18 Jan Here’s What Happens to Your Skin After Microneedling
Microneedling has long been a beloved treatment because it’s all-natural, using only the healing factors of your own body to give you skin that looks younger, healthier, and more vibrant. At RefinedMD, we recommend microneedling as a complement to virtually any other treatment—but it’s also a powerful procedure in its own right. You might not know exactly what’s happening below the surface after your microneedling treatment, and if you’re new to microneedling you might leave your first treatment thinking, “Is this it?” Absolutely not! Let’s look closer.
For starters, yes, your skin will be pink or red right after your treatment. This is completely normal and will go away on its own in the next few days. Just how red your skin gets will depend on skin sensitivity and exactly which microneedling device is used. However, most clients still feel comfortable going about their daily lives looking like they got a bit too much sun. Remember that microneedling creates hundreds or even thousands of tiny pin pricks in the skin. These are invisible to the naked eye, but your skin is going to respond! It would be worrisome if it didn’t, because no response means your body isn’t going to start producing collagen at the treatment site.
Post-Microneedling Happenings
You might also notice that your skin feels dry and tight after the treatment. It’s important to follow up microneedling with some nourishing moisturizer, which can be added on to your treatment. Alternatively, you can care for your skin even more by scheduling an indulgence like DiamondGlow right afterward that will drench your skin in medical-grade serums.
Microneedling is not meant to be severely invasive, but bear in mind that it is technically a minimally invasive treatment. Pinpoint bleeding can happen for some patients, but this is typically so slight and brief that you might not see it. Microneedling is also usually described as feeling pretty comfortable, similar to microdermabrasion, but for those with very sensitive skin a topical numbing cream can be used.
Chemical Peel or Microneedling?
Surprisingly, some clients may notice light shedding or peeling in the days following their treatment. That’s just a sign of exfoliation, and it’s actually a good sign. It means that cell turnover is happening (which means collagen production is occurring) and that new skin is being created. In most cases, this exfoliation happens the day after microneedling and can make the texture look a bit dull. Skin that is pink and a bit sandy-looking is common for some clients in days 2 – 4 after the treatment.
Just like any time you’re kick-starting cell turnover with a treatment or skin exfoliation, your skin will be sensitive to UV rays. After all, microneedling damages the stratum corneum (top layer of the skin), which means you have to be even more careful with UV exposure. This is a great time to boost your sun protection regimen and talk with us about a recommended SPF 30 or higher medical-grade sunscreen for you.
Microneedling Basics
Sometimes skin can look slightly swollen after microneedling. This is due to the natural and mechanical injury of the treatment. Degree of swelling (if any) will depend on skin sensitivity and the aggressiveness of the treatment. When swelling does occur, it is subtle and subsides in about three days. A cold compress can help reduce swelling, brings down inflammation, and can feel amazing.
You might notice skin feels rough after microneedling, too. This could be due to the shedding, swelling, or both. For some patients, some visible marks might be apparent, though these are typically light. No need to worry, because anything “off” you notice on your face after microneedling is temporary and will clear up in a few days. Those prone to acne breakouts might also experience a flare-up, especially if you currently have active acne lesions at the treatment site. Microneedling can help with acne scars, but it can also spread the bacteria that causes acne. If you do have acne, bear in mind that acne is a medical condition. Talk with your dermatologist about acne treatments, because there is definitely a solution for you.
Ready to schedule your microneedling session? Complete the online form today and trust RefinedMD for all your skin care needs.