If you have a history of oral herpes (cold sores), then it's advisable to take oral antiviral medication for a week before the treatment. This is because micro needling can stimulate a new cold sore.
Facial treatments, while often luxurious and beneficial for skin health, carry a variety of risks, including the potential to trigger the development of cold sores in individuals prone to outbreaks.
1) Skin Irritation
This can range from mild redness and swelling to more severe symptoms like blisters or open wounds. In most cases, the skin will return to normal within a few days. However, if the irritation is severe or does not go away after a few days, you should contact your dermatologist.
Treatment cannot be administered if there is an active skin infection, including acne (stage 3 or 4) or cold sores or if you are unwell- including colds, coughs, sore throats etc.
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.
Microneedling can cause bleeding so it may not be suitable for people with clotting or bleeding disorders, or who take medicine to thin their blood. You may want to avoid microneedling if you have conditions that affect your skin, such as eczema or diabetes, or if you have a weakened immune system.
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.
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.
Some breakouts after microneedling may be due to “skin purging” as impurities are brought to the surface. This is temporary and should resolve within a few days to weeks.
What causes cold sores? Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Once this virus is in you, it can cause outbreaks of cold sores. Cold sore outbreaks are often triggered by exposure to the sun, cold wind, a cold or other illness, a weak immune system, changing hormone levels, or even stress.
There are no serious risks associated with microdermabrasion. Possible minor side effects of microdermabrasion include skin tightness, redness, minor bruising, fine broken blood vessels, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and cold sore reactivation around the lips.
“Exercise can reduce stress, as well as getting enough sleep and eating a healthy diet,” says Dr. Fernandez Bohorquez. “These healthy habits also boost your immune system so it can fight cold sore outbreaks.”
Many different things can trigger cold sores. Sickness, stress, sun exposure, trauma to your mouth area and hormonal changes (like during menstruation or pregnancy) are just a few examples. Knowing your triggers can help you avoid some outbreaks. But outbreaks can also happen unpredictably.
There is currently no vaccine for the virus nor natural immunity to it. The virus lies dormant inside your nerve cells and can periodically reactivate. Some people may go for many years without experiencing an active outbreak, which may lead them to believe that they've developed immunity.
There are a few temporary side effects to be aware of with microneedling. The procedure causes short-term swelling, redness, and skin flaking, which can last for a few days. Most people can return to wearing regular makeup within a day of treatment.
Blisters, wounds and Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
Delayed blistering secondary to sun exposure has been noted up to 72 hours post-treatment. Strictly avoid any sun exposure to the treated area for a minimum of 14 days after the procedure.
Even though microneedling benefits the skin, overdoing it can cause serious risks, including skin irritation, redness, and inflammation, leading to discomfort. Overdoing treatments or not allowing ample time between sessions can lead to scarring and even hyperpigmentation.
Why Do I Look Older After Microneedling? You might look older after microneedling because your skin is temporarily inflamed and shedding older layers.
Who shouldn't have microneedling? Talk to your healthcare provider before getting microneedling if you have: Acne or are taking medication for acne. Blood disorders or are on anticoagulants (drugs that prevent blood clots).
Improper Technique: Applying excessive pressure or using incorrect needle depth can lead to skin trauma, scarring, and permanent damage. Infection Risks: Poor hygiene practices, unsterile equipment, or microneedling over active lesions increase the chances of bacterial, viral, or fungal infections.
Attempting to improve your scars with microneedling at home may cause more harm than good to your skin. Puncturing too deep can result in rupture of capillaries. Shallow microneedling won't have any effect on improving the scarring problem.
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.
Microneedling results in tiny injuries that could make it easier for cleaning products to penetrate your skin, which could cause damage and irritation.