Microneedling involves using fine needles to create hundreds of tiny, invisible puncture wounds in the top layer of skin. Sound appealing? Not so much. But this minimally invasive treatment—whether it's done in-office by a trained aesthetician, dermatologist, or plastic surgeon—is virtually painless and incredibly effective. The micro-injuries you create stimulates the body's natural wound healing processes, resulting in cell turnover and increased collagen and elastin production, therefore reversing as well as preventing signs of aging. (It works the same way lasers do, only you're injuring the skin mechanically instead of using heat or light.) Believe it or not, microneedling has become hugely popular among skincare fanatics—

Vogue is calling it the next big thing in anti-aging.

The primary appeal of microneedling is its ability to stimulate growth of collagen and elastin, which is the key to new, youthful-looking skin. Some doctors would even go so far as to say that the procedure is the most powerful way to stop aging in its tracks and prevent new fine lines and wrinkles from forming. With its ability to trigger the generation of new skin cells, just a few sessions of microneedling will noticeably reduce fine lines, crow's feet, and deep wrinkles on the forehead. The Microneedling treatment is able to utilize the body's own natural healing mechanisms, so the results are very natural. There is minimal downtime with it, and is often recommend as a maintenance for people who are trying to stave off the signs of aging.

In a 2009 study on the effects of microneedling, nearly 100 percent of acne-scarred participants reported a marked improvement in the visibility of their acne scars. In case you're wondering how microneedling compares to fractional laser treatments when it comes to resolving acne scars, a head-to-head comparison published in the journal Dermatologic Surgery in 2016, found both treatments to be comparable and effective, but gave credit to microneedling for being better tolerated, with fewer side effects 

and less downtime. These are the secrets your skin wants to tell you.

Collagen is arguably the most vital way to improve the look of skin, and this goes far beyond reducing wrinkles. By stimulating collagen growth with microneedling, you can also reverse sun damage and discoloration, including the hyperpigmentation that comes with melasma. A 2015 study showed microneedling to be a promising treatment for the blotchy, brownish facial pigmentation that comes with this chronic condition.

On top of microneedling's ability to smooth and correct damaged skin, it also has the added bonus of tightening loose skin, which makes it great for older men and women. (Remember: The older you are, the less collagen you're naturally producing.) A 2015 study in the International Journal of Dermatology confirms that microneedling is a new way to achieve "skin rejuvenation, tightening, and scar remodeling," and that it offers a "simple and effective treatment for photo aged skin" with minimal side effects and downtime. Older skin can also greatly benefit from the right fuel, so add these beauty foods to your diet to get that glow.

It's a bit counter-intuitive, but microneedling doesn't actually enlarge pores as you might imagine piercing your skin hundreds of times would. Microneedling stimulates collagen in and around your pores, which causes them to plump and appear shrunken,

 if not closed. And let's be honest, who doesn't want smaller pores?

Did you know that only 4 to 8 percent of that expensive serum you're using on your face actually penetrates your skin? One of microneedling's additional appeals is that it improves product absorption tremendously. Studies confirm that the treatment can actually help topical medications penetrate skin more efficiently, allowing you to reap the full benefits of any product. This makes total sense considering the fact that microneedling creates thousands of invisible holes in your skin that are ready to absorb products in a way clogged pores can't. "The tiny punctures actually act like little channels, allowing topical products to

 penetrate better and work more effectively.

Finally, an awesome benefit of microneedling is that this treatment isn't exclusive to the face. It can be done on any area of skin that needs to be repaired—particularly areas that display stretchmarks or acne scars, like the legs, chest, back, stomache and butt. It also helps tighten skin around the neck and top of hands and prevents new stretchmarks in the treated areas. As few as four to six sessions could make a difference in these problem areas. You will see immediate results after the first treatment is healed.