A few weeks ago, in desperate need of some TLC on my lacklustre winter skin, I visited Thérapie Clinic in Kingston to try out their Dermapen treatment, which boasts smooth dewy results with little-to-no downtime.
More commonly known as micro-needling, the treatment works by stimulating the production of new collagen in the skin by puncturing the dermis with microscopic needles.
I’ll start by saying that if you’re scared of needles, this probably isn’t the treatment for you, but I couldn’t see the tiny needles at any point, and for me the treatment didn’t hurt. Dermapen is often used to treat acne, but also has amazing results with pigmentation, lines and wrinkles, pores, uneven skin tone.
I met with the lovely Sabrina who was my therapist for the procedure and she explained how it would work: the micro-needles in the Dermapen device would gently puncture the skin to create small channels in the dermis that naturally stimulate the skin’s collagen and elastin. This encourages the skin’s ability to heal itself.
Sabrina started by thoroughly cleansing my skin and applying a topical anaesthetic to my whole face using a cotton swab. We waited ten minutes for the numbing gel to do its thing before being removed. Applying sterile water to each section, the Dermapen was worked over my face in small circular motions. In more sensitive areas, like around my nose, there was a slight stinging sensation but it’s nothing major.
The pen was worked around my lips where I have some pigmentation, and once Sabrina had gone over my whole face, a serum was applied followed by a cooling mask. I was treated to an incredible head massage for ten minutes that almost sent me to sleep.
After the treatment, Sabrina gave me some rules for the next few days. I was to wash my face only with cold water that evening, skip makeup for a day (so not to clog the small punctures), avoid the gym for a few days (no problem!) and steer clear of products with active ingredients in for a few weeks – Vitamin C is fine and SPF is a must. I was given the leftover serum from the packet to take home and apply for a few days.
I could see results straight after we’d finished – my skin looked tighter, fresher and had a glow to it, although it was very red. I was pleased to be going straight home but this was gone by the next morning. Over the next couple of days I kept my skincare routine to the basics and was very impressed by how smooth my skin looked and felt.
A month on and my skin texture has definitely improved. Makeup sits on it better, I’ve had less breakouts and my pores look smaller. I’ll definitely be booking in for Dermapen again soon.
