Have you been wondering about microneedling for acne scars? Acne is an awful skin condition that plagues many people. Even if you don’t get very many breakouts anymore, you might be dealing wit the aftermath. No one wants to be reminded of their embarrassing acne breakouts—especially if you have scars that last for years. Well, there’s good news! Microneedling is a promising treatment that can help reduce those acne scars and make your skin look great! Read through our FAQs to learn all about microneedling.
What is microneedling?
Microneedling is a skin treatment that uses dozens of fine needle pricks to puncture the top layers of facial skin, boosting collagen and giving your skin a healthy glow.
What’s a microneedling device?
The device is simply a small roller with dozens of tiny, sterile stainless-steel needles. Your dermatologist or esthetician will roll the device gently across your face for the treatment. There are different microneedling devices for different skincare needs. They bigger or smaller-gauge needles, depending on the level of treatment needed.
How does microneedling for acne work?
Microneedling works for acne by triggering your body’s healing process. It stimulates the production of collagen and allows your skin to create brand-new cells that are healthier than the previous skin cells. Skin that was damaged by acne breakouts can finally heal with the help of microneedling.
Does microneedling hurt?
No worries! There might be a little bit of discomfort, but microneedling doesn’t cause pain. The microneedling tool feels rough, but you won’t feel the sharp needles in the same way that you might think. Also, in most cases, you’ll get a numbing cream or gel to reduce the sensation in your face.
How does microneedling fit into my skincare regimen?
Microneedling helps products soak into your skin. Normally, your skin acts as a barrier. While you do get some of the benefits of your skincare products, your skin doesn’t absorb every last drop. But after a microneedling treatment, that barrier is temporarily broken down. This lets your skin soak up every last bit of your serums, moisturizers, or masks. When you combine high-quality skincare products with microneedling, you can get amazing effects.
Can it help smooth my skin?
Yes! One of the biggest problems with acne is that if often leaves behind textural changes in the skin. In many cases, these scars don’t resolve themselves. Often, the redness fades over time post-breakout, but the acne leaves behind small “dents” or pockmarks in the skin. These textured scars often don’t heal on their own. Maybe you’re also struggling with the appearance of wrinkles or fine lines in addition to your acne scarring. In either case, microneedling is a treatment that can improve your skin texture and give you a smoother, more youthful looking face!
Does microneedling help with acne hyperpigmentation?
Post-acne scars can leave behind hyperpigmentation, or areas that are darker than the rest of the skin. This makes it look like you still have acne even if you don’t! Thankfully, microneedling can help improve your hyperpigmented areas.
Does microneedling help with pore size?
There’s another unwelcome side effect of acne breakouts: enlarged pores. Thankfully, many patients report that their pores seem smaller after microneedling treatments!
Will it make me look younger?
Generally, yes, it can help with a youthful appearance. That’s because it will reduce the fine lines, texture and redness that can make you look older.
Will it hurt after the microneedling treatment? What is the recovery time?
Many people who have gotten microneedling say that it feels like a sunburn afterwards. Your skin might feel a bit sensitive for a day or two— generally for about 24 hours. However, it’ll heal quickly and you’ll be back to feeling like normal.
How long does it take to get results from microneedling?
You might see great results in just one treatment! It’s hard to tell until you’ve tried it. Some people need more than one treatment to get good results. It’s completely safe to repeat treatments. If your acne scars aren’t resolved after one visit, you can keep getting microneedling treatments until your skin looks the way you want it to. Of course, you should always consult with your dermatologist or esthetician to get their expert advice.
Can I get microneedling treatments if I still have acne?
In many cases, yes. You’ll need to ask your dermatologist or esthetician to see if they think it’s a good idea. Keep in mind that microneedling can be a little bit more painful if you have active acne breakouts.
Does microneedling really work?
According to the conclusion of a 2015 study by six doctors in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology,
“Skin microneedling is a simple, inexpensive office modality of treatment for the management of post-acne atrophic scars. It has favorable advantages as the epidermis remains intact, decreasing most of the risks and negative side effects of other invasive modalities for treatment of post-acne scars.”
While the study did find that it can take several treatments to achieve results, microneedling got a favorable review.
In addition to studies, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that microneedling can help with acne scarring. We’ve treated multiple patients for acne scars with positive results!
Can I do microneedling treatments at home?
Some microneedling devices are sold for at-home use. The at-home microneedling devices have very tiny needles, smaller than the ones your dermatologist might use. This is to make them safer, but they also might be less effective. In most cases, you should let a professional operate a microneedling device. They know how to operate it without harming your facial skin.
