that seem reputable sellers that sell good quality rollers with straight needles.

http://www.derma-rollers.com/order-online

http://www.genuinedermaroller.co.uk/

http://www.whitelotusantiaging.co.uk/

Let the good times roll!