Can you microneedle without serum?

Author: Lazaro Orn  |  Last update: Wednesday, September 24, 2025

If you were to drag the pen along your skin without a serum in place, your skin would be far more prone to irritation and damage from the pen pushing too hard into your skin unevenly. But with serum, the pen can glide easily.

Do you have to use a serum with microneedling?

But almost as important as the process of microneedling itself is the serum you choose to use alongside it. Hyaluronic acid is a superstar ingredient dermatologists love, and as it so happens, it's the perfect accompaniment to microneedling.

Can I do microneedling without any serum?

Answer: Yes, yes, yes It is the procedure itself- microneedling- that gives you the best results. Although you have to be careful to which products you use topically, it does not really matter what you use. In my practice we use a HA serum and Growth Factor and we see great results.

Should I put anything on my face before microneedling?

A week before microneedling, refrain from using retinols, glycoic acids, AHA, BHA, astringents or Vit. C. Also stay off blood thinners and antioxidants. You can't do microneedling if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or used Accutane within the last 6 months.

What can I use instead of hyaluronic acid for microneedling?

Top Serum Ingredients for At-home Microneedling
  • Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic acid is the best option for dry skin. ...
  • Peptides. ...
  • Ceramides. ...
  • Growth Factors (e.g., EGF) ...
  • Niacinamide. ...
  • Antioxidants (e.g., Vitamin C) ...
  • Snail Mucin. ...
  • Mushroom Extracts.

How to microneedle at home with Dr. Pen | Dr. Pen Australia | Microneedling | Skin Needling | CIT

What liquid to use when microneedling?

Hyaluronic acid serums are the best and most commonly used type for microneedling because of their hydrating properties. Other great alternatives include peptides, ceramides, and EGF. Just make sure to avoid retinoids, Vitamin C, and other serums that contain acids (AHA, BHA, and lactic acid).

What can I use if I don't have hyaluronic acid?

Best Natural Alternatives to Hyaluronic Acid
  1. Aloe Vera. INCI: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder. ...
  2. Snow Mushroom. INCI: Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide. ...
  3. Panthenol. INCI: Panthenol.

What to apply before microneedling at home?

Double cleanse before the treatment

Double-cleanse with a gentle pH-based cleanser and a gentle silicone brush to avoid irritating your skin. Don't forget to use a hair tie or headband to get your hair out of the way as well. Alternatively, if you choose to use numbing cream for your microneedling treatment.

What are the don'ts of microneedling?

Don't take a bath for 1 day, and don't go for long baths and showers during the first week of your recovery. Avoid spas and saunas. Avoid swimming in chlorinated pools or the ocean. This includes cosmetic tattooing such as Microblading.

How to make microneedling more effective?

We'll tell you how you can get the best results from this collagen-boosting therapy.
  1. Be Honest With Your Medical Provider. ...
  2. Go To Your Treatment With Bare Skin. ...
  3. Avoid Other Treatment Procedures or Topical Products Before Microneedling. ...
  4. Do Not Take Anti-Inflammatory and Blood Thinning Medications Before The Procedure.

Can you do microneedling alone?

Numerous studies prove the efficacy of microneedling alone. For certain conditions, such as acne scars, the addition of growth factors to the treatment amplifies the results and speeds recovery. This is because growth factors uses stem cell science to enhance healing through its high concentration of growth factors.

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.

Should I stop using vitamin C serum before microneedling?

Avoid facial treatments (such as waxing, peels and injectables) a week before microneedling. Avoid using the microneedle on the same night as your retinoids (retinal, retinol etc), alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) or vitamin C. Use them on alternative nights, leaving at least 24 hours in-between.

How do I prepare my skin for microneedling?

To get your skin healthy for your microneedling, we recommend avoiding things that may irritate your skin, such as:
  1. Direct sun exposure 24 hours before your session (unless protected with sunscreen)
  2. Tanning lotions 48 hours before your session.
  3. Acid-based skin care products.
  4. Retinol-containing skin care products.

Does microneedling plump your face?

Microneedling is incredibly effective for plumping the skin around pores, giving the appearance they've shrunk. It's how to get smooth skin like a baby.

Why can't you wash your face after microneedling?

Microneedling results in tiny injuries that could make it easier for cleaning products to penetrate your skin, which could cause damage and irritation.

Is it better to microneedle in the morning or at night?

Myth: sun is the enemy of microneedling!

This is why we'd never recommend microneedling during the day. To keep your skin happy and healthy, always microneedle in the evening – this means your skin has the whole night to restore itself, and you can wake up to sensational skin.

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.

Can you mess up microneedling?

The Common Microneedling Mistakes To Avoid Are:

Using Low Quality Derma Rollers. Applying a serum containing high amounts of fragrance after. Microneedling too often.

Should you use a serum when microneedling?

In conclusion, combining microneedling with serums can significantly enhance absorption and maximize the benefits of your skincare routine. By creating micro-channels in the skin's surface, microneedling allows serums to penetrate deeper into the skin, delivering their active ingredients more effectively.

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.

How often should I microneedle my face at home?

At-home microneedling: If using a dermaroller at home, it's safer to stick to a schedule of once every 2-4 weeks with lower needle depths (0.25-0.5 mm).

What is an alternative to serums?

Glycerine skin benefits to moisturise dry areas without making your skin appear greasy, while lavender oil helps reduce skin discolouration, fights acne, and prevents early signs of ageing. Rose water soothes inflammation and redness. This is one of the best anti-ageing serums for everyday use.

What is a homemade substitute for hyaluronic acid?

In this case, virgin prickly pear oil is a good alternative. Prickly pear has more Vitamin E than any other beauty oil, and is made up of 88 per cent of unsaturated fatty acids, which keeps collagen in the skin healthy. It even has 150 per cent more Vitamin E than Argan Oil, yet is not greasy to touch.

What is a natural alternative to retinol?

Often called nature's retinol, bakuchiol is the most well-known of the natural retinol alternatives. Extracted from the seeds of the babchi plant, bakuchiol (pronounced 'back-oo-chiol' after the Sanskrit name for the babchi plant) is one of the hottest ingredients in the natural beauty industry today.

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