This blog post examines the impact of acne and scars on first impressions, explores the principles behind how IntraCell selectively regenerates the dermal layer to improve skin texture, and highlights its differences from traditional peeling treatments.
Imagine this scenario. You’re waiting for your blind date. The person you’ve been waiting for finally sits down across from you, and the natural process of getting to know each other begins. Fortunately, their hairstyle, facial expressions, and every feature perfectly align with your expectations. Now, imagine changing just one thing about this ideal appearance in your mind. That one thing is their skin. Acne, red marks, pitted scars, and pores clearly visible to the naked eye. The moment these elements are added, how does your first impression of the other person change?
As you can see from this imagination, skin plays a crucial role in determining first impressions. Perhaps that’s why, recently, many people visit dermatologists not only to overcome complexes or regain confidence, but even before job interviews. However, the peeling procedure commonly used in the past involved strong stimulation by removing a layer of skin, causing pain similar to a burn and making outdoor activities difficult for several days after the procedure. Fortunately, recent treatments have emerged that are effective at restoring what is often called ‘baby skin’ while significantly mitigating these drawbacks. Among these, the representative procedure is ‘IntraCell’. So, how exactly does IntraCell improve acne-prone skin into smooth skin?
The skin is actually composed of multiple layers. Even without a biology background, you’ve likely heard the terms epidermis and dermis. These are the primary layers that make up the skin. The epidermis acts as a protective barrier thinly covering our body, with the dermis located beneath it. The dermis is the space where two key components are produced: collagen, abundant in pork rinds often touted as good for the skin, and elastin, which brings to mind Jeon Ji-hyun’s silky, flowing hair. It is also the layer where these components are concentrated. At this point, we can understand why collagen and elastin are said to play a key role in skin improvement. Ultimately, improving skin is no different from maintaining and restoring the health of the dermis. Removing pigmentation that causes a blotchy complexion or excess sebum from the dermis and replacing it with new collagen and elastin makes the skin brighter and more elastic.
The IntraCell procedure also follows this fundamental principle. However, the key point to note is how this principle is implemented. IntraCell begins with the insertion of multiple very fine, tiny gold needles into the skin. These needles are designed so their tips are precisely positioned within the dermis. Subsequently, high-frequency energy is emitted from the needle tips. High-frequency energy refers to a type of electromagnetic wave possessing high energy, residing in a different spectrum from the light we commonly know, such as infrared, visible light, and ultraviolet rays. As we know from everyday experience, visible light merely provides visual stimulation, while ultraviolet light, possessing higher energy, can damage the skin and cause burns. So, what effect does radiofrequency, with even higher energy, have? The radiofrequency emitted from the needle tips instantly and selectively destroys the surrounding skin tissue. During this process, pigment accumulated within the dermis, excess sebum, and damaged tissue are removed. The IntraCell procedure is completed by introducing substances that stimulate the production of new collagen and elastin into the destroyed dermal layer areas. In other words, the core of IntraCell is the process of removing existing damaged skin tissue and replacing it with new tissue.
Now, let’s examine the difference from dermabrasion in more detail. Dermabrasion involves scraping off the entire epidermis to treat the dermis. This essentially removes the skin’s protective barrier, resulting in significant pain, extreme vulnerability to external stimuli (requiring strict sun avoidance), and a lengthy recovery period. This is because the area of epidermis requiring regeneration is extensive. In contrast, IntraCell largely resolves these issues by utilizing micro-needles. By minimizing needle size, damage to the epidermis is minimized. Since radiofrequency energy is emitted only at the needle tip, the dermis can be destroyed and treated locally and selectively. Additionally, the needle length is adjustable, enabling precise treatment tailored to the varying depths of the dermis in different areas. This allows for relatively safe treatment of sensitive areas like the eye contour, which were previously difficult to access.
However, current IntraCell procedures do not inherently include the function of self-regenerating the micro-damage caused by the needles and radiofrequency. Therefore, a separate treatment step is required post-procedure to apply or inject regenerative substances to the treated area. This is an aspect that could be improved through future research, potentially evolving into a method where regenerative substances are delivered simultaneously with the radiofrequency at the needle tip. Despite these limitations, Intracel can be considered a sufficiently innovative technology, as it largely compensates for the shortcomings of existing procedures while minimizing side effects. Combining biological understanding of skin tissue, chemicals that stimulate collagen production, and engineering technology for precise radiofrequency delivery, Intracel will play a significant role in the field of skin improvement going forward.
Now, imagine this scenario: You go on a second date with someone you met on a blind date, and they appear with skin that looks even clearer and smoother thanks to Intracel treatment. How would that change your feelings? Would you consider dating them?
