Collagen induction therapy

Collagen induction therapy (CIT) is an aesthetic medical procedure that involves repeatedly puncturing the skin with tiny, sterile needles (microneedling the skin) in order to induce endogenous production of cutaneous collagen.

CIT is often referred to as "microneedling" or "skin needling" in media and literature, however it is important to distinguish CIT from other contexts in which microneedling devices are used on the skin, e.g. transdermal drug delivery, vaccination, etc.

The procedure usually involves a specialized device which can take the form of a manual rolling device or an automated stamping device. The rolling devices, also known as "microrollers" have been used since the late 1990s and marketed under various names, such as the "Dermaroller"® invented by the founder of the eponymous company Horst Liebl and patented in 2000,.[1] The automated microneedle stamping devices, or "microneedling pens", are typically powered by a motor and can be adjusted for frequency (stamps/second) and depth of the microneedles. These "pens" are also marketed under various names, such as SkinPen, DermaPen and Micropen.

Assessments

Writing in New York magazine, fashion and beauty writer Cheryl Wischhover quotes Dr. Heidi Waldorf, director of laser and cosmetic dermatology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center. "Many people may use [CIT] and be fine, but from my perspective," Waldorf says, "the minute you’ve done anything where there might be any blood, then you have a risk of infection. That is concerning to me."[2] Dr. David Duffy, a dermatologist based in Torrance, California, finds CIT to be "sort of the poor man’s laser treatment."[2] The author's own advice was "talk to your doctor before you stick anything into your face."[2]

The online Dermatology Review considers CIT to be "barbaric in appearance, but effective in results," but they "strongly recommend" to people thinking about undergoing CIT to "look at newer and better laser and skin care solutions."[3]

Paula Begoun, CEO of Paula's Choice and Beginning Press Publishing, and known for her view that skin care and cosmetics products must always be subjected to peer reviewed research,[4] believes that CIT means "taking a risk that you won’t damage skin and make matters worse," which, she finds, "from almost any perspective...not a wise move."[5]

Notes

  1. ↑ Dermaroller GmbH official website
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Why I Rolled 162 Tiny Needles Into My Face", New York magazine, 16 October 2013
  3. ↑ "Skin Care Reviews: Derma Roller", Dermatology online, 2 November 2013
  4. ↑ About Paula’s Choice Skin Care and Cosmetics
  5. ↑ "Are Derma Rollers Worth It?", Paula's Choice website

References