Dermapen vs Dermaroller…what’s the difference?

Microneedling, aka collagen induction therapy, is one of Port Medical Aesthetic’s favourite skin treatments.

Why do we obsess over it? It treats a wide range of skin concerns such as photo aging, chrono-aging, fine lines and wrinkles, scarring, stretchmarks, pigmentation, acne, rosacea, enlarged pores and improves overall skin texture! Microneedling is a safe and effective treatment. It feeds, nourishes and oxygenates the skin by activating the vascular network and restructures collagen in the dermis (deeper layers of skin), all while preserving the surface epidermis layers.

However, not all skin needling is the same.

There are many devices available on the market. Most come in the form of an electronic pen or a manual barrel-shaped roller. So, what’s the difference between a pen device and a roller?
If you think about the shape of a barrel roller, the individual needles are placed at a perpendicular angle all over the wheel. When rolled over the skin, they will enter and exit at an angle, creating a V shaped tear in the skin. At PMAC we use the Dermapen 4™ microneedling device. This digital electronic pen delivers the needles at a vertical angle into the skin, creating less trauma to the skin than a roller. Dermapen 4™ devices create perfect uniformed vertical channels in the skin without any tearing. This means less pain during the treatment and a shorter healing time.

Dermapen 4™ is the only device with a dedicated scar treatment setting.

 It offers a digital customisable treatment. Clinicians can change the depth of the needles with a touch of a button, allowing customisation for different areas, depending on the type of skin and concern to be treated. For example, thinner skin under the eyes will be treated at a shallower depth compared to a much deeper depth for scarring. Dermaroller needles are fixed in place, so the depth is only able to be changed if there are different rollers with different depths available on hand where the clinician has to swap them over. This increases the risk of contamination, leading to infection. Dermarollers are only available at a maximum depth of 1.5mm due to the damage they may cause if the needles are longer.
Dermapen 4™ needles are single-use needles that are encased in individual sterile blister packs. Guaranteeing a sterile treatment. The Dermapen company requires all Dermapen clinicians to become Authorised Treatment Providers (ATPs) with proper training. This means Dermapen clinicians are trained to follow strict protocols for sanitising and maintaining a sterile environment.
Dermarollers will never be sterile even after sterilisation, the device can still be exposed to contaminants even during the treatment, leading to a risk of infection and a longer, more difficult healing time. Due to the trauma a dermaroller may create in the skin, a longer wait period between treatments is necessary. Treatments must be performed a minimum of 8 weeks apart with a dermaroller. 

Dermapen 4™ treatments are almost pain-free, as stated previously, the needles enter vertically, leaving less trauma.

This means these treatments can be performed only 4-6 weeks apart because it has a faster healing time. The precision of the Dermapen 4™ device is second to none! Its small needle cartridge allows the clinician to reach those hard-to-reach areas, compared to a larger roller which cannot.

Our clinicians at PMAC are fully trained and experienced Dermapen technicians.

Guaranteeing a safe, customised, pain-free experience every time. If you think you’d like to see the benefits of the Dermapen 4™ for your skin, get in touch.

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Dermapen vs Dermaroller…what’s the difference?
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