Microneedling is a cosmetic procedure. It uses tiny needles to rejuvenate facial skin. The treatment is a form of controlled skin injury. The damage stimulates the growth of healthy new skin, which can benefit common skin issues like acne scars, scars, skin laxity, stretch marks, and wrinkles.

There are some things you should know about the side effects after treatment and the steps you’ll need to take to keep your skin healthy. Below are five things to expect after your microneedling treatment.

Redness is normal

After any RF microneedling treatment, redness is a very common and normal side effect. These side effects should quickly subside; most patients will find that redness lasts no longer than a few hours or a day at most. Ensuring that you are properly hydrating will also help redness dissipate quickly.

Switch Up Your Skincare Routine

If you are considering microneedling, you likely have already incorporated anti-aging skincare products into your normal routine. Some ingredients, such as exfoliants, hayaluronic acid, or retinols, can be too harsh after microneedling. Stick with hydrating products and gentle formulas for 3-4 days after your treatment. Gentle moisturizing along with SPF protection is especially important after microneedling, as your skin will be particularly sensitive to sun exposure.

Some Pinpoint Bleeding or Bruising May Occur

Since needles are inserted into the skin during treatment, you may see some pinpoint bleeding. The treatment itself should be comfortable thanks to topical numbing agents that are applied before the procedure, but you may still see some small areas of bleeding after the treatment which will resolve immediately after the procedure. In less common instances, you may also see small areas of bruising as well that that will subside within two days at most.

You May See Shedding

Microneedling can resurface the skin, meaning that some peeling or shedding is normal through the recovery period. This is a good sign that cell turnover is occurring, and new skin cells are growing. However, as your skin sheds, you will likely notice a duller or flakier appearance. A sensation of dryness or tightness is also normal. This process should last only a few days. Some people will not see shedding, that does not mean that your treatment isn't working.

Your Skin Will Glow

After the healing period is complete, your skin appearance will improve, almost glow, from your treatment. This usually occurs after about five days. You will notice smoother and more luminous skin, likely with softer lines and wrinkles. Most patients have multiple treatment sessions to reach their ideal results, so you can expect this to improve over time as you receive more treatments.

Even as your skin appears healthier, remember that it is still important to keep up with moisturizing and SPF. Even after visible side effects subside, your skin is still repairing itself and generating new collagen and skin cells, so proper skincare is key to support this process.

Most patients will require an initial series of at least three to six treatments to see the desired results. You may require more treatments if you have moderate-to-severe skin concerns, such as deep acne scarring, stretchmarks or dynamic wrinkles.

Your treatment frequency is important, especially if you need to build collagen to reduce scarring, fine lines, and wrinkles. The more consistent your treatment is, the better and quicker your results will be. For most patients, the ideal treatment frequency for microneedling is once every four weeks.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is an innovative and highly effective way to rejuvenate and revitalize your skin, naturally. PRP is a concentrated solution of your own blood platelets that contains a high concentration of growth factors, which can stimulate the healing process and improve the appearance of your skin.

PRP therapy involves drawing a small amount of blood from your arm, processing it in a centrifuge to isolate the platelets, and then using the microneedling device to infuse the PRP into specific areas of your face. This triggers your body's natural healing process, stimulating collagen production and improving skin texture, tone, and overall appearance.

PRP therapy is a safe and effective treatment for a wide range of skin concerns, including fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, acne scars, and uneven skin tone. It's a minimally invasive procedure with no downtime or recovery period, so you can resume your normal activities immediately after treatment.

If you're looking for a natural and effective way to rejuvenate your skin and restore a more youthful, radiant appearance, PRP therapy may be the right choice for you.

The combination of microneedling with PRP is more effective than microneedling alone or applying PRP alone. While both effective individually, it is the combination of the two treatments that provide a vital foundation necessary for maximum absorption, reduced healing time and optimal results.

Microneedling is effective for all skin types and tones. You are a good candidate for Microneedling if you desire skin resurfacing and rejuvenation with a minimally-invasive procedure and very little downtime.

Microneedling is generally a well-tolerated, safe procedure. Contraindications are limited, but include the following:

1. Active acne, especially inflammatory lesions

2. Active herpes labialis or other localized infection in the treatment area, including warts.

3. Moderate-to-severe chronic skin diseases such as eczema or psoriasis

4. Patients with extreme keloidal tendencies

5. Immunosuppressed patients, including patients on chemotherapy

6. Care should also be taken in patients near concomitant chemodenervation (botulinum toxin) injection sites to avoid unwanted toxin diffusion. Must wait 4 weeks post botox or filler procedure.