SkinPen by Crown Aesthetics is the first FDA-approved microneedling device clinically proven to improve a variety of other skin concerns in patients aged 22 and older. With as few as three minimally invasive treatments spaced 30 days apart, SkinPen can rejuvenate your skin and address concerns such as:

• • Fine lines and wrinkles
  • Enlarged pores
  • Dyschromia (hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, and vitiligo)
  • Stretch marks
  • Surgical and acne scars

Collagen and elastin are crucial proteins that provide support and elasticity to the skin. These fibres naturally break down as we age, leading to fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, and enlarged pores. SkinPen creates thousands of microchannels in the skin, triggering the body’s natural healing process and stimulating collagen and elastin regeneration. This helps improve skin texture, tighten sagging areas, and reduce the appearance of scars, including those from acne. Additionally, skin remodelling significantly improves pigmentation issues such as melasma, vitiligo, and sun spots.

The SkinPen procedure is minimally invasive, using a sterile needle head with 14 surgical-grade stainless steel needles, creating up to 98,000 microchannels per minute. A topical anaesthetic cream is applied for numbing, and followed with a gliding gel ensures smooth movement of the device over the skin.

The microchannels stimulate the skin’s healing response, promoting collagen and elastin production, improving pigment-producing cells, and remodelling scar tissue. This results in rejuvenated skin, leaving it smoother, firmer, and more even-toned.

Before Your Treatment

After your medical consultation, we will provide pre-appointment instructions to ensure the best possible results from your SkinPen treatment.

To prepare, please avoid using strong exfoliating products or retinoids for 3-5 days prior to your appointment.

We also kindly ask that you arrive with a clean face, free from makeup, as any residual makeup can increase the risk of infection.

Your SkinPen appointment will take around an hour. Numbing typically takes 20-30 minutes, and the treatment itself usually lasts 20-30 minutes. To ensure a comfortable, relaxed experience, we recommend allowing extra time for your appointment. Feel free to enjoy our comfortable waiting area before or after your treatment.

During Your Treatment

At the start of your SkinPen treatment, a topical numbing cream will be applied, allowing 20-30 minutes for the skin to become numb. This ensures your comfort throughout the procedure, so feel free to bring a book or simply lie back and relax during this time.

Once the skin is numb, a cooling glide gel will be applied to ensure smooth movement of the device across your skin. As the SkinPen moves across the treated area, you may feel a slight buzzing sensation, but it should not be uncomfortable – many patients have even fallen asleep during the treatment!

At the end of your SkinPen session, your skin may feel slightly tight or warm. A soothing gel will be applied to calm and hydrate the skin. Additionally, you will receive two post-treatment products and a face mask to take home, along with clear instructions on how and when to use them for optimal results.

After Your Treatment

After your SkinPen treatment, you’ll be given a soothing gel to apply for the first 24 hours, followed by a moisturiser that we provide for the next 24 hours. This will help keep your skin hydrated and promote healing.

For the first 48 hours, we recommend avoiding makeup and sunscreen to allow your skin to properly recover. It’s also important to drink plenty of water to support the healing process.

You may notice some mild flaking as your skin renews, but it’s essential not to pick at the skin to prevent irritation or scarring. From day 5-7, you can resume your normal skincare routine.

Your skin may be red for up to 48 hours, and in some cases, redness can last a little longer. Please keep this in mind when planning for social or work events.

At Romsey Medical Practice, you can get in touch at any point of your treatment journey if you have worries or concerns.

How is SkinPen Microneedling different to my dermaroller at home?

Dermarollers are a popular at-home treatment due to their convenience, but we strongly advise against using them for your skincare routine.

The primary difference between home dermarollers and in-clinic SkinPen microneedling is safety, precision, and effectiveness. In a clinical setting, SkinPen uses a single-use, sterile needle cartridge that ensures no risk of infection with each treatment. This also guarantees the needles remain sharp, allowing for minimal trauma to the skin and more precise results.

In contrast, home dermarollers often lack proper sterilisation and can become dull over time, increasing the risk of infection, irritation, and unnecessary trauma to the skin. The risk is heightened by the need for pressure when using at-home rollers. Applying too much pressure can result in excessive damage and deeper skin injury.

The SkinPen microneedling device is designed to work without pressure, using a reciprocating motor that delivers precise movements to create controlled microchannels in the skin. This controlled technique ensures effective and safe treatment with minimal discomfort.

Another key difference is the depth of needle penetration. Home dermarollers are limited to shallow depths, which often means they don’t provide visible results. SkinPen, on the other hand, can treat up to 1.5mm on the face and 2.5mm on the body, providing deeper, clinically proven results.

For superior results, reduced risk, and a safer experience, SkinPen microneedling in a professional setting is the far more effective and reliable option.

How many sessions of SkinPen do I need?

We recommend a course of 3-6 SkinPen microneedling treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart for optimal results. It’s often advised to undergo treatments during the autumn and winter when UV radiation from the sun is weaker. This helps protect your skin, as it becomes more sensitive to the sun following the treatment.

After completing your initial course of treatments, we recommend a maintenance protocol to keep your collagen levels topped up. Typically, this involves one or two SkinPen treatments per year to maintain your refreshed, youthful complexion.

What can you treat with the SkinPen device?

SkinPen microneedling is an effective treatment for addressing a variety of skin concerns, including:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Melasma
• Vitiligo
• Sun or age spots (solar lentigines)
• Enlarged pores
• Surgical scars
• Acne scars
• Stretch marks

SkinPen can be performed on any part of the body where you have concerns, making it a versatile solution for improving skin texture, tone, and appearance. For larger or multiple treatment areas, prices may vary.

How do I prepare for my SkinPen microneedling treatment?

2 Weeks Before Treatment:
Avoid IPL, laser procedures, unprotected sun exposure, and sunburn for at least 2 weeks before your SkinPen treatment. This will help prevent skin irritation and ensure better results.

1 Week Before Treatment:
Discontinue supplements that can increase the risk of bleeding or bruising, such as fish oils, St John’s Wort, vitamin E, and Ginkgo Biloba. Additionally, refrain from waxing, depilatory creams, or electrolysis on the area to be treated.

3 Days Before Treatment:
Stop using topical products that may increase skin sensitivity, such as retinoids, topical antibiotics, exfoliants, AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), BHAs (beta hydroxy acids), exfoliating masks, salicylic acid, hydroquinone, and benzoyl peroxide acne products. These ingredients may cause dryness or irritation.

2 Days Before Treatment:
If you are prone to cold sores, you may have been prescribed antiviral medication. Begin taking it 2 days before your treatment, and continue taking it for up to 5 days after the procedure.
If shaving is necessary for the treatment area, please do so 2 days before your appointment.

By following these pre-treatment guidelines, you’ll help ensure the best possible outcome from your SkinPen microneedling session.

Are there any short-term or long-term side effects from SkinPen microneedling?

Side effects from SkinPen microneedling are generally uncommon, and when they do occur, they are usually mild and resolve within a few days after treatment.

SkinPen Precision uses a patented, single-use sterile needle cartridge designed to ensure patient safety. The device is ultrasonically sealed and is equipped with a proprietary BioSheath that acts as a barrier, preventing cross-contamination between procedures. SkinPen Precision is the only microneedling device validated in over 90 clinical studies, ensuring its effectiveness and safety for your skin.

Does SkinPen treatment hurt?

While some patients may tolerate the SkinPen microneedling procedure without anaesthesia, Dr Rachel Tunney recommends applying a local anaesthetic cream to your skin before the treatment for added comfort.

The numbing cream will be left on for about 20 minutes, after which your skin will be thoroughly cleansed. During the procedure, it is common to feel a buzzing or vibrating sensation as the SkinPen moves across the skin.

If we treat areas on the face, especially around the nose, you may experience sensations that can make you feel like sneezing or cause your eyes to water. This is completely normal and nothing to be concerned about.

The treatment should not be painful, but if you experience any discomfort, please let Dr Rachel Tunney know so that adjustments can be made to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure.