The Nova Clinic

Questions & Answers Dermaroller and Derma Stamp

Frequently Asked Questions from clients emails - Answers from Jenny Nova and Staff of the Nova Clinic.

 

The Dermaroller:

Q. What is a Dermaroller and how does it work?
A. The skin or Dermaroller is an instrument consisting of a heavy duty plastic roller head covered in 192 high quality stainless steel acupuncture needles.

The Nova Derma Skin & Scalp Roller has the following actions. The needles are designed to penetrate the stratum corneum, conium the hard outer surface of the epidermal layer of the skin, body or scalp. Hundreds of tiny channels are created through the stratum corneum, which facilitate the passage and absorption of your skin care product, or minoxidil for hair restoration into the dermis, to maximize its absorption. It gently exfoliates excess skin cells which contribute to hair follicle malnutrition, scaring or premature aging, and ultimately hair follicle failure, wrinkles, stretch marks, cellulite and scars. The roller stimulates blood flow to the surface, gives a skin massage, cleans out the pores and stimulates collagen re-growth.

Q. Can I use a bleaching cream like hydroquinone cream, and Tretinoin anti-aging cream with the dermaroller?
A.Yes you can use bleaching cream after rolling, but be aware that the product will penetrate 80% more than it does right now so you may want to experiment with the quantity you use.Tretinoin is also ok, I assume this is a script.med.

Q. Is it ok to use the dermaroller if I have Radessie injected already in my skin?
A.Yes it is ok to use the dermaroller over skin fillers.

Q. What about facial warts or cold sores and using the derma roller?
A. If you have any type of herpes virus dormant or otherwise you cannot use the dermaroller or derma stamp on that area. When treating above lip lines, if you have suffered from herpes complex (cold sores) in the past, make sure the dermaroller does not touch the lips or the cold sores will flare again. Facial warts if dormant may not flair when using the dermaroller but it is not worth the risk

Q. I have just used the dermaroller for the first time. It was ok on the first day but now 2 days later I have red bumpy patches on my cheeks and forehead. It looks like I have acne?
A. If sounds as though you have released toxins/old collagen fibers from below the surface of your skin, which is good of course. Just keep the area clean and do not use the dermaroller again until your face is clear. You can use moisturizer. The renewing skin cycle/new collagen regrowth is 4-6 weeks.

Q. Does it hurt?
A. The needles on the Nova Skin & Scalp Roller are long enough to assist in the penetration of your skin care product, but will not damage the skin or scalp in any way. It is normal for the skin or skin or scalp to be a little sensitive when scalp rolling is first commenced, but most people report no problems after a few days.

Q. So do you have to use an anesthetic gel?
A. Some people use the numbing gel for cellulite and face needling - available from this website. Others feel it is not necessary and claim that the roller is a little irritating or tickles, and then you get used to it, in other words not painful. So it is trial and error and varies from one person to the next.

Q. Can the derma roller be used on veins and broken blood vessels or spider veins?
A. Yes you can use the derma roller on veins close on the surface of face and body - Derma rolling helps to break up larger blood vessels. A derma or skin roller is like a rolling pin to which many, tiny, thin, acupuncture-like needles are attached, can be used to crisscross the dilated blood vessels. Disrupting them like this promotes their disappearance. Healing is usually complete in a few days and treatments may be repeated at monthly intervals as needed.

Q. Can I use the dermaroller on my face if I have active acne.
A. No it will make the acne spread.

Q. Do you have to use a cream or product with the roller?
A. After rolling use a good quality product (cream or oil) with active (vitamins) ingredients, as after rolling the skin will absorb 84% of that product - compared to 4% without skin needling. The roller facilitates tiny channels/holes for it to literally go into the skin - painlessly. Needling stimulates blood flow and collagen re-growth. Skin care products used after rolling are extremely beneficial. You can use Vitamin A and C, copper peptides or a high quality, vitamin enriched active ingredient moisturizer.

Q. What cream should I use after rolling.
A. We have developed, and manufacture ourselves, a proven successful, all natural active ingredient cream. See Soul Essence Rejuvenating Cream for ingredients and further information.

Q. How long to see results?
A. All skin is different so we cant give a definite time frame re results, but as you roll your skin will feel lighter, tighter and brighter almost immediately. If you are treating scars or wrinkles you will see results each week as they skin changes and collagen re-grows, then after 1-3 months deeper results.

Q. How long does the dermaroller last?
A. Our skin roller is very high quality so with care of the roller, and with continual use, it will last 6-8 months - the needles don't wear out as such as they are medical grade stainless steel, but with continual use they will eventually become blunt just as an expensive razor would.

Q. Can I use a dermaroller when breast feeding or pregnant?
A. The reason it is said not to use a dermaroller when pregnant, lactating and feeding is that the body needs all of its vitamins to feed the baby. So as the production of new collagen uses some vitamins, it is best not to use the dermaroller at this time.

Q. Do you need to be more careful in the sun after rolling?
A. No, sun-sensitivity is not induced because of needling.

Q. What are the names used for needling?
A. Needling is also called Collagen-Induction-Therapy (CIT), Skin rolling, derma rolling, and skin needling, PCI micro needling (Percutaneous Collagen Induction), Micro needle Therapy and mesorolling.

Q: What does needle gauge mean?
A: The gauge of the needles is weather it is thick or thin. Thicker needles will cause scarring, unnecessary pain and bleeding, thinner needles will not stimulate enough collagen or elastin to be effective. Our dermaroller needles are the right gauge so do not cause these problems. See Be Safe page for detailed information.

Q: What about color changes on the skin that we may see some times?
A: Discoloration is rare and generally only a 'permanent problem' if a 2.0 or longer needle is used, I have never seen a permanent colour change, and we have been using the skinrollers in our clinic for some time. Changes in skin colour can also be because of toxins migrating to the surface and then the colour (patches) fade out as you keep rolling. Also old collagen fibers break down as you roll, and as the skin is uneven, there may look like changes in colour in patches, but this is temporary. New colour also comes to the skin naturally as you roll, as in a healthy glow, as pores are cleaned out and new collagen grows. So that would be the colour you are supposed to be, as in a healthy skin tone. I wouldn't suggest you use any chemical on the colour change, just keep rolling and allow it to balance out naturally - if it ever does occur.

Q. So rolling creates channels or holes in the skin do they stay open and absorb dirt as well?
A. No the tiny channels quickly close over, within the hour.

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Q. Does the Derma Roller damage the skin?
A. No, there have been no reports of side effects with the Roller. The Nova Dermaroller penetrates the stratum corneum (top skin layer), where tiny needles form infiltration channels for a short space of time. The extreme slim needle-tips push the scales of the epidermis only aside, but they do not destroy them. The infiltration channels are closed in less than an hour. With shaving it's a fact that the sharp razor blades remove part of the stratum corneum but there are no reports that this centuries old procedure of shaving has any negative effect to the skin.

Q. How long should you roll?
A. The needling or rolling with the skin roller is not determined by time. More importantly are the numbers of roll-movements over a certain skin-area. Ten (10) roll-movements set 160 pricks per square centimeter (15 times about 240 pricks). It should not take more than 3-5 minutes.

Q. How should I roll?
A. With your free hand hold the skin putting it under some slight tension. Place the skin roller on the skin and roll with a constant movement to the end of the skin area. Roll two or three times over the same spot back and forth over the skin and in different directions.

Q. Do I need to sterilize my roller after use?
A. Yes it is essential to keep your roller in a clean and sterile condition. Wash in hot running water after every use. Then once a week stand head first in half your plastic cylinder (that the roller comes in) of disinfectant for about half an hour. Shake of excess liquid and allow to dry on clean towel or paper towel. Put cap on and store in clean sealed container - supplied. Don't ever share your roller due to probable cross contamination.

Q. What type of disinfectant should I use?
A. Just buy a small bottle of disinfectant from the first-aid section of your supermarket or pharmacy. Fill your plastic cylinder 1/4 full with disinfectant, and 1/4 water, so the cylinder is half full. Put roller in head first for about 1/2 an hour. This sterilizes your roller as well as plastic cylinder you store it in.

Q. How deep does the Derma Roller go into the skin?
A. The Nova Skin Roller only sets penetration channels into the epidermis. The roller will only go as deep as the short needles are. See diagram on Medical Stuff page.

Q. How often can the Nova Skin Roller be used and how long does the roller last?
A. It can be used daily without any harm to the skin. We recommend 5 days out of 7 each week. Some people do a treatment weekly or monthly as well, or only that. With time, even the strongest needle point will lose its sharpness. When this happens the roller should be replaced. Our Skin rollers commonly loose their sharpness after 6-8 months of use. Even the best razorblade or the best scalpel will gradually loose its sharpness, this is an unfortunate fact. However you will be pleased with the use that you will get out of your skin roller. Don't keep using the roller if the needles become blunted by lack of care of the product.

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Q. What is the best way to treat stretch marks?
A. The best way to get rid of stretch marks is to do a VERY FIRM roll once a month with numbing gel, this needs 1-2 days healing time. Be patient. Wait 4-6 weeks to see your result as your own collagen will grow and fill in the stretch marks. There should be no down time and no post application pain. You can re-treat then if necessary.

Q. Can I treat my face and arms?
A. All areas of the face, neck and body can be treated.

Q. Can I reuse my Derma Roller?
A. Yes it can be used many times. The average shelf life, with continual use, is 6-8 months.

Q. Can I just buy a Derma Roller with my friend and we use it together?
A. No, never share your Derma Roller due to probable cross infection.

Q. How fast can I expect to see results from using the derma roller. How long do I have to use it to get rid of the stretch marks completely?
A. It all depends on how deep your stretch marks are, if you roll very firmly once a month then wait for the collagen to regrow you may be looking at 3-6
months, so that is just 3-6 treatments. You will see a great improvement after each healing.

 

For hair restoration roll only in one direction.
If you roll backwards and forwards over the same spot you will tangle your hair in the roller. Always roll away from the hair root and use your hands to keep your hair out of the way as much as possible. Lift the roller slightly and move back to the beginning. Start counting the roller-movements until the procedure becomes a routine.

Q. Are there any side effects?
A. No. Unlike many other hair loss and body treatments, which require oral supplements with unknown potential side effects, the Nova Skin & Scalp Roller does exactly what it promises. By enhancing the penetration of Minoxidil/Rogaine for hair restoration, or your skin care product for your face and body, by improving blood flow to the skin, scalp and hair follicle.

Q. How can I obtain Minoxidol/Rogaine for hair restoration?
A. Minoxidil or Rogaine can be readily obtained from pharmacies throughout the world or may be cheaper on-line. There are also some natural hair restoration products on the market that have received good reviews, so you may like to experiment.

The Derma Stamp:

Q. What is the nova derma stamp and how does it work?
A. The Nova Derma stamp is an instrument consisting of a heavy duty plastic base covered in 140 high quality stainless steel acupuncture needle. The Derma Stamp breaks down the old collagen fibers, it is used in a stamping motion, and then time must be allowed for the new collagen to grow and fill in the scar/s. It is a safe procedure that works from the inside out. The Nova Derma Stamp works beneath the surface to stimulate collagen growth, tighten, and rejuvenate the skin.

Q. May the derma stamp be used on other parts of the body or just the face?
A. Yes you can use the derma stamp on the body as well as the face, same directions to follow.

Q. Are there any side affects?
A: There are no side affects as such, there is a quick healing time. After using the derma stamp the treated area will be roughed up so will take a day or two healing time. It is within the healing time and following weeks that the magic happens.

Q. What size needles does the derma stamp come in, is it the same as the dermaroller sizes?
A. No. The derma stamp is used very differently to the dermaroller and only comes in one size 0.8mm. This has been proven successful in removing scars. It is the only size available for safe at-home use.

Q. Is there any other derma stamp sizes anywhere?
A. Yes there is a 2.1mm that is used by a Dr/Dermatologist only. This needs an injectable anesthetic and is only for surgical scars or severe burns. It is not available for at-home use.

Q. Will the derma stamp remove all type of scars?
A. Yes this is what the derma stamp is especially manufactured for. See Derma Stamp Page on this website for more detail.

Q. Will my skin be sore after the derma stamp treatment?
A. As you can imagine after stamping on one area of the skin twenty times with a small device covered in sharp needles - the area will certainly be tender, may have minute bleeding, will look grazed, may break the skin and may form scabs. It does take a few days healing time, then the following month fills in with collagen - this is when the magic happens.

Q. Can I use the derma stamp on raised, keloid scars?
A. No, it is not recommended on very raised scars.

Q. Do I need to use numbing gel with the nova derma stamp?
A. If you are just treating one scar or a small patch of say acne pits, the treatment will be very quick so you may decide not to use numbing cream. It really is a personal choice some clients really feel the need of it, others don't. As with the dermaroller about 40% of clients use numbing cream. However the derma stamp is much more invasive, so to date I would say 50% of clients use numbing cream with the derma stamp. We sell this product on this website, see order page.

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