At-home skin rejuvenation treatments have skyrocketed in popularity as an affordable and convenient way to experience clinical skin treatments. And while their efficacy does vary from patient to patient, products like dermapens and derma rollers show that it's possible to enjoy the benefits of a procedure like microneedling with the user's convenience.

But what is the difference between dermapens from derma rollers? Both are microneedling devices that help rejuvenate the skin, but the dermapen is a more advanced tool that offers several benefits compared to the dermaroller. Aside from that, derma rollers are more accessible to the public, while dermapens are almost always found in medical and professional settings.

How Microneedling Improves Skin And Treats Wrinkles?

Microneedling is a process where tiny puncture wounds are made on the upper dermis of the skin. As the skin heals, the area experiences greater amounts of blood flow. This brings much-needed nutrients to the area, increasing the production of elastin and collagen. For that reason, microneedling is often called collagen induction therapy.

Derma pens and derma rollers are two types of handheld devices used for microneedlingthe skin. They have a wide array of applications, ranging from treating acne marks, reducing scarring, and managing hair loss. While they work in the same way – primarily by needles making tiny puncture wounds in the skin – their mechanisms are very different.

Why Dermapens Are Better For Patients And Dermatologists?

Despite their similarities in their method of action, dermapens are ultimately better for both patients and dermatologists. Aside from being a marked improvement in handling and functionality, dermapens offers some distinct advantages over derma roller use:

1. Precision treatment of wrinkles

Since derma rollers use a natural rolling action to puncture wounds on the skin, this means that the entire surface area of the roller will always hit the dermis. Derma rollers will always have a wide surface area of application, which may not be suitable for difficult areas like around the nose, eyes, lips and other dips and ridges on the body.

A dermapen has pinpoint precision with the exact area the needles touch. In addition, the settings can be configured easily to allow for more customization with how the dermapen works. This allows patients and dermatologists to consider factors like pain tolerance, expected results from the procedure, and other dynamic factors that can affect the treatment.

2. Less recovery and downtime needed after each procedure

One drawback with the horizontal action of derma rollers is that the lateral punctures leave the skin at an odd angle, which increases the likelihood of scarring and bruising. Because of the wide surface area of the derma roller, each pass increases the tearing and the trauma that the skin goes through.

This can lead to tenderness, bruising, swelling, bleeding, and other skin blemishes that can affect the quality of life of the patient. However, since dermapens can be applied with precision to prevent any unwanted areas from being punctured. The smooth action of the mechanisms also mean that there's less chance of scarring.

3. More comfortable procedure

Using a dermapen is more natural than a derma roller, especially when it comes to handling the device. Derma rollers are limited by their overall surface area and mechanism of action, which makes it rough and unwieldy on curved surfaces. This makes treating areas like the scalp difficult because there’s no way to gauge or control how much pressure is required.

Dermapens can be adjusted right down to the needle depth, so all the user needs to do is to adjust the settings to account for differences in treatment area and overall pressure. The procedure is more comfortable since it doesn't last as long, and there's no need to maneuver around to treat tricker areas.

4. Controlled method of penetration

Using a derma roller can be unwieldy because of the wide surface area and the amount of needles in the roller. This doesn't afford a lot of control for the user, since they’re limited by the roller's overall size and the rolling action required to use the tool effectively.

But the tool design of the dermapen is different. Since it's held vertically, the user can adjust the angle and the area affected to exactly how large or how small they want to cover. This allows for shallow treatments of wide areas and intense treatments of targeted areas for better results.

5. Versatile tool in professional hands

Derma rollers have a basic method of action, and consequently standard results. Aside from gross mishandling of the tool itself, patients can more or less expect some results after consistent and standard use, but nothing too visible or out of the ordinary.

However, dermapen use is more targeted and has better optionsfor treatment compared to using a derma roller. This allows for visible results and flexible treatment plans if the user is skilled enough with operating it. For dermatologists and cosmetic practices, skilled use of a dermapen can help them give their clients results that are closer to their expectations.

6. Targeted application of serums and cosmetic solutions

Compounds like peptides and topical hyaluronic acid often work well with derma rollers, but they're a better fit for dermapens and their targeted needles. Because these serums often work on specific areas of the face and body, the puncture depth and overall maneuverability of the dermapen make it a better choice.

This is especially handy with products like PEP growth factor, which may improve the appearance of hair and reduce the signs of acne scars on the treatment site. With consistent use, it has the potential to boost the results obtained by microneedling alone.