Facial after microneedling

Facial After Microneedling (Should You Do It?)

Many people wonder whether it’s safe to do a facial after Microneedling or Dermarolling. Here is the complete info to answer your all queries.

Microneedling is a treatment that uses tiny needles to create microscopic cuts in the skin. This procedure removes the outer layer of your skin and is used to treat wrinkles, age spots, and other skin issues. This is done using a handheld roller or pen-like device that is specifically designed for this purpose.

Because of affordability, it is also used as an alternative to laser treatments.

Should You Do Facial After Microneedling?

No, you should not do a facial after the microneedling procedure for about a week. Recovery from microneedling takes a day or two but redness and swelling will slowly diminish after that. Though improvement will continue underneath the skin for 2 full months. So, avoid full facial after microneedling due to the risk of skin getting infected.

You can use moisturizer after 24 hours and gentle cleansers after 48 hours. There is a risk of infection while carrying out facials due to some irritants contained in the products used in facials.

Facial after microneedling
Facial after microneedling – You should avoid it at least for a week

How is Microneedling Done?

Microneedling (also known as collagen induction therapy or DermaRolling if done at home) works by creating a controlled injury to the skin. This helps stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, which are proteins that help strengthen and smooth the skin and reduce wrinkles, acne scars, stretch marks, burn scars, traumatic scars, varicella scars, hypertrophic scars, etc.

Also Read: Different Types of Microneedling (Which One is Better?)

microneedling procedure diagram

Microneedling is typically recommended for people who want to treat fine lines and wrinkles and reduce the appearance of scarring and stretch marks. It is mostly recommended for the face but you may also use it to smooth out thighs or stomach stretch marks. The procedure is also used to improve your complexion.

What Treatments Involve in Facials?

Facial treatments were the most sought-after treatment category in US spa industry in 2020 and out of 18.1 billion U.S. dollars spent in the spa industry in 2021, Americans spent 55% of it on facials and other facial treatments.

The facial involves face treatments like cleansing, exfoliating, steaming, extracting blackheads, applying masks, and treating your skin for specific concerns like removing skin pigmentation, acne scars, dark circles, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. Facials can temporarily rejuvenate your skin by stimulating blood flow to the face. They can help eliminate pimples and other skin impurities like blemishes and help to get supple skin and improve your general appearance.

skin care after microneedling
Doing facial may irritate your skin and may take longer to heal after microneedling.

Is Microneedling a Safe Procedure?

Although microneedling is an effective procedure, it is not always as safe as you might think. It’s important to remember that microneedling will cause minor pain and redness on the skin for a few days so it’s important to stay within the guidelines of your dermatologist’s instructions. Though very rare, if not taken the precaution, tiny needle holes are open sores and may become infected.

Microneedling with PRP benefits
Applying PRP to microneedling may speed up the healing

Microneedling With PRP

In this treatment – also called Vampire Facial – Plasma-rich platelets (PRP) of the person having the procedure are often applied to the skin before and after the procedure. Microneedling with topical vitamin C or insulin may also be used for treating post-acne scars. But PRP showed better efficacy in a comparative study Proteins with growth factors and cytokines in PRP help skin tissue repair itself. Applying PRP to microneedling may speed up the healing process of the skin and stimulate fresher, healthier-looking skin to grow.

Can Dermarolling Give You Younger-Looking Skin?

Dermarolling

Studies have shown that receiving four microneedling sessions 1 month apart can lead to a 400% boost in collagen and elastin.

Microneedling extends the body’s own process of wound healing and the new collagen deposition results in skin tightening and filling-up of scars with an overall better aesthetic appeal. This procedure help skincare products penetrate deeper into the skin, allowing them to produce more effective results.

When to Wash Face After Microneedling

Wash your face with lukewarm water using only your hands on the day of the procedure after 4 hours to remove serum and other debris. Don’t scrub your face. Gently rinse until your face is clean and then dry. Cleanse the treated areas twice a day. Use mild cleanser after 3 days to wash your face.

What to Avoid Other Than Facials After Microneedling?

microneedling healing process
Avoid exfoliating products for a week
  • Avoid exposing your skin to irritating lotions, harsh topicals, pools, gyms, and other potential sources of infection and also polluted environments.
  • Avoid exfoliating products for a week
  • Protect your skin from the sun for satisfactory results. Avoid going out in the sun for the first 2 weeks after the procedure. Or make sure to apply chemical-free sunscreen whenever you go outside in the days following your treatment.
  • Avoid any anti-inflammatory medications for a week after the Microneedling procedure. Anti-inflammatory medications can actually interfere with the healing process by preventing the formation of new collagen and elastin. In other words, they can slow down your results.
  • Don’t touch your face without washing your hands with soap to avoid infection.
  • Microneedling makes your skin dry, so it is advisable to drink plenty of water to hydrate your skin to produce healthier collagen cells.
  • After 4-5 days, you might notice scabs on your face – don’t peel them off. Apply a gentle moisturizer and let them flake away.
  • To prevent sweating, avoid gym environments in general because these areas are filled with bacteria and can cause infections in your wounded skin.
  • Sleep on your back at least for the first couple of days.

Can I Shower After Microneedling

You should not shower immediately after microneedling. This is because your skin is more vulnerable and susceptible to infection during the healing process. It is essential to wait at least 24 hours before showering and make sure to use a gentle cleanser.

Makeup After Microneedling

Avoid wearing makeup with a makeup brush, powered cleansing brushes, and exfoliating products for a week. Makeup blocks the pores of the exposed skin thereby creating breakouts. Avoid anything that’s scented. Applying skincare products that contain ingredients like glycolic acid, retinol, and vitamin C soon after a microneedling procedure may irritate your skin and prolong the healing process. Avoid using these products for at least four days after a microneedling session.

In order to aid in the healing process, stay away from using any Alpha Hydroxy Acids, Beta Hydroxy Acid, Retinol (Vitamin A), Vitamin C scrubs, or any active skincare for one week following the procedure.

Applying a mask: Apply a mask with gentle cooling agents with all-natural ingredients, but not before 48 hours. It can help to improve and speed up the healing process by reducing redness and swelling. Avoid masking with processed, unnatural ingredients. It can irritate your skin.

Exfoliating: Avoid Skin care products with harsh chemicals for exfoliating until one week after the procedure.

It’s advisable to follow your dermatologist’s instructions on what to do and what not after Microneedling.

Microneedling Aftercare

You can use cold compresses following the treatment for comfort. Apply the serum provided by your dermatologist as per instructions. Avoid saunas, hot showers, and steam baths for up to 48 hours. You may apply coconut oil to moisturize the dry skin.

Laser Resurfacing Treatment Vs Microneedling

Laser resurfacing cost about four times as much as microneedling treatments. You can recover from microneedling quickly whereas laser treatment may take a longer time to recover (full recovery takes 1 month) and your skin may turn darker temporarily due to bruising and swelling. Also, you may see more side effects from laser treatment than from Microneedling – but results from laser treatment are long-lasting and more prominent than microneedling. Both treatments can be performed together to achieve results.

Microchanneling vs Microneedling

Microchanneling is a new form of skincare treatment that uses tiny channels in pattern formation to inject the serum, vitamins, and other ingredients directly into the skin through tiny needles. Microchanneling delivers the treatments evenly and more quickly. Microneedling is a technique that uses fine needles to create tiny punctures in the skin deeper than microchanneling. It is in fact more effective than microchanneling because it can treat deeper scarring and wrinkles and needs fewer sessions than microchanneling but with more downtime.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Often Should I Microneedle My Face?

Dermatologists recommend that you microneedle your face once every 4 to 6 weeks. Ultimately, it is up to the individual practitioner to decide the frequency of microneedling according to your skin type and the number of skin impurities you are expecting to get rid of. After your first session of microneedling, the follow-up sessions will be carried out to maintain the results achieved in the first session. Improvements in your skin will be reflected gradually.

How long does it take for the skin to heal after microneedling?

Recovery from microneedling occurs in the first couple of days after the procedure. The redness from the procedure will mostly fade till then but swelling will remain for 2-3 days, although improvement will continue underneath the skin for 2 full months. It takes 2 to 4 weeks to see the full results of microneedling.

How many sessions does it take to see results from microneedling?

Repeated sessions of microneedling give better results on acne scarring, but you will see some improvements after 3 sessions and will remain stable.

Who should not do microneedling?

Microneedling is a well-tolerated, low-risk procedure but is not indicated in active acne, especially inflammatory lesions until the lesions have cleared, active herpes labialis, or other localized infection in the treatment area, including warts, severe eczema or psoriasis, immunosuppressed patients, including patients on chemotherapy.
Care should be taken in patients who have Botox injection sites to avoid unwanted toxin diffusion. Microneedling may trigger bleeding, so it is not recommended for people with bleeding disorders, or who take blood thinners. You might want to avoid microneedling if you are a diabetic, or you have a weak immune system.

How long do microneedling results last?

Microneedling treatment results will typically last for roughly three to six months. The duration of benefits will vary depending upon how long the generated new collagen lasts and the severity of your skin imperfections. Microneedling does not lead to permanent skin improvements. Each person’s skin is unique, so how long the results of microneedling (Dermarolling) last differs from person to person.

Can you microneedle under eye bags?

Yes, Microneedling can be used under your eyes to increase collagen production. This treatment is commonly used to treat dark circles under the eyes.

Conclusion

Microneedling is a safe and effective treatment for a variety of skin concerns. Healing time varies depending on the extent of the treatment, but most people will start to see results within a few days. Though cleansing with mild cleansers and masking with natural ingredients can be done, you should not do full-scale facials after microneedling procedure. This may irritate your skin and may take longer to heal causing infection.

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