A week ago today, Robin’s derma roller
Here are Robin’s first impressions of the derma roller.
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After the first time I used it on my face, I could see a difference the next morning. It visibly minimized the premature nasolabial fold around my mouth, and made my skin really, really smooth. Also, it just made my skin feel and look fuller, I felt.
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After using it on my face, I applied skinceuticals phloretin, then a vitamin C and E formula (skinceuticals ce ferulic) and then the retinol. I’m not sure what to chalk it up to: temporary inflammation, the combo of the skin product/derma roller use, the exfoliation side effect, all of the above, or something else. As an added plus, my skin was insanely smooth yesterday. I’ve used all of the skin products before as part of my usual routine, and I thought my skin had become somewhat used to them until I used them with the roller.
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As a big downside, after doing this for the second time, the skin on my face started to peel. Yes, peel. Sorry for the lovely visual. It’s definitely a drying combination, so I’m still working on perfecting it. I really liked the results I saw after the first time, so I think I may just need to tone it down a bit!
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It’s hard for me to say whether there has been any appreciable effect yet, as far as the cellulite goes. I used it in conjunction with skinceuticals retinol 1.0 on my legs, just to give the retinol an extra boost with penetration.
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As far as pain goes, the derma roller hurts. I used the 1.5mm-sized roller. I found that for me, it was much more painful to use on my legs. While my cellulite has never been painful, I noticed that the use of the roller made it that way for the 2 days after I used it! It felt good using it on my legs at first, similar to the way dry brushing feels when I do it –like a tingling sensation, but one that (I like to think) seems to be helping with circulation. The next morning though, my legs hurt and that pleasant tingling sensation was definitely gone.
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I forgot to mention it was technically a “dr. roller” that I used. From my understanding, the dr. roller is a knock-off of the derma roller –I didn’t realize this until I received mine and saw that the instructions were in Chinese. I bought it thinking they were the same thing, but oh well! I did buy the cheapest one I could find.
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I think I’m going to start taking pictures to keep track of it, since I’ve always found it so hard to tell whether or not something was really working for me. I will keep doing it and keep you posted!
Thanks, Robin. Can’t wait to hear how it goes with the cellulite once you’ve had a chance to try it for a few weeks. Great investigative work here! This is exactly what I envisioned the Cellulite Investigation being all about!
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
Hmmmm, maybe it would be more effective and less painful if it were the actual derma roller. Either way, interesting, informative report…thanks!
AFNM –from what I've read so far, the Dr. Roller is one of the better brands of derma roller on the market. I just started researching this when I received Robin's email, so I'm not an expert by any means. It seems there are different needle lengths involved and it's important to buy the right product for the problem you are trying to treat (cellulite, acne, stretch marks, etc). More research is required, but we're off to a good start thanks to our newest investigator!
I use herbal cleansing grains on my face and get the same results, only no peeling.
I wonder if the peeling is strictly from the retinol and not the roller. I had awful peeling when I tried retinol.
That's my suspicion too, Karen. Even though Robin had been using the retinol for awhile, maybe the roller allowed it to penetrate the skin more.
Sheila, I have to check out these herbal cleansing grains. Do you make them yourself for your store?
Pictures! Pictures! Thanks for trying this out, Robin, and for sharing your experience.
Melissa – I'm passing on a beautiful blogger award to you, as you are helping us all to be a little more beautiful.
http://greensensearchives.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-have-been-blessed-by-my-friend.html
Laurie, I'm glad you brought that up. Robin did mention that she was thinking of taking pics, but I didn't include that in her report because I didn't want anyone to hold her to it. Nobody trusts pictures anymore –the lighting is impossible to get right as an amateur and if you're a pro, you could just photoshop it anyway. Plus, how embarrassing would it be to have closeup pictures of your backside on the Internet! CI investigators are welcome to include pictures, but it's not something I'm going to push for.
Thanks for the award, Laurie! I'm so blushing right now!
Just to let you know that this morning on Dr.Oz he did another segment on cellulite. He said the most effective way to get rid it is diet and exercise. Of course he couldn't say it was some miracle cream or something. I guess I need to join a gym.
Oooh, thanks for the intel! I would have missed that one. At least this time he said you could treat it through diet and exercise. Last time I heard him talk about cellulite, he said there was no way to treat it. I need to track down a transcript of his show today…
I am anxious to hear the results…along with diet and exercise (of course) this would be great!.
Great report! Karen has it right: The increased effect of the retinol (secondary to the roller use) is likely responsible for the peeling. Try stepping down to a 0.5mm roller and make sure you are using some form of spf in addition to the sun protection provided from the SC antioxidants. Also, make sure you start slowly with your dermal roller – use twice a week only on your face.
Aaron
SkinMedix.com
Thanks for the tips, SkinMedix. Are you saying you should have a separate roller for cellulite?
As you know, everyone's skin and tolerance levels are different – even on different parts of the same body. You'll just have to try a few of the different lengths to see what you can tolerate. I would suggest being conservative with the face foremost, but it sounds like you have some sensitivity on the legs. I personally would not feel comfortable recommending any longer needle length than what you have for the at-home, first time user.
To the first comment, more expensive does not always denote a better or more effective product. We've evaluated branded, Chinese, and Korean models of similar rollers and found zero benefits to the consumer in the more expensive branded products.
Best ,
Aaron
SkinMedix.com
Thanks, Aaron. It makes sense that you'd use a different length for the face. And it's good to know you don't have to spend big bucks to buy a decent product. What does your evaluation process entail? Thanks for the info!
Any updates on dermaroller effects on cellulite? Been 4 months….Please??!
I'll get in touch with our investigator and ask her for an update. Thanks for your inquiry!
I spent $800 on a very painful dermaroller treatment with the large needles that made me bleed and have been using a dermaroller mouse with a spray to put on my legs that is supposed to destoy fat cells(the same solution used in mesotherapy). It has been about 4 weeks, & I have not noticed much difference yet. I have also been dieting and exercising.
That derma roller experience sounds awful. Thank you for sharing your story. It is an important reminder for us to be wary of treatment options that can actually do more harm than good. I am curious to know what kind of facility offered the treatment? Was it a dermatologist? A salon? Again, thanks for sharing.
I’m just starting with dermarolling, no results yet but I’m still hoping. In my blog I explain how it’s done and also document my progress in pictures.
my blog url is http://homedermaroller.blogspot.com .
Cool, I’ll keep an eye on your progress! I’m curious to see how it works for you. Thanks for your comment!
I’ve used all kinds of derma rollers for the past few years. They really do work. The thing is that you have to be diligent and use them. I saw what I would call very noticeable improvements in my skin (face) in about 3 months. Nothing really until then so it was hard to make myself use it all the time like I was supposed to but then when it did actually work – MAN! lol You couldn’t keep me away from this! I use the .5 mm on my face. Since you can’t induce collagen below .6 mm under the surface of the skin using longer lengths doesn’t make much sense to me. But that’s just me. I use the same size for cellulite and stretch marks and after about 4 months I couldn’t believe how much better my skin tone looked. I’ll keep using a derma roller for as long as I care about how I look. lol I’ve tried the Dr. Roller and some others, too, over the last two years but now I’ve switched to the Glama Roller. Same quality as the more expensive ones but much more reasonably priced.
This is valuable first-hand evidence to add to our case. Thanks, Penny!
Hi Penny, What size did you use for cellulite? Do you take before and after pictures? How often did you use it on your cellulite …every day? twice a week? for 4 months before you noticed any results?
hi, Lori. It looks like she used the .5mm on cellulite. I’ll see if I can get in touch with her about your other questions. I’m thinking about finally trying dermarolling, too. Keep an eye out for most posts about it!
Great forum, great site . Not sure if is too late to ask but what are your final comments on the cellulite treatment with derma roller ? It worked for you?
Did you use 1.5 or 2 . I even heard of someone using the 3 mm!
Would love ot hear from someone that has tried for cellulite .
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for your comment, Desi. I haven’t used the derma roller personally, but several CI readers have tried it. Robin (the CI reader who wrote this “intel report”) didn’t use the roller consistently because she found it too painful. Another CI reader has a whole blog devoted to the subject: http://homedermaroller.blogspot.com/
I hope you find this information useful. Please let us know if you have any success with the dermaroller!
Okay, I just rolled for the first time. Interesting. I used a cheap-o roller from EBay (high ranked seller, and the roller was something like $13 with shipping.) As reported elsewhere in this blog, the first one I received had bent needles. They sent a replacement quickly and at no charge. Got it today and it appeared fine. I rinsed with alcohol, rubbed the areas I planned to roll with alcohol, and got going. The first area was the crook of my right arm where I am getting odd stretch mark looking striations. It hurt! I used ice for appx. 30 seconds. It didn’t help. I then did my chest. I have an old, white scar left from a bad, deep pimple on my chest. Nothing else has helped- retin A, peptides, etc. Then I got excited and decided to try my forehead. I bled a little on my chest, a tiny spot on my arm, but only when I did my forehead did I hear the “popping” noise of which I had read. It does pop! And left many little pinpricks of blood. Weird. Funny, my forehead was the least painful of the 3.
As for the initial report above- I’ve read the next day the skin will look smoother and plumper due to inflammation. Perhaps I should’ve done this before a date?!
Hopefully won’t wake up to a raging skin infection…
Oh my goodness, this sounds scary. Be careful! What size roller are you using? I was thinking of trying the .5 for my face.
I used the 1.5mm. I figured start the with the big guns! So, there is no noticeable redness or inflammation today. Unfortunately I don’t appear to have the day after instant (and likely temporary) improvement that some people report. Oh well. On the plus side, no soreness, either. Oh wait! Just checked my chest. There ARE pinpricks! Or as some call them- track marks! Yuck.Looks like a light bruising or something. Since I get those types of for inexplicable reasons sometimes anyway, I’m not going to worry about it. Skin is a little sensitive. DOn’t notice until i pay attention. Like a very, very mild burn. I guess I now know what people mean by a feeling of mild sunburn.
My biggest problem is going to be not rolling for 3 or so weeks.I want results! But i know that you have to wait for the collagen to build up or else it’s pointless. Damn.
That’s so funny. I should have known you went with the big guns! I’m curious to know what you think of this in a few months. Now we must all be patient… btw, I posted the wrong link before. This is the one about spotting a fake derma roller: http://www.homedermarolling.org/2010/12/how-to-tell-if-roller-is-good.html