Who Is Microneedling For?
Anyone who wants skin rejuvenation, to improve the look of fine lines, wrinkles, acne scarring and stretch marks.
How Does Microneedling Work?
Microneedling causes micro channels in the skin to stimulate new skin cells, new collagen production to improve the texture & tone of skin, as well as soften fine lines, wrinkles and improve the firmness of the skin.
What To Expect During Treatment:
Your skin will be cleansed thoroughly and a topical numbing cream will be applied for 15-25 minutes. Numbing cream will be removed and skin will be sanitized with alcohol. Hyaluronic acid will be applied and skin will be punctured using a pen-like tool with tiny, sterilized needles. Your service provider typically moves the tool evenly across your skin so that the newly rejuvenated skin will be even.
Hyaluronic acid will be applied and skin will be needled in sections to a uniform redness. Some pinpoint bleeding can occur.
What Can I Expect from Microneedling Healing Stages?
The microneedling healing process is short, and the stages progress quickly. It’s hard to pinpoint day-to-day healing because everyone’s skin reacts differently. Here’s a general timeline of micro-needling healing:
During The Treatment
The microneedling healing process starts immediately after the injury has been caused. During the treatment, you can experience:
- A slightly uncomfortable sensation, but it shouldn’t be a pain.
- Some pinpoint bleeding, but that depends on several factors – whether you’ve been taking some blood thinning medication, how sensitive your skin is, whether you’ve been working out, drinking alcohol, etc.
- Skin starts turning red, which is the first side effect, signaling the first healing stage has begun.
In some cases, we use red light therapy after microneedling to speed up the healing process and minimize side effects.
After The Treatment
After the procedure, your skin will be red for several hours. The redness will slowly decrease, but it can take about a day or two.
1 Day After the Treatment:
One day after microneedling, your skin may:
- Feel hot and irritated
- Appear red, similar to a sunburn.
Don’t worry — this is temporary. It can last several days and may be followed by tightness and dryness. What to use after microneedling?
Moisturizers and gentle cleansers will minimize discomfort.
Several Days After the Treatment
After 48 hours, most people will see the redness fade, and any swelling and bruising should also disappear. However, some individuals may experience flaking, peeling, breakouts, bumps, and dry skin within a day or two after the procedure.
Microneedling Aftercare: Tips for Best Results
You need to do several sessions if you’re doing microneedling to treat a specific skin issue. During the intervals between sessions, prioritize proper aftercare. In summary, focus on two crucial aspects:
Follow-up
Treatments need to be spaced out about a month apart. A certain amount of time must pass between each session: at least 3 weeks (for acne skin) but 4-6 weeks is ideal.
It’s important not to rush the healing process after microneedling. Your skin needs time to heal internally, and interrupting this process can lead to increased skin inflammation.
Aftercare
Caring for the skin the way you were instructed ensures you get the best results from each treatment. Aftercare is often overlooked because the microneedling healing time is minimal, but it’s one of the most important factors to help you get desired results.
Avoid the following during your first week of recovery:
- sun exposure
- skin care products with alpha-hydroxy acids and retinol
- makeup
- sweating
You can help your skin heal after microneedling by:
- staying hydrated
- using an antioxidant serum
- using a cooling mask
- using collagen-stimulating peptides
Another important thing to note is that you shouldn’t use your regular skincare products during healing. Some products aren’t formulated to penetrate the skin and can cause more harm than good. A good Hyaluronic Acid Serum and SPF are recommended.
How Often Do I Need To Get Microneedling:
Once a month for 6 months is the recommended treatment duration. Results may vary based on the severity of the skin concern, its location, and the treatment plan used.
The skin may continue increased collagen production for 3 to 6 months after microneedling treatment.
How many sessions of microneedling do I need for acne scars?
Treatment plans vary from person to person, some clients experienced mild improvement in post-acne scarring after just two microneedling sessions.
After six sessions, people saw moderate improvement in their skin texture and good enhancement of scar appearance.
Why is it bad to get microneedling while on isotretinoin (Accutane)?
It’s not recommended to undergo a microneedling procedure while taking isotretinoin (Accutane) as it may increase the likelihood of scarring from the procedure.
You should wait at least 6 months after stopping the medication before starting your microneedling treatment.
Is microneedling better than Botox?
Microneedling and Botox have different purposes. Microneedling can treat scars, hyperpigmentation, and large pores by increasing the skin’s production of collagen. Botox injections prevent certain muscles from contracting and forming wrinkles on the skin.