What to purchase for hypopigmentation therapy?

[rmatyiku]

I got hypo after I have laser surgery to remove a tattoo. The tattoo was just the outline of lettering (on my calf) so the area is kind of large but the hypo also very thin (about the width of a stretch mark). What needling/roller would you recommend and what instructions would your recommend. Your advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[SarahVaughter]

Due to the shape of your hypopigmentation, I'd say buy a 1.5 mm dermastamp. Do not insert the full length of the needles into the skin. Stamp densely every two weeks.

   The single needle instrument is even better for your shape of hypopigmentation but the lower calf area is perhaps quite painful for single needling. If you decide to use the single needles, needle the hypopigmented patches and slightly outside of its borders to enable migration of the melanocytes from the surrounding normal skin into the hypo-pigmented areas.



When you complete several needlings, expose your scars to the sun because melanin pigment is produced as a reaction to UV (provided there are melanocyte cells in the area to produce it).               

Consider buying a NB-UVB lamp.
More about it in my reply #13 in this forum thread:
https://http://forums.owndoc.com/dermarolling-microneedling/hypopigmentation-on-chest-before-and-after-needling/

   

 Related posting:
   
  https://http://forums.owndoc.com/dermarolling-microneedling/Melanocytes-transfer-for-white-scars-and-hypopigmentation

[rmatyiku]

Would you recommend staying out of the sun for a specified period of time after needling? Also, would you recommend the once every 2 weeks if I did choose to do the single needling? Finally should the single needling and stamp be combined or just one? Thanks for all of your help!

[SarahVaughter]

You should not expose it to the sun immediately after needling and you should use a sunscreen until it heals. I really think a dermastamp is more suitable in the ankle area but if you choose to do single needling as well, do it in turns: Use the dermastamp and next time use the single needle. If you needle/stamp relatively shallowly and it heals nicely and quickly, you can stamp or needle every two weeks.