During a micro-needling procedure, thousands of tiny channels are made in the skin to encourage the skin’s natural healing processes. This procedure has numerous anti-aging benefits, including increasing collagen production, reducing acne scarring, and enhancing skin elasticity. The treatment is non-invasive, has virtually no recovery time, and is suitable for all skin types.
Yet, as effective as microneedling is, patients can take active steps to enhance the results and expedite the skin’s healing. This post focuses on the aftercare for microneedling – what you can do for optimum results and what you shouldn’t do to avoid unwanted effects.
What to Expect After Microneedling
As with many other cosmetic treatments, you can expect a few skin inconveniences before seeing the full results of micro-needling.
Your skin will appear red and flushed – similar to a sunburn – just after the treatment. You can feel mild skin discomfort and tightness around the treatment region. The slight redness will significantly fade within the first few hours after treatment and will be gone within twenty-four to forty-eight hours.
You can’t do much to get rid of the redness immediately after micro-needling, even with proper aftercare Swelling is also expected up to 48 hours following the procedure. Following micro-needling, flaking or peeling is also fairly typical.
Although not everyone will experience them, additional adverse effects from micro-needling include breakouts, bumps, and dry skin. These other symptoms could take a little longer to heal than redness and swelling.
If you’ve had microneedling near the eyes, you can expect minor bruising around that area. You can cover the bruises with makeup. These bruises can last for three to four days.
The most visible healing after micro-needling occurs in the first couple of days following treatment. However, recovery will continue beneath the skin’s surface for up to two months.
Fortunately, the anticipated post-micro needling downtime is relatively brief compared to other cosmetic treatments.
What to Do Following Microneedling
There are dos and don’ts associated with micro-needling. For the rest of this post, we will focus on what you should do and what to put in the treatment area after micro-needling.
What to do following micro needling should be explained in detail by your provider. You should carefully follow the directions because they might depend on your skin type or medical history.
Wear Sunscreen
For the first two weeks following micro-needling, you should generally wear sunscreen continuously. On the days after your treatment, wear sunscreen whenever you are outdoors. After your micro-needling process, avoid spending too much time in the sun for the first week because you’ll be more susceptible to sun damage.
Speaking of sun damage, you should also avoid spray tans or tanning beds after microneedling.
Always wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Applying chemical sunscreen on the day of treatment is not recommended.
Use Topical Antibiotics if Advised
To prevent infection:
- Apply any topical antibiotic cream that your doctor recommends.
- Before touching your face, wash your hands.
- Avoid applying makeup in the first 24 hours after micro-needling, especially with brushes already used.
You must also avoid sweat-inducing environments like saunas, swimming pools, and gym workouts to protect your skin from infections. Your pores will reopen due to sweating, allowing bacteria to enter skin punctures. Bacteria penetrating the open skin channels might cause an unwanted response.
You could resume these activities when 72 hours have passed.
Cleanser and Moisturizers
You should consult your dermatologist before using any cleansers, toners, or scrubs in the two to three days following micro-needling to ensure that the components won’t exacerbate any side effects. After micro-needling, hyaluronic acid can be used, and in some circumstances, it’s even proven to help accelerate the creation of collagen.
Applying coconut oil as an emollient to seal in moisture and moisturize your face if your skin feels dry after microneedling is generally safe. You can also clean dry skin with diluted, alcohol-free witch hazel. It is essential to stick with natural, safe products with which you are already familiar.
Avoid using anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including Advil, Motrin, and ibuprofen. These medications will interfere with the important and necessary natural inflammatory process for skin renewal.
Exercise should be avoided for 24-48 hours after the surgery to reduce the chance of blistering.
Avoid Wearing Makeup Immediately After Microneedling
One of the worst things you can do is apply makeup to cover up the redness since it will clog the pores on your newly exposed skin and may even result in outbreaks. Since the skin’s channels are open, applying makeup may seep into the pores and aggravate the area even more.
As the redness fades, you’ll need to be patient, but in the interim, you can apply mild, odorless creams made of natural components to obtain some relief. Before applying makeup, you should ideally wait at least 48 hours following microneedling. The skin has time to heal as a result.
Avoid Exfoliants and Other Skincare Products with Harsh Components
You should avoid any skin care product with abrasive ingredients intended to exfoliate. Don’t use glycolic acid or alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), and stay away from fragrant skincare products. After micro-needling, you should not use retinol and vitamin C serum for at least the first 48 hours.
Use only non-active cosmetics because those with active components like retinol or alpha acids can aggravate your skin even more. Use just the products that your micro-needling specialist has advised.
If you regularly use products with potent anti-aging ingredients, you should refrain from doing so immediately after microneedling. You should gradually add potent products to your regular beauty routine after two full days have passed rather than performing your typical regimen.
You can use a cooling and moisturizing face mask to give your skin a brief rest. Additionally, this will help with any irritation; however, select a gentle mask with active ingredients rather than a harsh one.
Consult Professionals for More Info About Microneedling
You can get a virtual consultation with Skin Suite Medical Aesthetics and Wellness. To begin your beautiful journey with micro-needling and other treatments, book an appointment with Skin Suite. Call us at (770) 802-8900 or email [email protected].
