Microneedling Aftercare Tips For Best Results

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what is the aftercare for microneedling

Microneedling Aftercare Tips

Microneedling has become one of the most popular skincare treatments because it delivers results without much downtime. Most people choose microneedling for anti-aging, acne scars and pore size, but it can help with a ton of other things like stretch marks and surgical scars. Microneeding recovery is fairly easy but it’s important to follow proper instructions following your treatments. Here’s everything you need to know about microneedling aftercare.

What Is Microneedling

Microneedling, also called Collagen Induction Therapy, uses a tool with tiny needles to prick the skin and make tiny little “injuries.” These injuries stimulate collagen and elastin production to help heal the skin.

Collagen and elastin are essential for the skin and help with firmness, elasticity, fine lines, wrinkles, skin texture, pore size and acne scars.

Microneedling is considered a minimally invasive procedure with relatively no downtime, aside from some redness (like a sunburn). Because of this, it’s quickly become one of the most popular procedures in dermatology and plastic surgery offices, as well as at home.

You may have heard terms like Dermapen or Skinpen, which are just brand names of the microneedling device. You may have also heard of dermarolling or derma rollers. These are not the same as microneedling.

Benefits of Microneedling

what to do after microneedling procedure

Microneedling can have a ton of benefits for the skin and can help with a variety of skin concerns.

  • Simulates collagen – one of the biggest benefits of microneedling is its ability to stimulate collagen production. In fact, one study showed a 400% increase in collagen in the skin after 4 microneedling treatments. Collagen is key to youthful and plump skin. Collagen can help with acne scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, sagging skin and more.
  • Stimulates elastin – another important component of the skin structure is elastin. Production of elastin slows as we age, which can lead to loss of firmness, sagging skin, and reduction in wound healing and tissue repair. Microneedling stimulates elastin production to keep skin bouncy, youthful and healthier.
  • Plumps skin – collagen and elastin help to plump the skin which helps skin appear more youthful, lessen fine lines and wrinkles and help with aging
  • Minimizes pore size – a series of microneedling treatments can significantly reduce pore skin
  • Reduces acne scars – microneedling is one of the best treatments for textured acne scars like icepick scars, box car scars and other indented types of acne scarring. When collagen is produced, it helps to fill in those indentation and reduce the look of acne scarring.
  • Fades stretch marks – microneedling has also been proven to fade all types of stretch marks and because of its minimal downtime, it’s a much better treatment than other invasive procedures

Microneedling Healing Timeline

Although microneedling is minimally invasive, you may experience some mild side effects like redness or peeling. Here’s a run down microneedling healing day by day.

Immediately after

Right after you microneedling treatment, your skin will be red and feel hot, just like a sunburn. Most of the redness will go away after a few hours, but you may experience slight lingering redness in certain areas.

Day 1-3

Slight redness is normal in days 1-3 following the treatment and most of it should subside by the day following the procedure. Your skin may feel tight, dry and rough. It may also feel tender or sensitive, so it’s best to be very gentle when applying any products.

Depending on the needle depth, you may also experience swelling or bruising, but this is uncommon.

Day 4-5

Your skin will likely start to peel and will feel rough, almost like sand paper. It’s extremely important to NOT pick, pull, sub or exfoliate the skin! You must let the skin flake off by itself, otherwise you risk damaging your skin and scarring.

Day 6-7

Your skin should be getting back to normal but you may still experience slight flaking still, especially around the mouth or nose. As long as your skin doesn’t feel irritated, you can start your regular skincare routine back up now.

Microneedling Aftercare Instructions

If you are getting a microneedling treatment done, you probably have some questions about what to expect and how to care for your skin after your procedure. What is the aftercare for microneedling? How to take care of your skin after microneedling? We’ll answer all these questions below.

It is extremely important to follow proper skin needling aftercare in order to get the best results and avoid damaging or scarring your skin.

The aftercare for microneedling is relatively simple, but it’s important to follow the aftercare instructions to get the most out of your treatments and avoid damaging your skin.

Since skin needling causes tiny injuries, it’s important to keep your skin clean and free of any bacteria. This means only touching your skin after washing your hands thoroughly. It’s also important to note that these injuries will remain “open” for a few hours following treatment, so anything you put on your skin will be able to penetrate deeper than usual.

Microneedling Aftercare Tips

what is the best thing to use after microneedling

These microneedling aftercare instructions are for all types of microneedling including microneedling with prp, rf microneedling and at home microneedling.

  1. Cleanse – Only use a very gentle cleanser and lukewarm water to cleanse the skin. Be gentle when cleansing and avoid using any cleansing brushes or washcloths for at least 1 week. Gently pat your skin dry with a clean towel.
  2. Treat – Using the right products after your microneedling treatment is key to getting the best results. Peptides, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and calming ingredients are all great to help speed up healing, stimulate collagen and elastin and rehydrate the skin.
  3. Makeup – Makeup should not be worn immediately following the procedure for at least 24 hours, even then it’s best to use light makeup like a tinted sunscreen, moisturizer or mineral makeup.
  4. Protect – Keeping your skin protected from the sun is absolutely one of the biggest microneedling aftercare tips you need to follow. Following the procedure, your skin will be more susceptible to skin damage, so keep it protect at all times by wearing at least SPF 30 and avoiding direct sunlight for at least 7 days following your treatment.

What To Avoid After Microneedling

  • Avoid exercise or strenuous activity for at least 48 hours
  • Avoid jacuzzis, saunas and steam for at least 48 hours
  • Avoid physical scrubs, facial cleansing brushes, washcloths for at least 7 days
  • Avoid chemical exfoliants like beta hydroxy acids (BHA), alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), retinol and retinoids for at least 7 days
  • Avoid the sun or tanning for at least 7 day

What To Put On Skin After Microneedling

If you get a microneedling treatment done in-office, your provider may supply you with some products to put on after your treatment. If not, you can follow their instructions on what they recommend. Hyaluronic acid serums are great to help hydrate the skin, stimulate collagen and promote healing. Peptides and antioxidant are also important to help stimulate more collagen and elastin and help to heal the skin.

Microneedling Aftercare Do’s and Don’ts

microneedling aftercare instructions

Microneedling Aftercare FAQ’s

What should I do after microneedling?

The microneedling aftercare instructions above will help you care for your skin after your treatment. It’s important to be very gentle with your skin and don’t use any harsh product, pick or scrub at your skin. After treatment you should focus on keeping your skin clean and hydrated for best results. Use a gentle cleanser and follow up with a good hyaluronic acid serum and light moisturizer.

How do I take care of my face after microneedling?

Microneedling is an invigorating treatment that helps to tighten, smooth fine lines and even skin tone. The microneedling aftercare instructions above will help you care for your skin after your treatment.

Can I apply moisturizer after microneedling?

Yes, you can use a gentle moisturizer after microneedling. Ensure that it does not have any potentially irritating ingredients like alcohol, fragrance, essential oils or chemical exfoliants. It’s best to use lightweight products like a gel or gel-cream. You want to avoid using anything heavy like oils or thick creams.

How long does it take for skin to heal after microneedling?

How long your skin takes to heal after microneedling will depend on the depth of the needles, how many treatments you’ve had done and your body. Typically, the deeper the needles go into the skin, the longer it will take to heal. Your first microneedling treatment will probably have the longest recovery time and those after will get shorter. In general, your skin should be back to normal in about a week after microneedling.

Should I wash my face after microneedling?

You should wait at least 4 hours to wash your face after microneedling, especially if you do microneedling with prp. When you do wash your face, be sure to use a gentle cleanser, lukewarm water and gently pat dry with a clean towel.

How often should you do micro needling?

Microneedling should be done every 4-6 weeks. Your provider will be able to come up with a treatment plan for you and let you know how many treatments you will need.

Microneeding Treatment Aftercare: Wrap Up

Microneedling is a popular treatment that helps to stimulate collagen production, fade scarring and so much more. It’s truly one of the best treatments on the market because of the big results with little downtime. It’s important to follow the proper microneedling aftercare instructions for best results. Whether you’re doing at home microneeding, microneeding with prp or radio frequency microneedling, these aftercare instructions will help you get the most out of your treatments.

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