Can you do too much microneedling?

Author: Mateo Halvorson  |  Last update: Monday, December 29, 2025

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.

Can too much microneedling damage skin?

Overusing microneedling can irritate your skin, which can make the skin concern more noticeable and your skin uncomfortable. Sometimes an at-home microneedling product pierces the skin. This could lead to an infection or scarring.

How many microneedling sessions is too much?

Most dermatologists recommend a series of four to six microneedling sessions, spaced four to six weeks apart, for optimal results. However, the number of sessions you'll need will ultimately depend on your individual goals and skin condition.

What happens if you overdo microneedling?

Overdoing microneedling can lead to several negative consequences for your skin, including: Persistent Redness and Irritation: Microneedling too frequently can cause continuous redness, irritation, and inflammation, as the skin doesn't get enough time to heal properly between treatments.

Can microneedling be done every day?

As long as you can manage your expectations and use the device prudently (pros say to start at once a week, then build up to twice weekly), microneedling at home seems to be a worthwhile option if you're not ready for the real, in-office thing.

How Much Time Should I Wait Between MicroNeedling Treatments? | Ask an Educator

What happens if you microneedle too deep?

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.

Is it OK to do microneedling every 2 weeks?

Most people can safely get microneedling every four to six weeks, but a treatment session every 14 days may be appropriate for you. How often you should get treatment depends on several factors, including what you are trying to treat and the severity of your cosmetic concerns.

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 downsides of microneedling?

Cons of Microneedling
  • Likely To Be Painful. ...
  • Risk Of Infection Or Scarring If Not Done Properly. ...
  • Potential For Increased Sensitivity And Irritation. ...
  • Possibility Of Post-Treatment Breakouts. ...
  • May Not Be Suitable For Individuals With Certain Skin Conditions Or Medical Conditions.

Can microneedling cause sagging?

Microneedling essentially induces stress within the skin. While the body rushes to replenish lost collagen, it does so under duress. This may temporarily create the illusion of plumper skin, but the structural damage becomes evident long—term, resulting in fine lines, wrinkles, hollow areas, and sagging.

How often can I microneedle my face at-home?

If you choose to try at-home microneedling, be sure to: Disinfect your device before and after each use. Use gentle pressure and avoid sensitive areas. Stick to low-frequency usage (every 2-4 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 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 does my face look bad after 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.

What can I do instead of microneedling?

Of course, if you're unable to get microneedling or Plasma Pen therapy, other options have excellent results and few complications. Below are such alternatives procedures that you can explore: Injectables: For wrinkles and fine lines, especially on the forehead. Laser Resurfacing: For advanced skin rejuvenating.

Can you do microneedling under eyes?

Overall, microneedling under eyes is a safe and effective treatment for addressing various skin concerns and can help improve the overall appearance of the eye area.

Is there such thing as too much microneedling?

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.

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.

Why do my pores look bigger after microneedling?

When microneedling on enlarged pores, the skin, for some days looks a bit rough and the pores appear bigger because of the damage caused by the needles. After a natural wound healing response is activated, that produces new collagen, the skin looks plumped up and tightened and the enlarged pore becomes smaller.

How long does it take for collagen to rebuild after microneedling?

Results will depend on the severity of the area being treated. The tightened and final results will be seen gradually over 6-9 months which is the time it takes for each individual's body to produce collagen naturally and for the skin to rebuild after injury.

Is Botox or microneedling better?

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 best thing to put on skin after microneedling?

What to Put On Your Skin After Microneedling
  • Avoid harsh scrubs or products.
  • Only clean your skin with a professionally formulated cleanser.
  • Apply targeted skincare serums that will penetrate deeply into your skin.
  • Keep your skin well-hydrated with a gentle moisturizer.
  • Apply medical-grade sun protection.

What are the long term 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.

Can you microneedle your lips?

In lip microneedling, hyaluronic acid is applied to the lips and is followed by microneedling, supposedly to help HA penetrate the dermal layer. In reality, because of the thinness of lip tissue, micro-wounds must be kept shallow, too shallow to elicit collagen formation or deliver HA to deep lip tissue.

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.

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