Do you ever feel like you’re doing everything right but not seeing the results you want? In this blog, I will give you an overview of collagen induction and how it can help improve skin tone and texture and achieve firmer-looking skin without surgery! Let’s face it, we all want to look our best. We want to look in the mirror and see clear, firm skin staring back at us. But, as we age, our skin begins to show the effects of time and sun damage.

The collagen and elastin that give our skin its youthful appearance begin to break down…

What collagen induction therapy is, and how does it work 

Collagen induction therapy is a skincare treatment that uses tiny needles to create micro-injuries in the skin. This triggers the body to produce new collagen and elastin, which in turn helps improve the appearance of skin texture and firmness. Think of it as giving your skin a little boost, jumpstarting collagen and elastin production.

Most treatments take 30 minutes to an hour, and you may need several sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart to see optimal results. You wouldn’t want to make it less than four weeks apart because you need to let your skin do its thing (go through the wound healing stages) to ensure it is ready for the next treatment.

Side effects are usually minimal, including temporary redness, swelling, and likely being pink for a few hours. But there’s no downtime so that you can resume your normal activities immediately after your treatment. However, it’s advised not to gym, swim or expose your skin post-treatment for at least 24 hours. You’ll be surprised how lightly this advice is taken, but compliance is key!

Different treatments and methods for collagen induction therapy 

The most common way to perform collagen induction therapy is with a handheld device with tiny needles on the surface. These penetrate the skin and create micro-injuries, which initiate growth factors at deeper levels!

With the rise in popularity of mechanical CIT devices, it seems like dermal rollers have fallen out of fashion. But that doesn’t mean they’re not effective! Needling pens have a vibrating needle tip and can be adjusted in length. This helps target specific areas on your face for more precise treatments.

Microneedling differs from collagen induction, but the word microneedling is often used interchangeably with collagen induction. Microneedling can be performed at home with your own device. You can purchase at-home collagen induction therapy kits. These usually come with a small handheld device that has needles on the surface. The needles range in size from 0.2 mm to 3 mm. I will not go into detail on this today. (that’s for another time)

Some treatments use collagen induction with dermabrasion or hydro dermabrasion. A skin resurfacing treatment that integrates vacuum extraction and exfoliation. Do I recommend these treatments? A risky move, I think… I believe that if you combine all these treatments, it will cause more harm to the skin than good. When you create a wound healing response in the skin (because that’s what we’re doing with collagen induction), you don’t want to add any more trauma or irritation to the skin. Microdermabrasion is quite harsh on the skin, and I don’t recommend it.

The benefits of collagen induction therapy 

CIT is a series of treatments spaced out over time. The beauty about CIT, as opposed to other skin rejuvenation techniques, is that there’s no heat involved in this process. So, it has a different and much better wound healing response on your body’s natural production levels of collagen and elastin.

The other great thing about CIT is that it is for all skin types and all skin colours. So it’s an excellent treatment for everyone.

CIT can improve the appearance of:

– Acne scars 

– Fine lines and wrinkles 

– Sun damage  

– Lax skin 

– Uneven skin texture 

– Hyperpigmentation

– Uneven skin texture

How long does it take to see results from collagen induction therapy? 

Visible results can take up to six weeks following the initial treatment. The skin will continue to improve for up to a year as new collagen is produced.

A single treatment can provide some improvement, but optimal results are usually achieved with 3 to 6 treatments spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart.

CIT is considered a safe treatment with minimal side effects. The most common side effect is skin redness and swelling, which usually goes away within a few hours. CIT can be used on the face, neck, chest, hands and arms. It is a great way to improve the overall appearance of your skin without surgery!

How to prepare for a treatment?

You should avoid taking blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, for at least a week before the treatment. These medications can increase the risk of bleeding and bruising. Suppose you have a history of cold sores. In that case, you may want to take an antiviral medication before the treatment to prevent an outbreak.

Prepping your skin for treatment is essential no matter what procedure you go through, but especially before CIT. You can start using a vitamin serum at home and looking after your skin a few weeks before your first treatment. I recommend getting LED light therapy in the clinic to help with cell regeneration and healing.

Because when your skin is healthy, it will help with the recovery process, make the treatment more effective, and create better results. Which is what we’re all looking for!

Aftercare — It is important to avoid sun exposure and use sunscreen after treatment. Your skin will be sensitive and more susceptible to sun damage.

You should also avoid picking at or touching your skin. This can irritate and delay the healing process.

I have to say CIT is one of my absolute favourites, and that’s because I’ve seen so many fantastic skin transformations with this treatment. I mentioned earlier that we improve a diverse group of skin concerns with this one treatment.

With this treatment, I have seen everything from acne scars, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, lax skin, fine lines and wrinkles fading away. It’s an all-inclusive kind of deal. You can’t put your finger on any specific area that will be improved by it because there’s so much diversity in our client’s concerns. Uneven texture and premature ageing are just some examples, among many others. 

In my experience, the most common concern I hear from women in their 40s is that they’re ageing faster than ever. They notice that their skin is thinner, and the fine lines around their eyes and mouth have turned into wrinkles.  One of my clients had been struggling with acne scars for years and tried every topical treatment, chemical peels, laser treatments, you name it.

So, we did a full consultation and talked about her concerns and what she had tried in the past. I explained how CIT works and what to expect during and after the treatment. 

Her skin preparation was vital, and we ensured her skin was in the best possible condition before starting the treatments. This means working on rebuilding her skin’s health from the outside-in first (so repairing the skin barrier, the epidermis) and inside out (inner health of the skin) to get maximum results with every session.

I’m happy to report that she was thrilled with her results. Her scarring is noticeably improved, and her skin looks healthier overall. She’s made such tremendous progress, and her confidence has increased tenfold. She comes in for maintenance treatments every few months and no longer needs to wear makeup. 

CIT is one of my go-to treatments, and I cannot recommend it enough!

If you are looking for a way to slow down the signs of ageing, improve the scarring or want to get that dewy, glowy skin, CIT might be the treatment for you!

Karen xx