Skin Needling/Microneedling

Compare To Other Treatments

Immediately after treatment:

  • Pain or a burning sensation is often present during and immediately after skin needling. After treatment, the skin will be red and swollen and may bleed. The redness and swelling are normally mild and disappear in 1-3 days at most.
  • There is no need to apply a special dressing after skin needling. Sometimes, gentle pressure with a gauze is applied to stop the pinpoint bleeding. Your doctor may recommend using a moisturizer in the day or two following treatment.
  • After treatment, it is important to avoid sun exposure and apply sunscreen until the skin is healed.

Days and weeks after treatment:

  • Skin redness and swelling may persist up to 3 days at most. When the skin heals, crusts may form.
  • During this time, patients should continue to avoid sun exposure and apply sunscreen.

Longer term:

Long-term side effects are rare, but may include hyperpigmentation (skin darkening), which is more common in dark-skinned individuals.

References
  1. Alam M, et al.  Efficacy of a needling device for the treatment of acne scars: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Dermatol. 150(8), 844-9 (2014).
  2. Fabbrocini G, Fardella N, Monfrecola A, Proietti I, and Innocenzi D. Acne scarring treatment using skin needling. Clin Exp Dermatol. 34(8), 874-9 (2009).
  3. Uptodate.com. Management of acne scars. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/management-of-acne-scars?source=search_result&search=subcision&selectedTitle=1~4. Last retrieved on 5 October, 2017.
  4. Harris AG, Naidoo C, and Murrell DF. Skin needling as a treatment for acne scarring: An up-to-date review of the literature. Int J Womens Dermatol. 1(2), 77-81 (2015).
  5. Osman MA, Shokeir HA, and Fawzy MM. Fractional Erbium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser Versus Microneedling in Treatment of Atrophic Acne Scars: A Randomized Split-Face Clinical Study. Dermatol Surg. 43 Suppl 1, S47-S56 (2017).
  6. Leheta T, El Tawdy A, Abdel Hay R, and Farid S. Percutaneous collagen induction versus full-concentration trichloroacetic acid in the treatment of atrophic acne scars. Dermatol Surg. 37(2), 207-16 (2011).
  7. Dogra S, Yadav S, and Sarangal R. Microneedling for acne scars in Asian skin type: an effective low cost treatment modality. J Cosmet Dermatol. 13, 180-187 (2014).
  8. Cachafeiro T, Escobar G, Maldonado G, Cestari T, and Corleta O. Comparison of Nonablative Fractional Erbium Laser 1,340 nm and Microneedling for the Treatment of Atrophic Acne Scars: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Dermatol Surg. 42(2), 232-41 (2016).

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