Sharing my experience with microneedling, what it is, and how it can improve your skin.
It’s pretty well documented around here that I’m a big fan of taking care of my skin. Whether it’s refining my routine so I’m using products containing ingredients with proven results or amping things up with a BBL laser treatment to blast hyperpigmentation, I’m pretty passionate about keeping my skin in its best shape, whatever my age. My latest skincare venture? Microneedling.
So let’s dive in!
What is microneedling?
Microneedling is a skin procedure that involves a series of tiny needles that repeatedly penetrate that skin (typically via an FDA-approved device like a SkinPen) and form tiny puncture wounds (aka microdamage). This microdamage is actually a good thing— these small open channels in the skin signal the body to boost collagen production in the treated area.
Collagen is a protein that acts as one of the main building blocks for your skin (and bones, muscles, tendons, etc.). It’s what keeps the skin plump, elastic, and youthful. A boost in collagen levels means a decrease in fine lines, sun damage, acne scars, and an overall improvement of the skin’s appearance. More collagen = a more youthful appearance, plain and simple.
Now, tiny needles stabbing you repeatedly in the face? Sounds pretty painful– but it really isn’t! You’re numbed up so you don’t feel much of anything except the pen moving over your skin; you don’t feel the needle pricks. We’ll dig more into that below.
Microneedling Benefits
- A decrease in fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation, plus a boost in skin firmness. All thanks to collagen, baby! It’s a miracle worker. And it’s a natural process– microneedling opens the channels in the skin (or wounds), but the body heals itself via its own collagen. Genius.
- Smoother, softer skin. Take a seat, texture! Microneedling is a resurfacing treatment, so one benefit is soft, smooth skin with minimized pore size. (You know, like a baby.)
- No significant downtime. You’ll see some redness (some more than others– you’ll see my tomato face below!) but that almost completely resolves the morning after the treatment. After that, it’s all glow.
- It’s more affordable than other procedures. Clinical procedures aren’t cheap, but microneedling is much less than say, a Halo treatment. (Which I’ve had and I love– but it’s pricey!)
What to Expect During + After Your Microneedling Treatment
First of all, you should avoid direct sun exposure and super potent skincare products (like retinol or strong acids) a few days before a microneedling appointment. This makes sense: both the sun (bad for your skin) and some skincare ingredients (good for your skin) aggravate the skin. Microneedling also aggravates the skin, so don’t want to overdo it. Best to stick with a very gentle skincare routine in the days leading up to a microneedling session.
Quick-Hit Questions About Microneedling
What is microneedling?
Microneedling is a minimally invasive skin procedure that uses a series of tiny needle pricks to boost collagen production. A trained aesthetician will use an FDA-approved device like a SkinPen to make tiny puncture wounds over areas like the face, neck, and chest. As the puncture wounds heal, it boosts collagen production in the treated area.
What is collagen and what does it do?
Collagen is one of the primary building blocks for your skin and is what keeps the skin plump and supple. More collagen means a more youthful appearance to the skin.
What does microneedling cost?
Microneedling is one of the affordable resurfacing skin treatments. In general, you can expect to pay the following for microneedling:
-Face: $260
-Neck: $110
Note: each medspa will set its own prices for microneedling and you should pay attention to sales and specials they may run to help make the treatment more cost-effective.
What are the benefits of microneedling?
The main benefits of microneedling include a decrease in fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. Due to increased collagen, you can also expect increased skin firmness. The healing time from a microneedling treatment is also very quick (1-2 days), which makes it very convenient.
