Do Salon and Home Microroller Treatments Work?

Dr. Irwin
February 29, 2012

These systems induce small wounds that do, in fact, induce some collagen. The question is – do they induce enough collagen to make a visible, not just theoretical, difference? And, are they safe?

Given that there is limited data on these systems, and they differ in the exact size of the tiny spikes, how they are applied, and their protocols, here are some of my concerns:

  • How will the salons deal with infections? Any time you laser or induce holes (even tiny ones) in the skin, there is a potential for infection. Doctors are prepared to deal with that complication.
  • Who will decide how many treatments are enough and what is the final goal? Ask about that before starting something new like this.
  • What proof do they have of consistent results?
  • These systems are often painful. How do they plan to manage that?
  • These systems are often used with topical gels and creams like hyaluronic acid, retinol, etc. The idea is that the spikes help the topical penetrate better. The skin is a barrier for a reason. Is the salon prepared to treat and deal with allergic or irritant reactions to the products used with these systems?
Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

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Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

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