Do at-home microneedling devices work?

Author: Arnaldo Nolan  |  Last update: Wednesday, January 21, 2026

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.

Do at home microneedling machines work?

While at-home microneedling can be effective, it's generally less powerful than professional treatments. If you're trying to treat deep scars or severe skin issues, you may get better results from a dermatologist or professional aesthetician. Always consult with a healthcare professional if you're unsure.

Do dermatologists recommend at home microneedling?

Like all cosmetic treatments, microneedling is a medical procedure. To protect your health and safety, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends seeing a medical doctor who has expertise in treating the skin and performing cosmetic treatments, such as a board-certified dermatologist. This session is essential.

Can you effectively do microneedling at home?

A dermatologist's microneedling device usually contains needles longer than those found in devices you can buy over the counter. This means that at-home microneedling is less effective than the kind done by a professional because you aren't creating as significant of an injury to the skin.

Can you get results from microneedling at home?

Weiss recommends patients spread out the treatments over multiple months, it will take a lot longer to see the same results of an in-office RF microneedling treatment when attempting to use a device at home. At-home microneedling might not be as safe as you think.

Is MICRONEEDLING Worth the Hype? Doctorly Explains

Is at home microneedling as good as professional?

It's a simple fact: professional microneedling yields notable results while at-home microneedling results in minimal improvement. At home microneedling will never be as effective as having the procedure done by a professional for two reasons. First, skin care professionals use more advanced microneedling devices.

Why am I not seeing results with microneedling?

This treatment is all about 'repair' and stimulating collagen. This takes time and occurs deep within the skin, so the effects of Microneedling may not be seen immediately. RF Microneedling causes small wounds (pinpricks) in your skin which stimulates the skin's repair mode.

Can you microneedle under eye bags?

Microneedling can be an effective treatment option for fine lines, under-eye bags, puffiness, hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and even stretch marks. The versatility of a microneedling treatment is what makes it beneficial for patients with varying skin tones and skin types.

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.

What is the best microneedling device for home use?

Top Picks: Banisher 3.0

I recommend the Banisher 3.0 for at home microneedling for a few reasons: Optimal Needle Length: At 0.5mm needles, it is the optimal length for at home use being long enough to boost collagen and skincare absorption, and minimzing risks of scarring.

How often do I apply hyaluronic acid after microneedling?

We recommend our Hyaluronic Acid Serum or Alastin Regenerating Skin Nectar, available for purchase. It is important to apply every 3 hours for the first 24 hours after the microneedling. These can also be continued twice a day for the first week.

Is there anything better than microneedling?

Both microneedling and chemical peels can help to rejuvenate the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, however, for deeper wrinkles, Dr. Green may recommend adding Botox or dermal fillers to your treatment plan.

Can you do 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.

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 you do microneedling pen at home?

Applying a serum such as hyaluronic acid will also help lubricate your skin and may alleviate some discomfort during the microneedling process. How often should I use my Dr Pen? Microneedling can safely be performed every 4-6 weeks.

Does microneedling lift hooded eyes?

The results are more subtle compared to surgery, but still markedly improve hooding eyelids and early signs of sagging. For instance, McKinzie Aesthetics Center reported that Morpheus8 helped their patients achieve a 50% improvement in the quality of their eyelid skin by using microneedling and radiofrequency (RF).

Does microneedling get rid of nasolabial folds?

The present clinical split‐face study investigated the efficacy of microneedle patches for improving nasolabial folds. The microneedle patch with HA solution and the microneedle patch alone both significantly improved the Merz esthetics scores for nasolabial folds when evaluated by dermatologists.

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 numbing cream is good for microneedling?

Lidocaine, Prilocaine & Epinephrine Numbing Cream

Each tube contains the active numbing ingredients lidocaine, prilocaine, and epinephrine. Once the anesthetic is applied on clean and dry skin it can provide effective anesthesia for microneedling as early as 15 minutes after application.

Can you go too deep with microneedling?

In his “Commentary on: Micro-Needling Depth Penetration…” , Des Fernandez, MD found that “1.0 to 1.5 [mm] is a very effective depth to achieve good results” and that “overtreatment and excoriation of the epidermis becomes a real danger when trying to do skin needling at 2.0 mm or more with these vertical mechanical ...

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.

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.

How do you maximize microneedling results?

Microneedling Aftercare Tips
  1. Boosting progress with supplements.
  2. Avoiding intense activities.
  3. Staying out of hot showers and baths.
  4. Letting the skin rest before further treatments.
  5. Not wearing makeup.
  6. Protecting your skin from the sun.
  7. Avoiding caffeine and alcohol.

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