Are there any risks to microneedling?

Author: Mr. Izaiah Barrows III  |  Last update: Thursday, July 17, 2025

Skin damage is a risk that commonly occurs with microneedling devices. The damage may include bleeding, bruising, redness, tightness, itching and peeling, and these typically go away without any treatment after a few days or weeks.

What are the dangers of microneedling?

Common Side Effects of Microneedling

The procedure causes short-term redness, swelling, and skin flaking, often lasting a few days. You should call your doctor immediately if you notice more severe side effects, such as bruising, bleeding, peeling, and infection.

Who is a bad candidate for microneedling?

Certain conditions can make a person a poor candidate. These include pregnancy, recent Accutane use, active acne outbreaks, or specific skin disorders. A history of poor wound healing and skin treatments like radiation and microneedling with PRP injection in the past year also raises red flags for patients.

Can micro needling cause nerve damage?

Possible Side effects. Damage to blood vessels, hematoma, infection an/or irritation. Temporary or permanent nerve damage that may result in pain or numbness. Infection is a slight possibility.

Is microneedling a safe procedure?

Microneedling is generally a well-tolerated, safe procedure. Contraindications are limited, but include the following[1][10]: Active acne, especially inflammatory lesions. Active herpes labialis or other localized infection in the treatment area, including warts.

Micro-Needling - Is It Safe? | This Morning

What do dermatologists say about microneedling?

"There are no risks or downtime if microneedling is performed properly," notes Dr. Katz. "When microneedling is not performed properly, there are serious risks like infections, scarring, hyperpigmentation, and bruising."

What is the average price of a microneedling session?

The average cost of microneedling in the US is about $640 per session, according to over 300 patient experiences on RealSelf. This can vary between $300 to $700, however, depending on: Your location: Prices may be higher in major cities or upscale clinics.

Why do I feel sick after microneedling?

It is rare to get any serious side effects following treatment, however possible side-effects include the following: Bruising/swelling/redness at injection site. Infection. Nausea, headache or flu-like symptoms.

Is micro needling a waste of money?

The bottom line. Microneedling can offer benefits such as improved skin texture, increased collagen production, and reduced scarring. But it comes at a cost, and results don't last forever.

Why do I feel worse after dry needling?

Dry needling has the potential to temporarily increase pain in some patients, primarily due to the body's natural healing response, technique sensitivity, and individual pain thresholds. However, with proper technique, patient education, and post-treatment care, these adverse effects can be managed and minimized.

Is chemical peel or microneedling better?

How to choose the right procedure. Microneedling and chemical peels treat many of the same conditions, but the same therapy won't work for everyone. Chemical peels treat more surface damage, like wrinkles, texture issues, and scarring. Microneedling treats conditions like rosacea, hyperpigmentation, and sagging skin.

When should I not do microneedling?

If you have any active issue on the face- acne, cold sore, injury, rash- you should postpone your procedure. Do not do this close to other procedures like Botox or filler. We have our patients get topical numbing medication to apply 45 minutes prior to the procedure. Plan downtime for 24-48 hours afterwards.

What celebrities swear by microneedling?

Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Victoria Beckham, and even Brad Pitt have been known to embrace these miraculous tools. However, in a world that expects stars to stay eternally youthful without any intervention, many keep it as their best-kept beauty secret!

Why do I look older after microneedling?

Why Do I Look Older After Microneedling? You might look older after microneedling because your skin is temporarily inflamed and shedding older layers.

What are the disadvantages of microneedles?

Disadvantages of microneedles [12]: Limited drug dose loaded, due to the small size of microneedles. Temporary inflammation and allergy may occur. Sophisticated technologies needed for manufacturing with reproducibility.

Is microneedling better than Botox?

As stand-alone treatments, these are both fantastic in their own ways. Botox will provide good visual results on the skin, as the area will look and feel smoother – although for firmer, plumper, healthy-looking skin, microneedling wins, hands-down.

What is the downside of microneedling?

Skin damage is a risk that commonly occurs with microneedling devices. The damage may include bleeding, bruising, redness, tightness, itching and peeling, and these typically go away without any treatment after a few days or weeks.

How long do microneedling results last?

In general, you can expect the results of SkinPen microneedling to last for four to six weeks. The longevity of these results can be attributed to the length of your natural cellular turnover cycle, as well as how long newly produced collagen can last in the skin.

What is better than micro needling?

Laser treatments can often provide quicker, more dramatic and long lasting results than microneedling treatments.

What does your face look like 2 days after microneedling?

Skin that is pink and a bit sandy-looking is common for some clients in days 2 – 4 after the treatment. Just like any time you're kick-starting cell turnover with a treatment or skin exfoliation, your skin will be sensitive to UV rays.

What are the long term side effects of microneedling?

Despite its many advantages, there are some risks associated with microneedling such as infection, inflammation and discoloration. Long-term effects may include scarring or changes in pigmentation so caution should be taken when undergoing this treatment.

Does at home microneedling really work?

Professional microneedling is more expensive than its at-home counterpart, yet it also offers greater results in terms of safety, efficacy and longevity. At-home microneedling can still provide excellent results if done correctly; however, it may need to be repeated more often than a professional treatment would.

Why is micro needling so expensive?

Health devices (such as a microneedling pen) are quite expensive, usually on the order of thousands of pounds, and the people who buy them have to make the money back. This drives up the price of the procedure. It also creates a price difference because providers don't use the same quality or type of pen.

Is microneedling worth the hype?

Microneedling Benefits: Why People Love It

Microneedling is a versatile treatment, and people love it for its benefits, such as reducing fine lines and wrinkles, improving uneven skin tone and texture, and minimizing enlarged pores. It also treats hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and stretch marks.

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