Derma rollers are an interesting – and yep, scary – beauty product. At a glance, the idea of pin-pricking your skin with tiny needles seems painful and confusing. How can that possibly do your skin any good? Well, there is a method to the madness.

A derma roller is a hand-held device that features hundreds of micro-needles around the circumference of its roller head. It’s like a mini paint roller with needles. When rolled over the skin, the needles create micro-injuries that signal to your body to produce more collagen and elastin to repair the affected area. It may also help heal scars (including acne scars). The concept is the same as the professional version – microneedling,