Spicule Effects by Skin Type | Customized Skin Science Solutions

Acne Improvement

Acne is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the pilosebaceous unit, triggered by a complex interplay of factors including follicular hyperkeratinization, excessive sebum production, proliferation of Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes, P. acnes), and inflammatory responses

Sebaceous Gland Regulation
Controlled inflammatory responses may help normalize the function of hyperactive sebaceous glands and reduce sebum secretion.

Keratinocyte Regulation
Downregulation of excessive keratinocyte proliferation around hair follicles—commonly observed in acne patients—may help reduce pore blockage.

Inflammation Modulation
Microneedling-induced controlled inflammation can positively affect the chronic inflammatory state associated with acne.

Enhanced Delivery of Active Ingredients
Microchannels facilitate the penetration of topical agents effective in acne treatment, such as antimicrobials, anti-inflammatories, and keratolytics.

Pore Cleansing
Physical channel formation may assist in expelling sebum and keratin plugs that obstruct pores.
Expansion of the follicular infundibulum and removal of residual keratin/sebum have also been reported.

Blackhead Improvement

Blackheads (Open Comedones) are non-inflammatory lesions that appear black due to the oxidation of sebum and keratinocytes accumulated at the follicular opening upon exposure to air.

Pore Cleansing
Microchannels may physically disrupt comedonal plugs or facilitate their extrusion.
Effects related to the removal of keratin and sebum residues have also been reported.

Sebum Reduction
Decreased sebum secretion reduces the substrate available for blackhead formation.

Normalization of Keratinization
Regulation of keratinocyte proliferation helps prevent cellular accumulation within hair follicles.

Minimize Pores

Enlarged pores are one of the major factors contributing to rough skin texture and are often associated with weakened structural support in the dermal layer.

Stimulation of Collagen and Elastin Production
Micro-injury induces a wound-healing response that increases collagen and elastin synthesis in the dermis surrounding the pores.
The newly formed extracellular matrix (ECM) reinforces the pore walls and improves skin firmness, making the pores appear visibly smaller.

Increase in Epidermal Thickness
Thickening of the epidermal layer—particularly the stratum spinosum—also contributes to reduced pore visibility.

Improvement of Acne Scars

Acne scars, particularly atrophic scars, occur due to abnormal breakdown or synthesis of collagen during the post-inflammatory healing process

Collagen Induction & Remodeling
Micro-injuries stimulate the wound healing process, promoting the deposition of newly organized collagen—initially type III collagen integrated into the extracellular matrix—within scar tissue.
This mechanism helps fill atrophic scar depressions, leading to a smoother skin surface.
Reports suggest collagen and elastin levels may increase by up to 400%.

Scar Tissue Disruption
Needles can physically break fibrotic scar bands tethering the base of the scar, producing effects similar to subcision.

Growth Factor Release
Micro-injury also triggers the release of growth factors involved in tissue regeneration.

Enhanced Delivery of Active Ingredients
Skin penetration of scar-improving substances—such as growth factors and PDRN—is facilitated, further supporting therapeutic outcomes.

Improved Skin Radiance and Evenness

Skin Whitening or Brightening Effects
These primarily refer to the reduction of hyperpigmentation, resulting in a more even skin tone. Additionally, they contribute to improved overall skin health and texture, making the skin appear clearer and more radiant.

Reduction of Hyperpigmentation
While the precise mechanism is still under investigation, factors such as MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) induction and normalization of melanocyte–keratinocyte signaling via growth factors (MGF, KGF, EGF) are thought to be involved.
Compared to certain laser treatments, this approach offers the advantage of a relatively lower risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), particularly in darker skin types.

Enhanced Delivery of Active Ingredients
Topical agents with brightening effects—including vitamin C, tranexamic acid (TXA), arbutin, and niacinamide—can achieve greater efficacy through improved penetration into the dermal layer.

Improved Skin Health & Texture
Overall regenerative effects contribute to healthier-looking skin with enhanced clarity and radiance.

Improved Appearance of Wrinkles

Wrinkles primarily result from aging or photodamage, which lead to the degradation and alteration of collagen and elastin fibers in the dermis, thereby diminishing the skin’s structural integrity and elasticity.

Stimulation of Collagen and Elastin Production
This is the key mechanism for wrinkle improvement.
The increased extracellular matrix (ECM) components replenish the dermal layer, enhancing skin elasticity and thereby reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Skin tightening effects have also been reported

Stretch Mark Improvement

Striae Distensae (Stretch Marks) are linear skin lesions that occur when the skin stretches rapidly, leading to damage and atrophy of collagen and elastin fibers in the dermis.
In the early stages, they appear red (striae rubrae) and gradually fade to white (striae albae) over time.

Stimulation of Collagen and Elastin Production
Microscopic injury in the atrophic dermis of stretch marks stimulates the regeneration of new collagen and elastin fibers, promoting tissue remodeling and improving skin texture and pigmentation.
Histological evidence has confirmed increased collagen and elastin levels post-treatment.
Efficacy has been reported for both red (striae rubrae) and white (striae albae) stretch marks.

Enhanced Delivery of Active Ingredients
Combining treatment with agents such as vitamin C or calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) may further enhance therapeutic efficacy.

Cellulite Improvement

Cellulite is a condition in which subcutaneous fat tissue protrudes into the dermis, while the surrounding fibrous septae pull the skin downward, resulting in a dimpled or uneven skin surface. Skin laxity also contributes to its manifestation.

Collagen Induction
Conventional microneedling may theoretically improve skin elasticity and thickness in areas affected by cellulite by promoting collagen synthesis, potentially leading to a slightly smoother appearance.
However, clinical evidence supporting this effect remains highly limited

Improvement of Melasma and Freckles

Melasma is a pigmentation disorder characterized by irregular brown to gray-brown patches, typically appearing symmetrically on the face.
Freckles (Ephelides) are small brown spots that tend to worsen with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Both conditions are associated with excessive production or abnormal distribution of melanin pigment.

Melanocyte Regulation
Growth factors such as KGF, EGF, and MGF help normalize melanocyte function and reduce exposure to melanogenic stimuli.

Enhanced Delivery of Active Ingredients
A key mechanism involves maximizing skin penetration of agents that suppress melanogenesis or improve pigmentation, such as tranexamic acid (TXA), vitamin C, and hydroquinone.
TXA inhibits UV/hormone-induced plasminogen activation and downregulates tyrosinase activity.

Epidermal Thickening
Increased epidermal thickness contributes to improved resistance against UV radiation.

Improved Skin Barrier Function

The skin barrier, especially the stratum corneum, plays an important role in protecting the body from the external environment and preventing water loss (Transepidermal Water Loss, TEWL).

Initial Barrier Disruption
Microneedles physically penetrate the stratum corneum, temporarily disrupting the skin barrier and increasing transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
The extent of TEWL elevation may correlate with needle penetration depth and frequency.

Rapid Recovery
Microchannels close rapidly (within hours), and skin barrier function typically recovers swiftly within 48–72 hours.

Long-Term Reinforcement
During the wound healing process, the epidermis—particularly the stratum spinosum—thickens, filaggrin (a key protein in stratum corneum formation) production increases through TGFM-1 upregulation, and lipid synthesis such as ceramides is promoted (especially when combined with exosomes).
These changes may enhance long-term skin barrier function, reduce baseline TEWL, and improve the skin’s defense and moisture retention capacity.
Potential improvement in cutaneous immune response has also been suggested.

Improved Skin Elasticity and Texture

Skin elasticity refers to the ability of the skin to return to its original state after being deformed by external forces, and is mainly related to elastin fibers in the dermis.

Skin texture refers to the smoothness and uniformity of the skin surface.

Collagen/Elastin Production and Remodeling

Increased collagen increases the structural support of the skin, giving it firmness,

and increased elastin improves elasticity.

Histologically, increased collagen and elastin deposition was confirmed.

Improved Skin Texture

Collagen remodeling and epidermal regeneration improve skin texture by

smoothing the skin surface and reducing unevenness.

Improved Skin Turnover

Skin turnover refers to the process in which keratinocytes generated in the lowest layer of the epidermis (basal layer) gradually move upward and finally fall off from the stratum corneum.

In healthy adults, this occurs in a cycle of about 28 days.

If this cycle is slowed down due to aging or external factors, keratinocytes accumulate, making the skin look dull and causing other skin problems.

Cell Proliferation Stimulation

Growth factors such as EGF and KGF, released during the wound healing process triggered by micro-injuries, stimulate the proliferation of basal keratinocytes.
This accelerates the generation of new epidermal cells and may influence the skin turnover rate.
Additionally, regulating keratinocyte hyperproliferation can help normalize abnormal turnover cycles.

Normalization of Keratinization

These treatments may contribute to the normalization of disrupted keratinization processes.
Following procedures, temporary dryness and increased desquamation may occur, potentially indicating accelerated turnover.

Both microneedling and Fraxel laser treatments promote wound healing and regenerative responses, affecting epidermal cell proliferation and shedding—key components of skin turnover.
Fraxel-induced MENDs (microscopic epidermal necrotic debris) showcase a clear process of damaged cell removal and replacement with newly generated cells.
Microneedling also stimulates cellular proliferation, thereby promoting turnover.

Maintaining or restoring a healthy turnover cycle is essential for clear and resilient skin, and both procedures may positively contribute to this process.
However, excessive stimulation of turnover may compromise the skin barrier or accelerate aging, highlighting the importance of proper treatment intervals and intensity control.

Localized Fat Breakdown

Adipose tissue, particularly dermal white adipose tissue (DWAT), plays an active role in the skin repair process.

Following skin injury, adipocytes adjacent to the wound site undergo a lipolysis process mediated by enzymes such as ATGL, breaking down triglycerides and releasing free fatty acids (FAs).
These released FAs are essential for initiating macrophage-driven inflammatory responses at the wound site.

Experimental studies in animals have shown that inhibition of lipolysis results in a reduced number of inflammatory macrophages recruited to the wound and delays the healing process.

Additionally, adipocytes can dedifferentiate and convert into myofibroblasts, the key extracellular matrix (ECM)-producing cells in the wound site.
This transition requires lipolysis and involves the loss of lipid storage.

Both adipocytes and adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) secrete various factors—adipokines, cytokines, and growth factors—that influence inflammation, angiogenesis, and cellular proliferation/migration throughout the wound healing process.

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Improvement Effects by Skin Type