In the microneedling discussion, the debate over needle depth accuracy has long been central. While automated skin needling was hailed as the "new horizon" and "new potential" by regenerative specialist Dr Gordon Sasaki in a 2014 paper, pioneering microneedling expert Dr Des Fernandez challenged these claims in 2017. Fernandez argued that while automated devices could change depth and oscillation, a roller was still more exact. He noted that automated devices often exhibit high variability, meaning a dial set to 1 mm could range between 0.5 mm and 1.25 mm during a procedure, with this variation changing from region to region and cartridge to cartridge.

The Dermapen 4® addresses this fundamental issue with a feature exclusive to its technology: digitalisation.

• Integrated Digital Depth Adjustment: Launched in 2018, the Dermapen 4® introduced the world's only fully integrated, digitalised, automated microneedling device.

• Zero Baseline Calibration: When you change the needle depth (increasing or decreasing), the device's needles automatically calibrate back to a zero baseline before extending to the new depth.

• Guaranteed Accuracy: This process ensures that the needle depth you see on the screen matches the depth entering the skin, delivering the "ultimate of pinpoint precision" for every patient and every procedure. This integrated system, built into the pen itself, earned Dermapen 4® three Good Design Awards upon its release in Australia, South Korea, and Germany.

Beyond precision, the Dermapen 4's design focuses on power and the sophisticated relationship between the motor and the needles. The device is noticeably larger than many automated devices on the international market, which translates to power.

• Turbo-Cut Lithium Battery: Power is provided by a turbo-cut lithium battery, which delivers up to an unprecedented 90 minutes of full power without compromise and offers the option of mains power.

• Direct Drive Mechanism: Needles are operated by a direct drive mechanism—similar to pistons in a car motor—rather than a spring-load. This provides strength, tenacity, and durability, allowing the needle depth to reach a maximum of 3 mm for the SCAR treatment setting (ST).

• Optimised Needle/Motor Relationship: A superior microneedling device is defined by the relationship between the number of needles and the device's power. Dermapen 4® features 16 x 33 gauge needles. When operating at the top speed of 120 revolutions per second (Speed 4), this delivers an unparalleled 1,920 puncture channels per second into the skin.

This balance prevents common issues:

• Too much power/too few needles leads to overstimulation and impaired epidermal integrity.

• Too many needles/not enough power leads to drag, resistance, pull, check marks, discomfort, and risks of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or scar tissue.

For any professional, cross-contamination is a critical risk. Dermapen 4 incorporates a unique, multi-faceted Anti-Contamination Management (ACM) system.

The needle cartridge is designed with 52 individual components. Key features include:

• Breathing Vents: Two breathing vents on either side of the cartridge prevent vacuuming, which removes the risk of bruising.

• Fluid Guards: Silicon membranes inside the cartridge and an external fluid guard prevent blood, gliding mediums, or body fluids from entering the needle cartridge or the Dermapen 4®, eliminating the risk of cross-contamination, unlike other devices that can retain residue.

• System-Wide Protocols: The ACM system extends beyond the cartridge to include sterile, single-use needle cartridges, the DP Sleeve (a sheath covering the entire device), sterile basic dressing kits, treatment masks, and gloves.

These measures, combined with strict protocols, ensure that practitioners will not need to rely on topical or oral antibiotics for patients. Furthermore, the needle puncture channels close predictably and reliably within minutes following a Dermapen 4® procedure, ensuring patients never leave the clinic with open wounds.

DermapenWorld regenerative synergy goes beyond microneedling. The Dermapen 4® activates mechanical, electrical, and chemical regeneration. Paired with DP Dermaceuticals products like MG Collection, Exoskin Exo-Grow, Uber Pro, and Uber MD, it provides chemical regeneration without donors.

For authorised treatment providers (ATPs), safety is maintained through evidence-based protocols created by international KOLs and micro-needling experts. These ensure predictable results and emphasise "first do no harm. "

Protocols guide practitioners to:

1. Diagnose and Assess: Determine the indication, its pathophysiology, and its location within the skin.

2. Determine Visual End Point:

   • No blood pink: Granulosum epidermis.

   • No blood red: Basil spinosum epidermis.

   • Occasional pinpoint blood: Epidermal junction, superficial papillary dermis.

   • Consistent pinpoint blood: Mid papillary dermis.

   • Moderate release of blood: Hypodermis.

3. Select Dp Dermaceuticals MG Collection Product: Match the indication to the appropriate product (e.g., MG Collection BL for pigmentation, CLR for acne, RAS for rejuvenation).

4. Execute Technique: Utilise the official protocol for standard procedures, which involves a vertical strike, followed by horizontal, then diagonal one, and finally diagonal two (the "Union Jack" technique). Never use circular motions, which can rip and tear the skin.

5. Post-treatment Care: Follow official DermapenWorld postoperative products, specifically the Dp Dermaceuticals™ VITAMIN RICH REPAIR and COVER RECOVER, as exchanging these products risks trapping heat and extending irritation/downtime.