Buying guide for Best microneedle derma rollers
If you want to take your skincare to the next level, think bigger than trying a new face wash or moisturizer. To really supercharge your skincare routine, try a microneedle derma roller to exfoliate and boost your skin’s cell turnover.
To see good results – and prevent your skin from suffering any damage – you'll want to choose the right microneedle derma roller for your needs. That means deciding on the needle material, size, thickness, and other features to make sure that the tool is as effective as possible. With so many microneedle derma rollers available, shopping for that perfect model can quickly become an exercise in frustration. Luckily, our handy guide is here to help.
What is a microneedle derma roller?
A microneedle derma roller is a tool used to perform microneedling treatments on the skin. It’s a small handheld device that features a roller of tiny needles. As you roll it over your skin, the needles create microscopic wounds in the skin, which stimulates the body’s healing process. This helps promote cell turnover and stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, making microneedling an ideal treatment for mature, aging, or scarred skin. While microneedling may not sound very pleasant, at-home devices are usually completely pain-free because the needles are so small.
A microneedle derma roller has a wide array of benefits as part of a well-balanced skin care routine.
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Helps skin care products work more effectively: Because a microneedle derma roller can remove dead cells from the surface of your skin, it allows your skin care products to fully penetrate so they’re more effective.
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Diminishes fine lines and wrinkles: Microneedling helps stimulate collagen and elastin production, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
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Improves the appearance of scars: A microneedle derma roller can help break up scar tissue and boost collagen production to promote healthy skin growth, so it can work well to diminish surgical, injury, and acne scarring.
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Fades sun damage and hyperpigmentation: Dark spots from sun damage and other forms of hyperpigmentation are caused by increased amounts of melanin in the skin. Microneedling can remove the top layers of the skin through exfoliation, so dark spots are less noticeable.
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Reduces the appearance of pores: If you have enlarged pores on your nose, cheeks, or chin, a microneedle derma roller can help reduce their appearance by stimulating collagen production to help thicken and plump the skin. Your pores look smaller as a result, so your skin has a smoother appearance.
- Works all over the body: While most people use a microneedle derma roller on their faces, it can actually work anywhere on your body. You can use it to diminish the appearance of acne scarring, stretch marks, or cellulite on your chest, back, legs, and backside.
For your safety
Avoid using harsh chemical exfoliators like alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy acids after using a microneedle derma roller. You may wind up irritating your skin.
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Features
Needle material
The needles on a microneedle derma roller are usually made of stainless steel or titanium. Stainless steel options are usually less expensive, but they’re often sharper and more sterile. They dull more quickly than titanium options, though, which is why titanium microneedle derma rollers are usually more durable. Titanium needles don’t rust or bend either, so you’ll usually pay more for this type of derma roller.
It’s important to stop using a derma roller once the needles become dull because you may scratch and injure your skin. If you opt for a more affordable stainless steel microneedle derma roller, be prepared to replace it more frequently.
Needle size
Microneedle derma rollers are available with needles in a variety of sizes, ranging from 0.2 to over 2.0 millimeters. For home use, you shouldn’t use a derma roller with needles that are larger than 2.0 mm, or you may injure or damage your skin.
When deciding what size needles to use, consider both the area where you plan to use the roller and your particular skin care concerns. If you plan to use the derma roller on your body, including your back, stomach, or thighs, longer needles ranging from 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm can work well because the skin is thicker. For the face, on the other hand, opt for shorter needles to treat the thinner, more sensitive skin in that area. In general, stick to at-home derma rollers with needles between 0.2 mm and 1.0 mm for the face.
In terms of skin care concerns, use the following guidelines to choose the appropriate needle length:
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Fine lines, wrinkles, and anti-aging: 0.25 mm to 1.5 mm
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Uneven skin tone and/or texture: 0.5 mm
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Acne scars and other light scars: 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm
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Enlarged pores: 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm
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Hyperpigmentation: 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm
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Sagging: 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm
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Cellulite: 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm
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Surgical scars: 1.5 mm
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Stretch marks: 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm
Needle thickness
In addition to the needle length, it’s important to consider the thickness of the needles on a microneedle derma roller. Thicker needles should only be used to treat your body because they’re too painful and powerful to be used on the delicate skin of your face. For the face, never use a derma roller with needles that are thicker than 0.7 mm.
Number of needles
Some microneedle derma rollers have 200 or fewer needles, which are fairly spread out over the roller. This limits their coverage area and often requires running the roller over an area more times to see results, which is usually more painful and could injure the skin.
Instead, opt for a microneedle derma roller with 500 or more needles. Models with this many needles require less rolling over the skin because they can cover a wider area. You’re less likely to experience any pain as a result.
Detachable heads
If you have multiple skin care issues that you wish to treat with a microneedle derma roller, you may get more effective results by using needles in different sizes. Instead of buying multiple rollers with different size needles, though, you can find models that feature detachable heads, which allow you to change the size of the needles by removing the derma roller’s head and replacing it with a new option.
This type of derma roller often comes with heads that feature needles in three different sizes, so you have several options depending on the skin issue you wish to address.
Cover/case
To keep the needles on your microneedle derma roller clean and in good condition, choose a model with a protective cover or case. This prevents dirt and dust from accumulating on the surface of the roller head and protects the needles from getting bent.
Prices for microneedle derma rollers
Microneedle derma rollers usually vary in price based on the needle material and the number of needles. In general, though, you can expect to pay between $6 and $32.
Inexpensive
Microneedle derma rollers with approximately 200 stainless steel needles usually cost between $6 and $12.
Mid-range
Microneedle derma rollers with approximately 200 titanium needles usually range from $10 to $15. Microneedle derma rollers with approximately 500 stainless steel needles typically cost between $12 and $16.
Expensive
Microneedle derma rollers with approximately 500 titanium needles usually range from $15 to $32.
"It’s normal for your skin to appear red and slightly swollen for a couple of hours after you use a microneedle derma roller."
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Tips
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Microneedle derma rollers meant for home use usually have such small needles that they don’t hurt when you move them over the skin. If you find that using the roller is painful, though, you can apply a numbing cream that contains lidocaine before you use your roller.
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Using a microneedle derma roller too often can irritate your skin. If you’re using a 0.25 mm roller, avoid using it more than every other day. For a 0.5 mm roller, limit your use to one to three times per week.
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Always begin with a freshly washed face when using your microneedle derma roller.
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Be sure to lift the microneedle derma roller away from your skin after each pass to avoid scratching your face.
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Move a microneedle derma roller in a crosshatch pattern over your face. For example, if you go over a dark spot on your cheek in a vertical direction, move the derma roller over the area in a horizontal direction next.
FAQ
Q. Is it safe to use a microneedle derma roller?
A. Because they feature needles, some people are hesitant to use a microneedle derma roller at home. But derma rollers designed for home use usually have small enough needles that it’s perfectly safe to use them. To be sure that you won’t injure or damage your skin, start with a 0.2 mm roller, and avoid using models with needles longer than 1.0 mm at home.
Q. How long does it take to see results with a microneedle derma roller?
A. Patience is key when you’re using a microneedle derma roller. While you may notice that your skin tone appears brighter and more even within just a few weeks of use, it can take at least three to four months to see significant results for fine lines, wrinkles, and scars. It’s also important to use the microneedle derma roller consistently if you want to see results – remember to use it at least once a week.
Q. How should I disinfect a microneedle derma roller?
A. It’s extremely important to disinfect a microneedle derma roller before and after each use because the needles can easily introduce bacteria into the skin. To kill any germs on the roller’s surface, soak it in isopropyl alcohol for five to 10 minutes after washing it, and then store it in a protective case to prevent it from coming into contact with any new bacteria.
