What to Use on Skin After Microneedling: Complete Guide

What To Use on Skin After Microneedling

Microneedling aftercare can affect the results and side effects of the treatment and the speed of microneedling recovery.

So- the serums, sunscreens, and other products you apply in the 24 hours after microneedling are critical.

In this article I will share the advice I give to my microneedling patients on how to care for skin after needling procedures.

The same advice will apply if you are treated with a microneedling pen, the Dermaroller, the AquaGold device, or 30-32 gauge needles.

Wait a week to restart retinol

Avoid heavy creams the first 24 hours

Use hyaluronic acid serums the first 24 hours

Avoid acids like ascorbic, azelaic, and glycolic for 7 days

Avoid any makeup for 24 hours

Microneedling Aftercare: Essential Tips and Best Practices

Microneedling involves using fine needles to create micro-injuries in the skin.(1) This process stimulates collagen production and enhances the absorption of skincare products.

However, the benefits and time to recovery of microneedling largely depends on 3 things:

Needle diameter and length

Skill and technique of the medical provider

Post-treatment care

This article will focus on microneedling aftercare and what products to use and when.

Proper aftercare can improve the results of the procedure, while improper care can lead to adverse effects like breakouts, hyperpigmentation, scarring, granulomas. and other problems.

Microneedling Recovery

Microneedling and dermarolling makes holes in the skin’s epidermis called channels. This affects the skin’s barrier and increases water evaporation off the skin known as transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

It allows everything to enter the skin faster and easier.

How long does it take the skin to recover? It depends on the size of needle used. It may take up to 18 hours for the channels to close. (3)

It usually takes 4-5 hours for the TEWL to return to normal.(5) I tell my patients it will take about 6 days on the average for skin to recover from microneedling.

Post Procedure Skin Care

When discussing microneedling aftercare, we need to differentiate between:

Immediately after (channels still open)

24 hours after (wound healing processes)

7 days after (inflammation and pigmentation risk)

Products to Use Immediately After

Your skin with the open microchannels skin is extremely vulnerable for the first 5 hours and very vulnerable for 18 hours. Whatever you put on your skin during that time will absorb much more. Increased absorption is not always a good thing. There are some chemicals that are irritating or that you do not want to absorb systemically.

For example, so you need to beware of irritating ingredients that you don’t want absorbing deep into the skin and entering the blood stream. Anything toxic becomes more toxic after microneedling. Preservatives and fragrances are more likely to cause allergic reactions in this scenario.

“Avoid putting anything on your skin for the first 18 hours after microneedling unless your dermatologist says it is OK to use!”

Dermatologist Dr. Leslie Baumann MD, FAAD

Safe Skin Care for Immediately After Microneedling

PRP seems to be the best thing to put on the skin during microneedling. (9,10) Most doctors do not put anything on top of the PRP – so you go home looking bloody which is why this is referred to as a vampire facial.

There are not very many safety studies on using different products immediately after microneedling when the channels are still open.

I will share my thoughts here, but remember that we do not have safety data on the best products to put on skin after microneedling.

The best advice is not to put anything on your skin after microneedling unless your doctor or aesthetic medical provider tells you to.

The healing balms below can be safely used the first day after microneedling. They were developed to be put on wounds.

In my dermatology practice, we recommend one of the Plated Calm Post procedure Serum right after the procedure. We apply it in the office before you leave.

We may also use the Plated Intense or Daily Serum- they all have the same exosome technology.

The skin care brand Colorescience did a study after radiofrequency microneedling 29 subjects. In their study they showed that some of their SPF products were safe to use after Rf microneedling.

They and 68% of subjects observed an improvement in skin redness and treatment site marks after applying the skincare protocol.

(7) Rf microneedling is a little different than regular microneedling because it uses heat which may make the channels close sooner- so I still caution you about using anything on your skin for the first 18 hours.

These are the sunscreens that Colorescience studied and showed were safe after microneedling. When possible, wait 18 hours before using these.

If you cannot wait that long- at least try and wait 5 hours. You can apply these on top of a wound healing ointment which will help improve safety.

Hyaluronic Acid Serums

HA serums are often used during and after microneedling.

(8) I have looked through the ingredients on many hyaluronic acid serums and I cannot find any that I would put on the skin during and after microneedling because they have preservatives

like phenoxyethanol that can irritate wounded skin due to increased absorption. They also may have alcohol that will sting the skin after microneedling. These are safer to use 18 hours after microneedling.

If you have products you like to use post microneedling in your patients, please share in the comments and I will research them.

You want to find HA serums with as few irritating ingredients as possible. However, I could not find any HA serums that don’t have ingredients from my avoid list in them.

Please tell me in the comments if you can find “Purer” HA serums without phenoxyethanol and other ingredients on my avoid list.

Growth Factor Serums

There are conflicting studies on if growth factors are beneficial after microneedling (11-13). Right now I do not know of any growth factor serums that are safe to use immediately after microneedling.

The problem is not the growth factors, it is the other ingredients in them like phenoxyethanol that can irritate skin.

Vitamin C Serums

Hold off on using Vitamin C serums for at least one day because using vitamin C (ascorbic acid) after microneedling requires caution.

Water-soluble ascorbic acid is generally safe, but it’s often made at a low pH, which can irritate or harm microneedled skin.

Fat-soluble versions, like ascorbyl palmitate, have been linked to granulomas. (14) A granuloma is a small area of inflammation caused by the body’s attempt to isolate foreign substances.

These can be hard to get rid of, often requiring long-term treatment, and can be disfiguring, making the skin look uneven and inflamed.

Using the wrong type of vitamin C after microneedling can cause these granulomas, which are not just annoying but can be a serious skin issue.

Less acidic forms of vitamin C, such as ascorbic acid esters, might be safer for use after microneedling, but more research is needed to confirm this.

Skincare Products to Use 18 Hours After

Once 18 hours has passed, the channels will be closed and your skin barrier will be mostly restored, however, you skin is still experiencing a wounding response with inflammation.

So what you use for the next 3 days matters. You want to support the generation of collagen but not impede the healing process or irritate the skin.

You definitely don’t want to incite hyperpigmentation. So use a special post microneedling skin care routine beginning 18-24 hours after the procedure and continue for 5 days.

Look for ingredients like growth factors, exosomes, and coenzyme Q10. Only use Vitamin C serums that have a gentle pH (not acidic).

These are the top 10 products to use on the skin day 2- 6 after microneedling:

Alastin Regenerating Skin Nectar

Colorescience All Calm Clinical Redness Corrector SPF 50

Neocutis BIO SERUM FIRM Rejuvenating Growth Factor and Peptide Treatment

Pavise Dynamic Age Defense SPF 30

Plated SkinScience Calm Serum (Or the Intense or Daily Serum)

Replenix Growth Factor Restorative Serum

Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex 30% (This Vitamin C is not acidic or exfoliating so is ok to use after microneedling.)

Rationale #5 The Milk Concentrate

Sente Dermal Repair Cream

SkinMedica TNS Advanced + Serum

The best to choose depends on your Baumann Skin Type. Take the quiz to shop using your skin type.

Cleansers to Use After Microneedling

You need to use cleansers with very gentle detergents. Below are post procedure cleansers safe to use after microneedling. The best is Proteya Daily Revitalizing Facial Cleanser in my opinion.

Post Needling Skin Care Day 1-6

It is critical to use very good sun protection for 2 weeks after microneedling. Sunscreen is always important but your skin is most vulnerable for 2 weeks.

If you are a Pigmented Baumann Skin Type or have had hyperpigmentation in the past, use a skin lightener serum before applying sunscreen.

These are the best sunscreens to use after microneedling:

Prevent Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

If you are a Pigmented Baumann Skin Type or have a history of hyperpigmentation or melasma, microneedling may make your pigmentation worse because it causes inflammation.

Use skin lightening ingredients that help prevent the production of melanin. You should start these 18-24 hours after dermarolling or needling procedures.

Conclusion

If you do microneedling or dermaroller treatment, you will have better results and few side effects if you use the correct products for your skin type and skin concerns.

Please follow our guide of what to use just after the procedure and for the following week. After one week you can resume your normal skin care routine including retinol.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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