Male hair loss: temples and crown? Then this is genetic pattern baldness, and there's something you can do about it.
According to my genes, I should have been bald long ago. But I did something about it: finasteride, minoxidil, and microneedling. Here's what the studies measured about microneedling, with numbers.
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See the Dermastamp
- In men, one randomised pilot study measured a surplus alongside minoxidil. Microneedling was studied with a roller and clinical devices.
- Dhurat 2013: randomised, assessor-blinded pilot study, 100 men (results of 94 analysed), 1.5 mm roller, weekly, for 12 weeks. Both groups received 5% minoxidil; the microneedling group gained +91.4, the minoxidil-only group +22.2 hairs per square centimetre (P = 0.039).
- That is why it's a B: no large, independent study has yet repeated the male result.
Evidence level · MALE GENETIC PATTERN BALDNESS
B Supported
What this grade means: There's a study on it, but something is missing: the sample is small, or the result was mostly self-assessed by the participants, or the microneedling was combined with another treatment. The grade describes the level of evidence, not what will happen for you.
This page stands at grade B.
These studies measured microneedling as a method. The studies were done with dermarollers and clinical devices.
The honest balance, what it actually measures
This is how the number of hairs per square centimetre grew over 12 weeks: one group received microneedling and minoxidil, the other minoxidil only.
Dhurat 2013 · PMID 23960389 · randomised trial, 100 men, 1.5 mm roller, the assessor evaluating the outcome didn't know who was in which group (a pilot according to the paper's title)Results from 94 of the 100 men were analysed. The difference between the microneedling group and the minoxidil-only group in the Dhurat study is P = 0.039, which is below the usual 0.05 threshold. The paper itself calls it a pilot study.
Dhurat 2013 · PMID 23960389 · randomised, assessor-blinded pilot studyThe positive study was done with a 1.5 mm roller. The stamp causes fewer track-like surface marks and less post-treatment pigment spotting, but more redness, and this difference was statistically detectable too. Both are true.
PMC11993440 · literature review comparing microneedling devices, same source for both directionsWhat we DON'T know / what wasn't measured
For men, no large, independent study has yet repeated the positive result.
The weak point in this evidence
The most-cited male result was obtained with a 1.5 mm roller, alongside 5% minoxidil, over 12 weeks, at a single clinic.
This is the pattern of genetic baldness
The hairline recedes at the temples, and the crown thins separately. Over years, gradually.
More details
The scientific name for this type of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia (AGA for short), and behind it stands a hormone called DHT (full name dihydrotestosterone, which the body produces from testosterone). The follicles that are genetically sensitive to it grow progressively thinner, shorter hairs, until they eventually disappear. The follicles at the temples and crown are the most sensitive, the back of the head almost never goes bald.
If this isn't your picture (sudden onset, even shedding across the whole scalp, or round patches), then this isn't your type, check the pattern selector again.
What the needle does to the scalp
The fixed 1 mm needle triggers a regenerative response in the skin around the follicle.
More details
Microneedling opens temporary microchannels in the skin's top, sealing layer, and triggers a local regenerative response around the follicle. In the studies, minoxidil was given alongside this.
Whether a 1 mm stamp affects minoxidil penetration, no one has measured. The penetration percentages circulating online have no source.
What the studies measured
This is the most-cited number, from a single study: a randomised trial with a blinded assessor, 100 men, 12 weeks.
More details
What speaks for the Dhurat study: it was a randomised, assessor-blinded study, and it measured counted hairs. The paper calls itself a pilot study: 100 men, results of 94 analysed, at a clinic, with a 1.5 mm roller, weekly, for 12 weeks. Both groups received 5% minoxidil; the difference is P = 0.039.
In women, a larger 2026 study (PMID 42190753, 245 women, 2% minoxidil, 0.5–0.55 mm needle cartridge, 24 weeks) found no surplus. That study was not run on men, so it does not refute the male result above.
These are the facts, the decision is yours. If the female pattern fits you, here's the women's page.
Who it's for, and who it isn't
Genetic pattern baldness, ALONGSIDE minoxidil. This is where there's the most data: the studies gave microneedling alongside minoxidil.
Microneedling without minoxidil? The studies measured it in combination, there's little data on it alone.
Fully bald, shiny skin surface: where there's no longer any follicle, there's nothing to stimulate. This won't bring it back. No device will.
Sudden onset, even shedding across the whole scalp, or round patches: this isn't your type. Blood test, or a dermatologist. Here's the pattern selector. More on this: telogen effluvium.
The most common mistake: minoxidil on the same day
In the study that measured a surplus, participants were told not to apply minoxidil on the day of the treatment, and to resume only after 24 hours. We follow this conservative protocol.
More details
The methodology, word for word: "not to apply Minoxidil on the day of procedure and to resume its application only 24 h after" (Dhurat 2013).
The "you can apply it again after half an hour" circulating on forums is a community habit. There's no clinical data behind it.
The Dhurat study describes the instruction, not the reason. Our reading is that the point of the 24-hour pause is that the active ingredient should not enter through the freshly opened microchannels. An active ingredient behaves differently on the skin's surface than once it's deep in the skin. Cases have been described where small, persistent inflammatory nodules (medically called granulomas) formed from a product applied before or during microneedling.
If you're allergic to minoxidil: never with the Dermastamp.
If you go for it, do exactly this
Fixed 1.0 mm. It can't be adjusted, so you can't accidentally go deeper. The exact technique: the 1 mm guide.
Scalp: 1× per week. (In the study it was also 1× weekly, with a roller.)
Not on the day of treatment. You start again after 24 hours, then your usual daily routine.
At least 12 weeks before you judge. The Dhurat study in men also measured hair count at week 12. The hair cycle is slow, and no change shows in the first weeks.
Open wounds, active inflammation on the scalp. In case of minoxidil allergy, never.
The pharmaceutical side
Finasteride, dutasteride: prescription medications. I take finasteride myself. A medical decision, with side effects. Discuss it with someone who's actually a doctor.
I've written about both in detail, together with the mechanism and the side effects: oral DHT blockers: finasteride and dutasteride, and minoxidil guide. I've also written separately about finasteride sprayed on the scalp: topical finasteride (Fynzur spray), and about what's worth knowing if you're planning a family: finasteride and having children.
So does microneedling work for hair, or not?
In men, one randomised, assessor-blinded pilot study measured a surplus alongside minoxidil (100 men, results of 94 analysed, 1.5 mm roller, weekly, 12 weeks, 5% minoxidil in both groups): with microneedling +91.4, with minoxidil only +22.2 hairs per square centimetre were measured (P = 0.039). No large, independent male study has repeated this yet.
What you can weigh: microneedling can be done at home, and it comes alongside minoxidil. You can see the full risk list on the Before you buy page.
Is microneedling enough on its own, without minoxidil?
The studies measured it in combination, added alongside minoxidil. There is significantly less data on microneedling itself.
Does it hurt on the scalp?
The scalp is less sensitive than the face. Mild stinging and temporary redness are typical. According to the literature, redness is strongest with the stamp among the four device types studied (stamp, motorized pen, roller, and radiofrequency device) (PMC11993440). If you feel sharp pain, you're pressing too hard.
How long until I see something?
The studies first measured at 12 weeks. The hair growth cycle is slow, so a realistic expectation is 3–6 months.
Roller or stamp for the scalp?
For the scalp, we recommend the stamp: a roller catches on the hair and it's hard to work evenly with it, the stamp moves perpendicularly, part by part.
Where the stamp is worse, though: the same comparative review that favours the stamp (fewer track-like surface marks, less post-treatment pigment spotting) also states that redness was strongest with the stamp specifically, statistically significantly so (PMC11993440). That's the price of the stamp.
I already take finasteride and use minoxidil. Is there any point?
That's exactly my own combination. In this case, microneedling is the third, additional layer , it does not replace any of them. The studies also added it alongside minoxidil, not instead of it.
You're in a better position today than you will be tomorrow.
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A thinning, shrinking hair follicle is still alive, that's something you can work on. Where the scalp is already shiny and smooth, there's nothing left to stimulate. The decision is yours.
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On the facePerpendicular to the skin- Press down, lift up
- 4–6 times per section
On the scalpOnce a week- Parting by parting
The needle headFixed 1.0 mm- Needle length not adjustable
- SUS304 steel, gold-plated
Single-useOne treatment, one stamp- You disinfect it before use
- Then you throw it away
- AAcne scarsProven
- BStretch marksSupported
- BWrinkles & anti-agingSupported
- BHair lossalongside minoxidil, studied in men and womenSupported
- CPores & skin textureMechanism only
These studies were done with dermarollers, microneedling pens and, in some of them, a radiofrequency device, mostly in a clinic. The letter grade (A, B, C) shows how strong the evidence is, not what your result will be.
SGS is one of the world's leading independent testing and certification companies. It ran skin biocompatibility tests on the dermastamp device and needle cartridge under the ISO 10993 standard: cytotoxicity ("non-cytotoxic", not toxic to cells), skin irritation ("negligible"), sensitization (0% positive reaction). This measures whether the material can safely touch the skin.
TÜV SÜD · the materialTÜV SÜD is a long-established, independent testing organization. It tested the needle steel (SUS304 medical-grade stainless): migration of 21 heavy metals, all below the limit value (nickel included). The handle/housing plastic was tested under the REACH standard, 209 substances checked, all below the 0.1% threshold. This measures what leaches out of the material. The gold coating is declared by the manufacturer; TÜV did not test it.
Dermastamp (1 mm)
EU-registered It's on the market as a medical device (EU-MDR 2017/745, Class I), and it's listed in EUDAMED, the EU's official database: UDI-DI 06976567878014. As the importer, I'm registered too: HU-IM-000051605. Registration means traceability. It does not assess effectiveness. , Single-use One stamp equals one treatment: according to the manufacturer's instructions, it can't be cleaned or reused after use (registered under EU-MDR Class I). You start every treatment with a new device, factory-treated with an electron beam and disinfected by you before use. This is the most hygienic way to do microneedling at home. microneedling device with detailed instructions for use; How long does one package last? The calculation for the four single-use stamps assumes 1 use a week on the scalp and 1 use every 2–3 weeks on the face. You use a new, unopened stamp for every treatment: no reuse and no carried-over contamination.
We currently ship within the European Union only.
Choose your EU country to see the price in euros and the delivery options. The forint prices shown here apply to Hungary.
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Reviews translated from Hungarian.
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Edit✓ verified buyer2026-07-24
The parcel arrived on the third working day after my weekend order 😊 The product matches the description, using it is practically painless, afterwards there is a mild burning feeling and redness. I can report on the effect later, I trust that I have reason to hope. Before use I disinfected not only the stamp but the skin as well, with a spray made specifically for this. I found a face mask as a gift in the parcel, I am really glad about it, thank you!
Special thanks for the detailed description :)
Wishing you much success, kind regards: Edit -
Mariann Szabó✓ verified buyer2026-06-19
Very good quality product, less painful than the roller. The seller is very fair and kind, one detail was missing from my order and he handled it in a very humane way😊
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B.Eszter2026-06-08
Very professional product and seller. After the 4th time, other people noticed too that my skin is much nicer. Thank you!
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Névtelen2026-05-18
Everything arrived fine. I had my doubts that the site was a scam, but no. I got what was promised. After a 0.5 mm CIT pen (which was quite good, but is not available anymore) and cosmetic mesotherapy (which is expensive, and my skin protested against it so much after the 4th time that I stopped), I am now waiting for this treatment with curiosity. Thank you for the work you put into it!
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Schnell Fruzsina✓ verified buyer2026-05-14
Really great, easy to use. Much better than the derma roller I used before.
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Névtelen✓ verified buyer2026-05-03
Great little device , I am on the second one now. I use it on my face and on my scalp too. It is not a spa treatment, but the pain is minimal and you get used to it.
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Névtelen✓ verified buyer2026-04-14
I am satisfied with the quality of the product, I use it on my face and on my scalp too.
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Névtelen✓ verified buyer2026-04-14
Great!
Usage on video
- 1DisinfectionRinse the needle head with warm water, then disinfect it with 70% or stronger alcohol for 60–120 seconds, and wait until it is completely dry.
- 2Cleansing or hair washWash your hands with soap. Wash your face with a gentle foaming cleanser (micellar water isn't enough here), and your scalp with your usual shampoo. Start without makeup, on completely dry skin.
- 3StampingDivide the area into smaller sections and stamp gently and perpendicularly: you press down, lift, and don't drag. 4–6 times on each section, each time a little further along. Mild redness and tiny pinpoint bleeding are normal.
- 4AftercareThat evening, don't rub it, don't wash it off, and don't put anything on it. The next morning, foaming cleanser, Centella serum, moisturiser, SPF 50. For 24 hours, no makeup, swimming pool, sauna, tanning bed or strong sun. Retinoid and vitamin C: the user guide says 24 hours for retinoids, I wait 48 hours to be on the safe side. Acid exfoliants (AHA/BHA): at least one week, a published review recommends this. Every skin is different, find out what works for you. We've put together the ingredients for face and scalp separately: Tips and ingredients →
Watch it on video too:
Thinking of using it for hair loss? On the hair loss page you can check whether it suits your kind of hair loss.
What else do I need to buy?
- 170% alcohol: for disinfecting the stampBefore stamping, the stamp needs to soak in alcohol. The instructions for use name 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA), and the steps call for a 70% or stronger alcohol-based disinfectant. 70% ethyl alcohol is such a disinfectant too. According to the disinfection guidance of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ethyl alcohol acts on a broader range of viruses, while isopropyl was slightly stronger on two tested bacteria (E. coli, S. aureus). I also show the process on video, in the "Usage on video" section, and I detail it in the instructions in the box.
- 2SPF 50 sunscreen: if you use it on your faceStamped skin is more sensitive to UV radiation, so you need SPF 50 every morning, starting the morning after.
- 3Gentle cleanser: if you use it on your faceYou need a gentle, foaming cleanser; micellar water isn't enough here. Start without makeup, on completely dry skin. The alcohol is for the stamp's needle head.
Why is it single-use?
- 1This is a manufacturer requirementThe device is registered as single-use (EU-MDR Class I): according to the manufacturer's instructions, one treatment, one person, and after that it can't be cleaned or reused. This is a requirement.
- 2Every session is a clean startThis way, you start every treatment with a new device, factory-treated with an electron beam and then disinfected by you before use.
- 3Less guesswork at homeYou don't have to wonder how many times you've used it, how clean it stayed, or whether the needles have degraded. One treatment equals one stamp: a simpler, more consistent, more hygienic routine.
I'm training to be a cosmetologist, and I found microneedling because of my own hair loss and skin problems. I want to bring this mechanism home as safely as possible, for you too. I stamp my own scalp weekly, and my face every 2–3 weeks.
Marci · dermastamp.hu
In your routine
How it fits into the routine you have now
Eveningon treatment day
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Foaming face wash Micellar water is not enough here. Start with completely dry skin.
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Alcohol for the stamp Rinse it with warm water, soak it for at least 1–2 minutes in 70% or stronger alcohol, and let it dry.
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Dermastamp Section by section, perpendicular, 4–6 times, always moving it a little.
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Nothing Do not wash it off, do not rub it, and do not put anything on it.
Next morningon the treated skin
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Foaming face wash
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Centella serum After cleansing, under the moisturiser.
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Moisturiser
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SPF 50 Every morning from now on.
Back to your usualafter this long
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Makeup, pool, sauna 24 hoursTanning beds and strong sun too.
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Retinoid, vitamin C 48 hoursThe user guide says 24 hours for retinoids; to be on the safe side I wait 48.
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Acid exfoliant at least a weekAHA, BHA. A 2025 microneedling review advises against exfoliants for at least a week after the treatment.
Every skin is different, find out what works for you.
On the face one treatment every 2–3 weeks, always with a new stamp. Treat the same area again no sooner than 7–14 days later.
Eveningon treatment day
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Hair wash With your usual shampoo, completely dry before you start.
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Alcohol for the stamp Rinse it with warm water, soak it for at least 1–2 minutes in 70% or stronger alcohol, and let it dry.
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Dermastamp Parting by parting, perpendicular, 4–6 times.
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Nothing Do not wash it that day, and do not put anything on it.
Next morningon the treated skin
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Minoxidil, if you use it Skip it on treatment day and continue 24 hours later.
Back to your usualafter this long
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Pool, sauna, strong sun 24 hours
In the study cited most often, minoxidil was applied 24 hours after microneedling, which was done with a different device, a 1.5 mm clinical roller.
On the scalp one treatment a week, always with a new stamp. The user guide allows treating the same area again no sooner than 7–14 days later; my weekly rhythm is at the lower edge of that.
Peptides, copper peptide (GHK-Cu)?
If you also have other treatments
Why this device
Dermastamp, and an anonymous online stamp or roller
Dermastamp
Anonymous online stamp or roller
? = not stated or cannot be checked
Stamp or dermaroller?
What to expect?
Does it hurt? What to expect the first time?
Personal experience
Not pleasant, but in my own experience, clearly bearable. On the image I marked how sensitive I found each zone:
- Green: easiest. Forehead, most of the face.
- Yellow: noticeable, but comfortable. Around the eyebrows, nose bridge, jaw.
- Red: more sensitive, but short-lived. Nose, under-eye area, around the mouth. Don't stamp near the eyelid or inner corner of the eye.
In my experience the scalp is less sensitive than the face. The first session feels the most unfamiliar, but based on customer feedback, most people expect it to be worse than it is.
How long does your skin stay red?
In my experience the redness on the face fades within a few hours, with little trace left by the next morning. In more sensitive zones (nose, around the mouth) it can take a bit longer. On the scalp it's less visible, mostly covered by hair, and settles faster.
If the symptoms get stronger or do not go away, or you see signs of infection (increasing pain, pus, fever), stop and see a healthcare professional.
No makeup for 24 hours. From the next morning, SPF 50 every morning.
What's allowed and what isn't after stamping? →Personal experience, individual reactions may vary.
What shouldn't you use it for?
Don't use it on irritated, sunburned, actively inflamed, or infected skin. Not recommended for open wounds, active acne, eczema, or psoriasis-affected areas. If you take blood thinners or are under dermatological treatment, check with your doctor.
Age, pregnancy: Under 18. During pregnancy or breastfeeding only after talking to your doctor.
Your skin in the treated area: Open wound, abrasion, burn, fresh scar, active inflammation, eczema, psoriasis, fungal or bacterial infection. Severe acne, a tendency to keloids or abnormal scarring.
Illness, medication: Uncontrolled diabetes, a blood clotting disorder, blood thinners. Active cancer, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. HIV/AIDS, hepatitis or another severe infection.
Allergy: A known allergy to the disinfectant or to the cosmetics you use. If you have a metal allergy, especially to nickel, ask a healthcare professional first: the needles are SUS304 steel, gold-plated.
Where not to use it: Eyelids, the very thin skin around the eyes, mucous membranes, mouth, nostrils, genitals.
For hair loss: if the shedding came on suddenly or is patchy, or if scarring hair loss has been diagnosed, see a doctor about it. The stamp isn't the answer for these.
You'll find the full list of contraindications in the instructions for use that comes with every package. You can review the full risk picture here: Before you buy.
How do you know it's enough? How hard should you press?
Stamp gently and perpendicularly: you press down, lift, and don't drag. Divide the area into smaller sections and go over each one 4–6 times, each time a little further along. It's enough when you see mild redness and a few tiny pinpoint spots of blood here and there. The needle is a fixed 1.0 mm and can't be adjusted, so you can't accidentally go deeper.
The goal is even coverage.
Why 1 mm, and why isn't it adjustable?
I didn't want a deeper device for home use. On most of the facial skin, the 1 mm needle reaches at most the upper-middle band of the dermis, the layer where the collagen-producing cells (fibroblasts) are. A simple design: a needle stamp with no moving parts. Press down gently, the depth comes from the length of the needle. Fixed 1.0 mm, it can't be adjusted, so you can't accidentally go deeper. I didn't choose an adjustable one because I don't consider the moving parts of an adjustable head properly disinfectable at home.
When will I get it, and how do I pay?
Cash on delivery for one-time purchases: you pay when the parcel is in your hands. A subscription starts with card payment; card payment is also available for one-time purchases. Foxpost parcel locker 990 Ft, free from 21,000 Ft and with a subscription.
When can I see a change?
The studies on wrinkles and acne scars measured results months after the start, typically between 3 and 8 months. For hair loss, microneedling was added alongside minoxidil, for 3–6 months with regular sessions. These studies used other devices, and I cannot tell you your result in advance.
How does the subscription work?
With the scalp subscription a 4-pack arrives on its own every 4 weeks, with free parcel-locker delivery. In your account, under My subscription, you can skip a pack, pause or cancel. There is no minimum term, and a pack you have already paid for still arrives after you cancel. Payment is handled by the Shopify checkout; I never see your full card number.
Why is this device different?
Needle material
80 GOLD-PLATED STEEL NEEDLES
Medical-grade 304 stainless steel, with a real gold coating, the same base material used in surgical instruments. According to independent lab tests (TÜV SÜD, SGS) and the biocompatibility tests mandatory for skin-contact medical devices (which examine compatibility with the skin) (EN ISO 10993-1, -5, -10), every value for the needle came in below the threshold, and it passed TÜV's heavy metal migration test (21 metals, including nickel release). If you have a known metal allergy, consult a doctor regardless: according to the instructions for use, the device shouldn't be used in that case.
1 treatment = 1 stamp for maximum hygiene
Needle layout
I tried dozens of models so you don't have to
I tested dozens of microneedling devices, different needle densities, layouts, and depths. The 80-needle stamp head arranged in an even grid gave the most even microchannels.
Marci · I've been doing microneedling on my own skin for 4 years
Hygiene
Electron-beam treated (e-beam)
It undergoes electron-beam treatment during manufacturing. It's not a sterile device, disinfect it before every single use according to the instructions. It retains its factory cleanliness until the packaging is opened.
Factory e-beam treated, single-use
*In case of a strong metal allergy, before first use it's worth testing the stamp with a few pricks on a small area of skin (e.g. the inner forearm) and observing the reaction for 48 hours.
E-BEAM hygiene step
This is what gives the clear protective cap its amber colour
Electron beam treatment during manufacturing
Important: not a sterile device. The effect applies while still sealed.
E-BEAM hygiene step
This is what gives the clear protective cap its amber colour
Electron beam treatment during manufacturing
Important: not a sterile device. The effect applies while still sealed.
- The E-BEAM (electron beam) treatment is a quality-assurance/hygiene boost during manufacturing: the packaged product is briefly exposed to an electron beam.
- Before use, you disinfect the needle head for 60–120 seconds with 70% or stronger alcohol.
- While still sealed, the product gets an extra, documented hygiene step.
- After opening, the home environment varies, which is why the manufacturer specifies: 1 treatment = 1 Dermastamp. This is the device's declared method of use.
This approach brings it closer to a clinical protocol: a predictable device + consistent hygiene.