While both microneedling and lactic acid are popular treatments for improving the skin’s appearance, combining them immediately after a microneedling session isn’t recommended. Let’s break down why and explore the best approach for caring for your skin post-microneedling.
What Is Microneedling?
Microneedling is a minimally invasive procedure that uses tiny, sterilized needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin. This stimulates collagen production, which can improve the appearance of acne scars, fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, and other skin concerns. The process leaves the skin temporarily weakened and sensitive, so it’s important to be mindful of what you apply afterward.
What Is Lactic Acid?
Lactic acid is a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that works as a chemical exfoliant. It helps remove dead skin cells from the surface, smoothens skin texture, and brightens the complexion. It’s often praised for being one of the milder AHAs, which means it’s less likely to cause irritation compared to stronger acids like glycolic acid.
Can I Use Lactic Acid After Microneedling?
Not right away. Although lactic acid is considered a gentler exfoliant, using it immediately after microneedling can cause irritation and potential damage to the skin. After microneedling, the skin is temporarily more permeable due to the tiny punctures created by the needles. This makes it much more susceptible to any products you apply afterward, including acids like lactic acid.
Applying lactic acid too soon could result in:
Increased irritation: Since the skin is compromised post-microneedling, exfoliating acids like lactic acid can penetrate too deeply and cause inflammation, dryness, or a burning sensation.
Excessive exfoliation: Microneedling already stimulates the skin’s natural cell turnover process, so adding an exfoliant could over-exfoliate the skin, leading to redness, peeling, and potential damage to the skin barrier.
When Can You Use Acids After Microneedling?
After a microneedling session, it’s important to give your skin time to heal before introducing active ingredients like acids. Here’s a general timeline:
Wait 2-3 Days: During the first 48 to 72 hours after microneedling, avoid applying chemical exfoliants (including lactic acid, glycolic acid, or salicylic acid), as well as other potent active ingredients like retinol or vitamin C. Your skin needs time to heal, and applying these products too soon can lead to irritation, redness, and discomfort.
Post-2-3 Days: Once 2-3 days have passed and your skin has begun to heal, you can start introducing acids back into your routine. However, it’s a good idea to apply them after a hydrating serum (like hyaluronic acid) to help lock in moisture and avoid further irritation. Make sure you do a patch test first to check for sensitivity.
What Should You Use Immediately After Microneedling?
Immediately following microneedling, the skin is particularly vulnerable, so focus on hydrating and calming products. The best serum to use after microneedling is hyaluronic acid (HA).
Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, meaning it draws moisture into the skin and helps retain hydration. It can soothe the skin, prevent it from drying out, and support collagen production without causing irritation.
It’s also safe to use immediately after microneedling, as it won’t exfoliate the skin or irritate the freshly treated surface.
What Should You Avoid After Microneedling?
Here’s a list of ingredients to avoid in the first few days post-microneedling:
Retinol and retinoids: These can irritate sensitive skin and further compromise the skin barrier.
Vitamin C: While great for brightening, vitamin C can be too potent for sensitive skin post-microneedling and may cause irritation.
Exfoliating acids (AHAs and BHAs): Like lactic acid, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid, these can be too harsh immediately after microneedling and may cause more irritation than benefit.
Fragrances and essential oils: Avoid products with strong scents or essential oils, as they can trigger redness or sensitivity in freshly needled skin.
Sunscreen is a Must!
After microneedling, your skin is more vulnerable to sun damage, so it’s crucial to apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day, especially if you’re going outdoors. Microneedling and acids like lactic acid can increase photosensitivity, making your skin more prone to UV damage and pigmentation.
Conclusion
While lactic acid is a great exfoliant for improving skin texture and tone, avoid using it immediately after microneedling to prevent irritation and discomfort. Instead, focus on hydration and barrier repair with gentle, soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid. After a few days, you can safely reintroduce lactic acid or other exfoliating products, but always start slowly and patch test to ensure your skin can tolerate them.
If you’re unsure about what products to use post-microneedling or have any concerns, it’s always a good idea to consult with your skincare professional or dermatologist.
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.
