Microneedling is one of the most beneficial skin care treatments on the market — leaving your skin looking brighter, firmer and more even.

Although you may have some temporary side effects, you’ll leave the office feeling great about yourself and excited to show off your new and improved skin. 

But, like with every skin care treatment, there are specific aftercare recommendations that you should follow to make sure you have the best results possible. Knowing when you can safely apply makeup after microneedling is one of them; let’s discuss why it's so crucial. 

What is microneedling, and what can it do for your skin?

If you haven’t heard of microneedling, we’re excited to introduce you to one of our most popular skin care treatments. Not only is microneedling safe for all skin types, but it’s also customizable depending on your specific goals. 

Microneedling uses a specialized tool that allows our skin care providers to change how deeply they treat your skin, anywhere from 0.1 mm to 2.5 mm. After being prepped with a topical numbing cream, so you’re comfortable during your treatment, fine needles make tiny puncture wounds in your skin. Don’t worry — these won’t be noticeable!

The puncture wounds are the key to getting all of the impressive benefits of microneedling, which include:

• Improving the appearance of fine lines, deep wrinkles and scars (like acne or stretch marks)
• Reversing visible effects of sun damage
• Firming and tightening the skin

But how can a little tool and a few controlled puncture wounds make such a big difference? It’s all in harnessing the natural power of the skin’s healing process. When the skin recognizes that it's been damaged, it responds by increasing collagen production in that area; this is how scars are formed!

Collagen isn’t just the protein behind scar formation, though. It’s also crucial to keeping your skin looking firm, healthy and youthful. When you have a microneedling treatment performed, those punctures essentially trick the skin into thinking it’s being injured, so it starts to ramp up collagen production all over your face! 

That’s why microneedling is also known as collagen induction therapy and why it’s such a big hit with both skin care professionals and people who want to keep their skin looking and feeling its best. 

Unlike other skin care treatments aimed at reducing the impact that aging has on the skin (think Botox, Dysport or dermal fillers like Juvaderm or Restylane), the results you’ll get from microneedling are permanent. What other treatments can give you so much bang for your buck?

What about PRP?

If you’re really looking to make changes to your skin’s appearance, talk to your skin care provider about adding platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to your microneedling treatment. PRP is a component that comes from your own blood, which is drawn and spun down in a centrifuge right before your treatment. PRP has a high concentration of platelets suspended in plasma, which can help speed up the healing process. It’s a technique that orthopedic and sports medicine doctors also use to support joint healing!

PRP can either be injected directly into the skin (similar to dermal filler) or applied on top of the skin before microneedling. Any leftover PRP can also be massaged onto your skin after your treatment — because we don’t want to waste any of your liquid gold!

What should I know about wearing makeup after microneedling?

So, your microneedling treatment is over and you’re excited to show off your new, beautiful skin. Is it ok to put makeup on as soon as you get home and hit the town?

We understand you want to look your best — you deserve that! But, in terms of makeup after microneedling, we strongly recommend you give it a little time before pulling out the foundation. 

How long, you ask? At least 24 hours (and preferably up to three full days). 

We feel your disappointment, but there’s a solid reason behind our recommendation. Even though you can’t see the tiny puncture wounds the microneedling tool makes on your skin, they’re still there. Your skin needs time to heal. 

But what happens if you do go home and apply makeup after microneedling? Think about it this way — would you apply lotion to any other open wound on your body? It likely wouldn’t hurt anything (although it may slightly increase your risk of infection), but it can extend the time it takes your skin to heal. 

What else should I be doing after my microneedling treatment?

Besides waiting at least 24 hours to apply makeup after microneedling, we have a few other recommendations from our skin care providers to help you heal effectively and get optimal results. 

• Know your potential side effects. Redness and sensitivity are the most common, especially in the first day or two, but if your skin seems especially irritated or you develop any other side effects, contact your skin care provider for more specific recommendations. 

• Avoid strenuous exercise or situations where you may sweat excessively for 24 hours post-treatment. Unlike post-Botox, where exercise or perspiration can “shift” the medication into unwanted areas, it’s more about reducing irritation and the length of your side effects with microneedling. 

• Stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible (including tanning beds). If you need to go out in the sun, always use broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and reapply every two hours.

• Try to touch your skin as little as possible while you heal — especially picking or scratching at it. If it gets itchy, you can gently pat it in the same way you would a sunburn or a healing tattoo. Expect your skin to peel for three to five days after your treatment, as well. 

We also recommend a specific post-treatment skin care routine to support your skin as it heals. Start by washing your face morning and evening with our gentle foaming cleanser. This helps to remove any debris that may build up on your skin and block your pores, slowing down the healing process. 

As you go through your day, you may find that your skin needs more hydration than normal. Healing skin is needy skin, and it takes more moisture and energy to repair itself. If your skin feels dry, we recommend using our Recovery Lotion. We designed this moisturizer with hyaluronic acid and barrier lipids to hydrate, protect and strengthen the skin. It’s an excellent tool for efficient and effective healing, especially post-microneedling treatment. 

Once your skin has gotten through the worst of the healing process (which usually takes about one to three days), you can return to your pre-treatment skin care routine. However, if you’re still noticing redness, sensitivity or irritation, you may want to continue to avoid exfoliants.

How often can I get a microneedling treatment?

After your first microneedling treatment, you’ll likely be hooked on how amazing your skin looks and want to book your next appointment. How often can you schedule your appointments?

While the ultimate decision should be made with the help of your skin care provider, we do have some general guidelines. If you’re using microneedling to help reduce the appearance of melasma or scarring, our rule of thumb is to have a treatment every four to six weeks. If you’re undergoing microneedling treatments to manage age-related concerns, you should schedule them every 12 weeks. Expect it to take between four to six appointments to see your most optimal results. 

The reason for the wait is to make sure your skin is fully healed. While it only takes a few days for the biggest part of the healing process to be over, the increased collagen production continues in the area for weeks afterward. Doing your treatments too close together doesn’t allow your skin long enough to do its job.

To wrap things up...

Knowing when to apply makeup after microneedling is crucial to getting the best results from this amazing skin care treatment. Following your skin care provider's recommendations will help you get noticeable results in just a week or two. And remember — always keep your skin looking and feeling its best with Skin Pharm, because you deserve it!

SOURCES:

Review of applications of microneedling in dermatology | PMC

Collagen in Wound Healing | PMC

Microneedling in facial recalcitrant melasma: report of a series of 22 cases | PMC