"Does microneedling actually work?"
It's a fair question.
Microneedling has become so common that you'll find everything from inexpensive home rollers to professional treatments promising smoother, younger-looking skin.
The answer is that microneedling can be an excellent treatment—but it depends on what you're hoping to improve.
At Glow Luxe, we most often consider microneedling when someone is concerned about acne scars, uneven texture, enlarged pores, fine lines or certain types of scarring. There are other concerns, however, where we'd recommend a completely different treatment.
Understanding that difference is an important part of getting a good result.
What Does Microneedling Actually Do?
Microneedling uses very fine needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin.
Your body responds through its normal healing process, which includes the production and remodeling of collagen and other components of healthy skin tissue.
The changes aren't immediate. Skin gradually remodels in the weeks following treatment, which is why microneedling results tend to develop over time rather than appearing overnight.
It's also why we generally think of microneedling as a treatment for improving skin quality and texture, rather than a quick cosmetic fix.
What Is Microneedling Best For?
This is where choosing the right treatment becomes important.
We particularly like microneedling for concerns involving skin texture and remodeling, including:
- Acne scars
- Uneven or rough skin texture
- Enlarged-looking pores
- Fine lines
- Certain surgical scars
- Some stretch marks
Acne scarring is one of the areas where microneedling can be particularly useful. Creating controlled micro-injuries encourages the skin to remodel over time, which can gradually soften the appearance of certain scars.
Not every scar responds the same way, though. The type and depth of scarring matter, which is one reason we prefer to examine the skin before recommending a treatment plan.
What Doesn't Microneedling Treat Particularly Well?
This is just as important as understanding what microneedling can do.
Someone may arrive at Glow Luxe asking for microneedling because they've heard it's a good anti-aging treatment, but when we look at their skin, their main concern may actually be something else.
If you're primarily concerned about brown spots, sun damage, redness or visible capillaries, IPL photorejuvenation may make more sense.
If your biggest concern is loose or lax skin, radiofrequency skin tightening or a treatment such as GlowLift™ may be a better starting point.
And if you're concerned about expression lines caused by repeated muscle movement, microneedling isn't addressing the primary cause of those wrinkles.
There isn't one treatment that does everything.
The goal is to identify what's actually bothering you and then choose the treatment best suited to address it.
When We May Recommend Something Other Than Microneedling
Sometimes the most useful thing we can tell someone during a consultation is that the treatment they came in asking about isn't the one we'd choose.
For example, someone concerned about "texture" may actually be seeing accumulated pigmentation from years of sun exposure. Another person asking about wrinkles may primarily have skin laxity. Someone else may have visible redness or capillaries contributing to an uneven complexion.
Those concerns can look similar when you're standing in front of the bathroom mirror, but they don't necessarily respond to the same treatment.
This is why we don't believe in choosing a treatment simply because it's popular.
We start by looking at the skin.
How Many Microneedling Treatments Will I Need?
There isn't one number that applies to everyone.
Some clients choose microneedling simply to improve overall skin quality, while someone treating acne scars or more significant texture changes may require a series of treatments.
In many cases, we recommend approximately three treatments, usually spaced several weeks apart, and then reassess the skin.
More significant scarring may require additional treatments.
The important part is allowing enough time between sessions for the skin's healing and remodeling process to occur.
How Long Does It Take to See Results?
Microneedling isn't usually a treatment where you walk out of the clinic and immediately see the final result.
You may notice your skin looking fresher as the initial redness settles, but the changes we're actually trying to encourage take longer.
Collagen remodeling happens gradually.
For that reason, we usually evaluate microneedling results over the following weeks and months rather than judging the treatment after a few days.
What Is the Downtime After Microneedling?
Most people can expect some redness following treatment.
The skin may look and feel somewhat like a mild sunburn, and there can also be temporary dryness, tightness or sensitivity as it recovers.
For many clients, the most noticeable redness settles within the first couple of days, although recovery varies from person to person.
We provide aftercare instructions because freshly treated skin needs to be treated gently while the skin barrier recovers.
Does Microneedling Hurt?
We apply a topical numbing cream before treatment.
Most clients tolerate microneedling very well, although certain areas of the face can feel more sensitive than others.
You'll probably know you're having a treatment, but most people find it quite manageable.
Why We Use SkinPen®
The device matters, although it isn't the only thing that matters.
At Glow Luxe, we use SkinPen®, a professional microneedling system with FDA clearance for specific indications, including the improvement of facial acne scars in adults.
We chose SkinPen because we wanted a well-established professional system with controlled needle depth, sterile single-use needle cartridges and safeguards designed around professional treatment.
But owning a good device doesn't automatically produce a good treatment.
The person performing the procedure still needs to assess the skin, choose appropriate treatment parameters, understand contraindications and know when microneedling isn't appropriate.
That's the part technology can't replace.
Is Microneedling Safe for Everyone?
No.
Microneedling isn't appropriate for every person or every skin condition.
Certain active skin infections, inflammatory skin conditions, medications, medical conditions and a history of abnormal scarring can affect whether treatment is appropriate. Temporary irritation and pigment changes can occur, and as with any procedure that disrupts the skin, complications are possible.
That's another reason we begin with an assessment rather than simply booking everyone who asks for microneedling.
If something about your skin or medical history makes us uncomfortable proceeding, we'll tell you.
What About RF Microneedling?
Traditional microneedling and radiofrequency microneedling are related, but they're not the same treatment.
RF microneedling combines needles with radiofrequency energy delivered into the tissue. That additional energy changes both the treatment and its risk profile.
It doesn't automatically mean RF microneedling is better.
The right choice depends on the concern being treated, your skin, the device being used and the experience of the person performing the procedure.
If you're comparing the two, we've written separately about RF microneedling and treatments such as Morpheus8, including some of the potential benefits and risks worth understanding before treatment.
So, Is Microneedling Worth It?
For the right person.
We particularly like microneedling when the goal is to improve acne scarring, uneven texture and overall skin quality without relying on a more aggressive energy-based treatment.
But we wouldn't recommend it simply because microneedling is popular.
If your primary concern is pigmentation, redness, laxity or something else entirely, another treatment may give you a better result.
That's ultimately what a good consultation should determine.
Not Sure Whether Microneedling Is Right for Your Skin?
A complimentary consultation gives us an opportunity to look at your skin, discuss what you'd like to improve and determine whether microneedling—or something else—makes the most sense for you.
Call 250.590.5459 or text 250.889.7549 to arrange a complimentary consultation.
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