Microneedling Q&A

What is microneedling?

Microneedling is a minimally invasive, nonsurgical procedure used to treat various skin conditions. The procedure involves a handheld, pen-shaped device of tiny needles that make microscopic punctures in the skin. The injuries are so tiny they do not leave scars, but they stimulate the skin to start repairing itself. 

Areas treated with microneedling first become inflamed, and then the skin produces new collagen as it works to repair the tiny puncture wounds. Collagen is the elastic fibers that keep the skin smooth, tight, and youthful-looking — unfortunately, collagen levels in the skin decline during the natural aging process.

Which skin conditions can microneedling improve?

Microneedling is an effective treatment for a wide range of skin conditions that cause depressions in the skin, including:

• Acne scars
• Surgical scars
• Burns
• Wrinkles
• Enlarged pores
• Stretch marks

There is no heat or laser involved with microneedling treatments, which means people with dark patches of skin and hyperpigmentation can receive microneedling treatments without risking an increase of pigmentation problems. 

How many microneedling sessions do I need?

Becky Does Botox recommends 3-5 monthly or biweekly treatments to achieve the best results. While microneedling stimulates collagen production, it also helps the outer layer of skin (epidermis) become thicker and smoother.

What side effects does microneedling cause?

There is little to no downtime required after a microneedling treatment session.

Microneedling is considered a safe procedure for most people in good, overall health, but as with any medical or cosmetic treatment, it may cause a few temporary side effects. Microneedling often causes short-term swelling and redness of the treated areas, which can last a few days after treatment. The treated areas may also experience flaky skin during the healing process.

The skin is more sensitive to the sun after treatment, so the providers at Becky Does Botox recommend that you always wear sunscreen.

If you have active acne breakouts or oral herpes, you should not receive microneedling until the lesions clear. Microneedling may stimulate new cold sores in individuals with a history of oral herpes. Therefore, Becky Does Botox may prescribe an oral antiviral medication for a week after treatment to help prevent cold sores.

You should not receive microneedling treatment if you are pregnant.

To learn more about microneedling and find out if it can help eliminate the appearance of scars and wrinkles on your face, call the Becky Does Botox office or schedule an appointment online.