The Ultimate Guide to Skin Care After Microneedling

Microneedling has continued to rank at the top of skin-rejuvenating treatment lists for quite a while now. Not only can it improve the look and feel of the skin, but it can also work wonders on reducing acne scars, lines, and wrinkles. And while at-home microneedling is a great way to gently rev up more collagen in the skin, in-office microneedling is where the real magic happens.

The In-Office Microneedling Difference

As to be expected, a microneedling treatment administered by your physician is a bit more invasive than a sink-side experience with a dermal roller. As such, there are a few things to take note of, especially when it comes to what to expect once the skin-transforming treatment is complete.

What to Expect Post-Microneedling

Your skin will be red.

Davie, FL dermatologist Marianna Blyumin-Karasik, MD says it’s totally normal for your skin to be red after you’ve had a microneedling procedure, but the majority of the redness should subside within 24 hours. By the next day, skin will look pink, but will normalize in a matter of days. However, if a more aggressive treatment was done, the redness may linger for a bit longer.

“I uses the Infini radio-frequency microneedling device in my office to treat acne scars, fine lines, and wrinkles around the eyes, and to lift and firm the skin,” says Seattle dermatologist Jennifer Reichel, MD. “Directly after the treatment, skin looks bright red from the heat, with an almost sunburn-like feeling, but it’s not all that bad.” Keeping skin hydrated can help take down the redness, too.

Your skin may be swollen.

“The skin may be slightly swollen the next day due to the mechanical injury of microneedling,” says Chicago dermatologist Jordan C. Carqueville, MD. Short Hills, NJ facial plastic surgeon Alexander Ovchinsky, MD adds that while normal, you might notice some swelling and mild bruising around the under eyes.

“Depending on how aggressive—or how deep—the treatment was, mild swelling for one to three days following microneedling is normal,” says New York dermatologist Sapna Palep, MD, who adds that using a cold compress will help take down the inflammation.

Santa Monica, CA dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD says that the swelling can range anywhere from mild to severe, although it is more frequently mild. “But it really depends on the type of microneedling done. Taking an antihistamine beforehand helps, too.”

Your skin might feel tight and dry.

Dr. Carqueville says skin will likely feel dehydrated after microneedling, and therefore will require intense moisture in order to heal. However, not just any moisturizer will do. “After the procedure, I recommend applying a hyaluronic acid serum or emollients, such as petrolatum or lanolin ointment, for two to three days. After a few days, it is OK to resume regular moisturizers as tolerated.” (More on the proper post-microneedling skin-care routine later.)

Bruising and bleeding are a possibility.

Depending on the length of the needle used and the number of times it is pressed across the treatment area, New York plastic surgeon Elie Levine, MD says bruising on the face, along with some minor bleeding, can occur. “Also, your skin may feel warm, tight, and itchy for a short while, but this should subside in 12-48 hours,” she says.

According to Dr. Blyumin-Karasik, it’s normal for there to be some pinpoint bleeding on the skin from having the needles inserted into the skin. “Because some microneedling treatments are more invasive, like Infini, we use topical numbing, local anesthetic with mesoneedles, and oral or IV sedation,” adds Dr. Reichel.

You might notice some slight peeling or shedding.

Dr. Palep says skin can exfoliate for up to a week post-treatment, which may result in some very mild peeling. But don’t worry: “This is a good sign because it shows cell turnover and new skin being generated,” she adds.

Dr. Blyumin-Karasik says this exfoliation will likely begin the day after your treatment and make skin look a little dull. “The skin becomes pink and sandy-dry and starts gradually exfoliating for the next few days,” she explains.

You might have an allergic reaction.

If you’re coupling in-office microneedling with radio frequency (RF Microneedling) New York dermatologist Rita Linkner, MD says she’s seen some instances of an allergic reaction and infection. “This is likely due to the topical anesthetic that was used and then microneedled into the skin. Gridding, like a waffling of the skin, can persist for 36 hours, especially if you are someone who is very sensitive to trauma in the skin.” (If your skin blows up after a bug bite, you’re in this camp!)

There may be some minimally visible marks.

Because microneedling makes hundreds of tiny safe yet controlled micro injuries on the surface of the skin, it’s not uncommon to see some very small marks on the skin following the procedure. However, Dr. Palep says there’s no need to worry: whatever you see on your skin is short-lived at most. “These marks may be visible for a few days, but clear very quickly when the microneedling is done with PRP.”

You may break out.

If you’re prone to breaking out, you’ll definitely want to let your doctor know beforehand because microneedling can cause breakouts. This is especially the case if there are active lesions on the surface as the treatment may make them worse. While it can work wonders at improving acne scars, microneedling can actually spread bacteria in the skin, making breakouts worse.

Your skin will be sensitive to the sun.

Because the top layer of skin, or the stratum corneum, has been disrupted, Dr. Carqueville notes the skin will be sensitive to the sun.