The Importance of Following Your Microneedling Post Care
Microneedling is one of those treatments where what you do after your appointment matters just as much as what happens during it.
The treatment creates controlled microchannels in the skin, which stimulates the skin’s natural repair process and encourages collagen production. That process is intentional, but it also means your skin needs some extra care while it recovers.
Your post care isn’t meant to make your life complicated. It’s there to give your skin the best environment to heal properly and minimize unnecessary irritation.
This is not the time to try new skincare products
This isn’t the time to go to Sephora and pick up a few new fun serums and cleansers.
After microneedling, your routine needs to be simple. Introducing new products, especially active ingredients, can make it difficult to know what your skin is reacting to and can create unnecessary irritation while your skin is recovering.
One of my favorite simple combinations for post treatment care is DMK Milk Cleanser and Face Reality Barrier Care Gel Cream. The goal is gentle cleansing and supporting the skin barrier while your skin does the work we just asked it to do.
I also recommend pausing exfoliating acids, retinoids, scrubs and other active products until your skin is ready to resume them according to your individual post care instructions.
Give your skin a break from heat and sweat
Your skin takes 14 days to fully heal from microneedling. This can cause the skin to be more sensitive to heat following treatment, so this is not the time to jump straight back into your hottest workout, sauna session or steam room.
Depending on your treatment and your skin, I may recommend taking a short break from strenuous exercise, excessive sweating, saunas, steam rooms and hot tubs.
Think of these few days as a chance to let your skin settle.
Be very mindful of sun exposure
This is one of the most important parts of your post care.
Your skin is more vulnerable after microneedling, and unnecessary UV exposure can contribute to inflammation and pigmentation while your skin is recovering.
Avoid intentional sun exposure and follow your specific instructions regarding SPF. A sunny day at the beach, a long outdoor run or hours spent outside following treatment are not ideal ways to spend your recovery period.
Hands off
Your skin may feel tight, warm or sensitive after treatment. You may also experience some dryness or flaking as your skin continues to recover.
Let it happen.
One of the easiest ways to interfere with your healing process is to pick, peel or aggressively exfoliate your skin because you don’t like how it feels or looks.
Be patient with makeup
Your skin may look better than you expected shortly after treatment, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s finished healing.
It could be safe to wear make up as quickly as 24 hours post treatment but you want to make sure that your application brushes are clean and your hands are washed when applying. Please be aware that makeup can still house bacteria so it’s best to use mineral or new makeup if you’re concerned about returning to makeup quickly after treatment. This can help reduce unnecessary irritation while the skin barrier is recovering.
Your skin may go through a few different phases
There can be redness, sensitivity, tightness, dryness or some flaking depending on the treatment and your individual skin.
That doesn’t mean something has gone wrong.
Microneedling works by stimulating a healing response, and the visible improvements happen over time as your skin continues through that process.
The goal isn’t to rush your skin through recovery. It’s to support it.
Your post care is part of the treatment
It’s easy to think of the appointment as the treatment and everything afterward as an afterthought.
Don’t look at it that way.
The treatment creates the stimulus. Your skin then needs time and the right environment to respond.
Following your post care, keeping your routine simple, protecting your skin from the sun, avoiding unnecessary irritation and giving your skin time to recover all contribute to the experience and results of your treatment.
And if you’re ever unsure about something after your appointment, ask. Reactions are uncommon, but they can happen, and communication is always encouraged during the post treatment period. If something doesn’t feel right or you have questions about how your skin is healing, reach out so we can guide you through the process.
Your post care should always be based on the treatment you received and how your own skin is responding.
Sometimes the best thing you can do for your skin is simply leave it alone and let it heal.