The secret to Brad Pitt's young-looking skin - PDI -May 29, 2009
IF
BRAD PITT LOOKS younger than his 45 years, credit should go to the
Dermaroller, an instrument with tiny needles used to stimulate
collagen, said Hello Magazine.
Less invasive than cchemical peels, fractional laser resurfacing or
microdermabrassion, the treatment does not produce bruising, swelling,
crusting or bleeding in the targeted area.
Invented by a french doctor named Horst Liebl, the Dermaroller is
based on the principle of micro-needling. It is performed with a roller
wrapped with many tiny needles, which then pierce the top layers of
skin to a certain depth. This results in stimulating collagen formation
while simultaneously freeing up a clear way for medication to be taken
in more effectively through the skin.
Micro-needling produces very slight wounds that merely open up the
skin pores. The face will redden for a few hours. Collagen growth is
then accelerated in the dermis layer as some of the blood vessels are
ruptured directly below the skin's surface.
As blood thickens, it produces the right conditions for collagen and
elastin to take shape. These main elements help the skin appear
refreshed.
Collagen production
Dermatologist-surgeon Claudine Roura explains that the Dermaroller
is used to combat acne, melasma or hyperpigmentation, wrinkles and
sagging skin.
"it's an instrument used for collagen induction or producing your
own collagen. The roller head has lots of hypodermic to produce
microinjuries on the skin. In turn, collagen formation is stimulated.
There is cell renewal and better skin quality. The skin will be
tighter," says Roura.
A numbing agent is applied before the procedure. The Dermaroller is
then reeled on the skin, making tiny perforations in the dermis,
inducing the pores to open momentarily. The body senses this as an
injury and reacts to its by setting off the healing process.
This actually induces the making of collagen and elastin. By
constantly producing micro-injuries and activating the healing process,
the continues its repair until its job is done.
The Dermaroller sounds much more scary than the device actually is.
The needles are so fine that they produce a ticklish sensation. As the
skin's top layer is tough and flexible, the tiny punctures made by the
roller fade quickly.
Right medication
Equally important is the medication applied after rolling. Roura
uses adiposed-derived stem cells that produce cytokines, proteins that
stimulate new blood cells and intercede with the immune system and the
cell processes.
"Unlike topical creams, wherein the products are not fully absorbed,
with the Dermoroller, you are producing micro-injuries on the skin so
that the barrier will be broken. We take advantage and apply the
products so that they will penetrate the lower layer of the skin,' says
Roura.
"This is basically regenerative medicine. Stem cells are harvested
from the fat. The cytokines, which are the good things from the stem
cells, are extracted, freeze-dried and formulated into a cosmetic
product. They are recommended for anti-aging and pigmentation."
For melasma, the skin is infused with natural whitening agents such
as arbutin, kojic acid and glutathione. Wrinkles are addressed with
hyaluronic acid, while sagging skin and wrinkles are treated with
vitamins to stimulate cell renewal.
The whole procedure takes an hour.
The Dermaroller is recommended for those who have tried other procedures but did not get the desired results.
(For details, call Contours, Advanced Face and Body Sculpting
Institute at 556-4878 and 489-8526, located at South Park Plaza, Paseo
de Magallanes, Makati city.)