Gayle: It's a good song for this story, a popular new treatment is helping a growing number of people to search for the fountain of youth. Microneedling is what it's called—it uses tiny needles to improve your skin. The procedure was only available at dermatologists' offices or even high end spas but now companies are selling devices so that you can do this at home despite concerns from the FDA. Michelle Miller looks at whether this is a true break through or as critics say, this is just a marketing ploy. Michelle, can't wait to hear, good morning.
Michelle: Good morning, it's not just beauty bloggers who are hyping these at-home micronee-dling tools, major publications from The New York Times to Allure magazine are devoting copy to these devices, but doctors say consumers should be aware of a few risks.
Woman on TV: The biggest beauty craze right now which is microneedling
Michelle: It's the latest in "do-it-yourself" beauty. Microneedling is coming home from the of-fice, and demand for these products is outpacing the supply.
Woman on TV: You sold out, not once, not twice, but six times on beauty report.
Jamie O'Banion: I know it.
Michelle: Jamie O'Banion's GloPRO, sold here on HSN, is just one of a number of microneedling tools marketed for at home use. The GloPRO and devices like it use tiny needles to pierce the skin, stimulating the body's natural regeneration response.
Jamie O'Banion: What does the skin do? It says "I've been injured, I need to heal, I need to cre-ate new collagen, new skin cells."
Michelle: It doesn't hurt, it pricks, it's like little tickle, tingle, yeah a tingle.
Michelle: Prices for this popular product range from the $30 no frills Stack skincare device to the $200 vibrating GloPRO. Compare that to in-office treatments which can start at $500.
Michelle Lee: A lot of these very expensive procedures that people have done in-office, the fact that people can now bring them home is very appealing. So I'll usually go kind of all the verti-cal's first.
Michelle: Allure editor-in-chief Michelle Lee is a self-described skincare guinea pig.
Michelle lee: Doing the at-home version feels almost like a cat licking you. When you have a pro-fessional do it, it hurts.
Michelle: But not everyone is sold. Dermatologist Jeanine Downie offers in-office microneedling treatments to reduce scarring, signs of aging and even stretch marks, but she cautions against the use of at-home tools.
Dr. Downie: It can spread infection, that it can actually cause scarring, and that it can make whatever you're trying to treat worse.
Michelle: The FDA has also issued warning letters to several microneedling pen manufacturers, not including GloPRO.
Woman on TV: The FDA has safety concerns regarding the potential for the needles to damage vessels and nerves. What do you think about that warning?
Jamie: Yeah, and I think that's very interesting, I'm very familiar with all the cases that you're referencing and those are from copycat tools as well, and again it goes back to safety, you know, trust your skin to the original.
Michelle: In addition to her concerns about at-home devices, Dr. Downie has one more piece of advice.
Dr. Downie: So if you're microneedling and you're not using sunblock, you're really wasting your time.
Michelle: Well, Dr. Downie and other dermatologists say protecting your skin from the sun is the best way to combat skin damage. Now when it comes to choosing between these devices, Al-lure's Michelle Lee says your skincare is no place to scrimp but that doesn't necessarily mean that the most expensive tool is the best for you and your skin, so make sure you do your research. And we have a few of them here, ranging in price from $30 all the way up to $200, so you have a range.
Gayle: Well all morning long, we've been saying tiny little needles, the fact that I can do this and squeeze it, this is, that doesn't even feel like a needle.
Michelle: Well, it's supposed to, you know, penetrate at, you know, the cell level, so or, you know, it.. we'll see. We'll see what happens, I mean people swear by it.
Gayle: It's not as bad as I thought it was gonna be. I might be borrowing this one.
Man on TV: Gayle was imagining needles in her face.
Gayle: I was, after I've been pooh-pooh-ing it all morning, that's why you should wait to hear the whole story! Thank you, Michelle, thank you.
Michelle: You're welcome.
Dr. Downie featured in the January/February 2017 issue of The Aesthetic Guide.
Dr. Downie featured in the September/October 2016 issue of The Aesthetic Guide.
