TABLE OF CONTENTS:
As you can read on this complete microneedling guide, your dermaroller will penetrate your skin with its tiny needles, so you need to ensure that it's thoroughly cleaned and disinfected!
In this article, we'll guide you through the process of cleaning your dermaroller the right way. What cleaning solution should you use? Which method is the correct one?
Read about all of this, including some important FAQs in our comprehensive guide below.
Steps to Clean Your Dermaroller
Microneedling at home is a slightly invasive procedure, and just like any surgical instrument, you need to make sure that your dermaroller is free from germs and bacteria. To do so, follow the steps listed below:
1. Remove Residue
When you roll a dermaroller on your skin, skin cells and dried blood can get stuck to the tiny needles. You can remove this with:
A Toothbrush
First off, mix some liquid detergent and water in a container. Dip the dermaroller into this soapy mixture and use a soft toothbrush to scrub away any residue gently. While doing this, don't scrub too hard; otherwise, you'll damage the delicate needles.
Rinse under hot tap water, and repeat until you're sure that there's no residue left.
Note: be sure to use a soft toothbrush and gentle motions. Oh and, do use a new toothbrush, not a used one!
A Sponge
Alternatively, you can use a sponge to remove any particles stuck to the needles.
Wet a clean sponge with some soapy water and roll the dermaroller on its surface several times. This will remove any skin cells, skin products, or blood from the device's crevices, which are otherwise hard to clean.
After this, rinse off the soapy water thoroughly before proceeding.
2. Soak and Disinfect
This step is the most crucial, as it ensures that there aren't any germs and bacteria on your dermaroller before you use it. Here are some things you can use to disinfect it:
Use Alcohol
To properly disinfect a dermaroller for microneedling at home, you need to soak it in isopropyl alcohol. This stuff is generally termed as rubbing alcohol and is used as a disinfectant. It's easily available online or at a pharmacy.
However, you need to make sure that you're using a solution that is 70% concentrated - nothing higher or lower. This is because anything more concentrated will evaporate too quickly, and a lower concentration isn't strong enough for some germs.
Pour enough solution in a dish or bowl to submerge the head of the dermaroller and place it in.
Try to place your dermaroller upside down and not face down to avoid putting pressure on the needles. Devices such as the ones from DermRollers make this easy due to their curved necks, which ensures that the needles don't touch the surface below when you place it down.
Soak it in the alcohol solution for at least 10-15 minutes before proceeding.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is an effective disinfectant and can kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi. A 3% concentration is enough for cleaning most surfaces, so you can use it to clean your dermaroller.
Following the steps listed above, soak your dermaroller in hydrogen peroxide for 10-15 minutes.
Denture Tablets
If none of the stuff above is available, but you've got some denture tablets at hand, go ahead and use them to clean your dermaroller. Denture tablets remove build-up and kill most microorganisms in retainers and dentures. Hence, you can use them to disinfect your dermaroller, too.
Drop one tablet into a small bowl filled with water. Next, place the dermaroller inside, making sure that the head is submerged. Leave it in the solution for as long as indicated in the tablet's directions for use.
3. Rinse and Dry
Take out your microneedling device from the cleaning solution and rinse it with hot water thoroughly.
Lastly, you'll need to dry it before using it. It's best to air dry, but make sure you place the dermaroller in a way that the needles won't touch any surface. Or, you could simply hold it in your hand while it dries.
You could also roll the dermaroller on a clean piece of tissue paper to dry it quickly, but we don't recommend this, as bits of tissue could get stuck on the sharp needles.
Once you're done with all these steps, you can use the dermaroller on your skin/scalp.
Related FAQs
In case you've got some more questions regarding the whole process, here are some FAQs that we've answered:
Do You Have to Clean a Dermaroller?
This might seem like a dumb question, but sometimes, you might be tempted to just get over with the treatment without doing the extra steps. However, cleaning your dermaroller is not something you can skip, as the residue can develop bacteria and fungi and cause infections.
So yes, it's imperative that you clean your dermaroller.
How Often Should I Clean My Dermaroller?
The next question that arises is: do you have to clean it every time? Yes, absolutely. Before every use, clean your dermaroller by soaking it in alcohol to eliminate any bacteria that may have accumulated while it was stored.
After using, scrub off any residue with the methods listed above and soak it in alcohol before storing it.
Can I Clean My Dermaroller With Vinegar?
No. Vinegar contains acetic acid that does kill some bacteria, but it can't get rid of all the germs and pathogens. So it's okay for cleaning other stuff, but for something that's going to pierce your skin, you should use a more effective cleansing solution.
Can I Boil My Dermaroller to Sterilize It?
No, don't boil your dermaroller as this can damage the needles and make the device useless. Moreover, boiling doesn't sterilize things completely, so it's not effective in killing bacteria and germs entirely.
How Do I Prepare My Skin for a Dermaroller?
So you've cleaned your dermaroller, what about your skin? Prepare your skin by washing it with a gentle face wash that preferably has antimicrobial properties. After this, wipe it dry and apply a toner (if you want) and dermaroll away.
For more info on the subject, please read this article that’ll help you find the perfect cleanser and skincare for microneedling.
Final Words
Microneedling at home is quick and easy, and so is cleaning the dermarollers. Most of the time, it takes just 10-15 minutes to disinfect them.
Make sure you're thoroughly cleaning your dermaroller before every use by using the correct methods, and you'll be on your way to achieve your dream skin.