Freaky Skincare Devices # 53: The Microneedle Roller

This is maybe one of the most scary looking and scary sounding yet intriguing facial implements I've ever come across. It may bear more than a passing resemblance to a medieval mace, but actually it's a skin roller loaded with "micro needles" which effectively puncture the top horny layer of the epidermis to allow the penetration of active ingredients from skincare products. This apparently enables the active ingredients to reach into the depths of the skin up to 10,000 times more effectively than if products were just topically applied. Moreover, these beneedled skin rollers are also supposed to stimulate the production of the body's own collagen and elastin.

Skin needling or microneedle therapy is taking the States and De Far East by storm as it claims to produce results on a par with laser treatment, chemical peels or dermabrasion without destroying the epidermis and without any downtime. Practitioners and devotees say that it smoothes fine lines, softens scars, thickens thin skin, reduces dilated blood vessels, and restores skin tightness. All that and allegedly, it's not a bit painful. Mmmm hmmm.

Now, I was sort of writing off this business of rolling a hedgehog's first cousin across your skin to improve it as utter madness - until I discovered that Environ, whose products and treatments I'm a fan of, produce not one, not two, but three versions of this device! Called Roll-CITs, two of these are intended for use by medical professionals, while one is for home use. The difference is that the microneedles of the DIY jobbie are significantly shorter than those of the pro versions... which are up to 3mm in length.

Oh Mammy!