What happens if you go too deep with microneedling?

Author: Dr. Bethel Koepp IV  |  Last update: Wednesday, January 14, 2026

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.

What happens if I microneedle too deep?

But yeah, there are a few things you need to take into account otherwise... yes, you will have ``regrets.'' If you go too deep or do sessions too often, it can lead to scarring or even enlarge your pores, doing the opposite of what you're looking for. Also, the quality of the pen plays a huge role.

How deep is too deep for microneedling?

There is a generally agreed upon effective depth range (0.10 mm to 3 mm), although the length of needles chosen within that range is determined by the severity of the concern, area being treated, the person's discomfort tolerance and response.

What happens if microneedling is done wrong?

Possible Complications After Microneedling
  • Infection. Infections do not always look the way you think.
  • Allergic or irritant reactions. Ranging from barely visible or extreme (as in you just want to hide).
  • Pain and itching. Are not normal for skin if they last more than a few days!
  • Scars and texture changes.

Is it better to go deeper with microneedling?

Success with MCN is truly based on what you are trying to fix. Depth of needling is very important because your collagen and elastin are formed in your dermis and if your needles are not getting to that depth you are not maximally stimulating their formation. Acne scarring needs deeper needling to >2mm.

Derma Pen! Don't do the same MISTAKE! KNOW HOW! Correct technique.

Can you overdo 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.

How deep can an esthetician go with microneedling?

It is most often performed by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. In California, aestheticians cannot penetrate the skin and should not perform microneedling.

What happens if you microneedle too hard?

This could lead to an infection or scarring. At-home microneedling can accidentally spread warts, herpes, and other viruses across the skin. Pressing too hard can damage your skin. This damage can cause scarring or changes to your skin's color or texture.

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 damage is caused by 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.

Is it better to microneedling fast or slow?

As a general rule, the faster you set the speed on your microneedling pen, the deeper the needle will penetrate your skin. If you're using the pen on your face or other sensitive areas, we recommend using a lower speed - this gives you more precise control of the pen and its movements.

Can I microneedle my 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 microneedling go as deep as a tattoo?

This treatment rejuvenates by creating micro-injuries on your skin and triggering the scar tissue to produce more collagen. However, this treatment is not an effective way to permanently remove tats. Tattoo ink penetrates deep into the layers of the dermis, but dermarollers can only reach up to the skin's upper layer.

Is 2.5 mm too deep for microneedling?

The correct depth for microneedling stretchmarks is 1.5mm-2.5mm. It's recommended to start with a 1.5mm depth for 3-4 sessions before considering a larger size. Deep dark stretch marks usually take 3-5 sessions of a 2mm+ needle depth to see results.

What are the bad experiences of microneedling?

Risks that May Occur From Microneedling

As mentioned earlier, microneedling side effects can cause swelling, redness, and skin flaking in the short term. However, people undergoing the treatment risk experiencing more severe side effects such as bleeding, bruising, peeling, and sometimes skin infections.

How long will my face look bad after microneedling?

It's normal to experience certain side effects after a microneedling procedure. Your skin can be flushed or even bright red when you leave your visit. Within 48 hours, the majority of the redness you experience after microneedling will go away. Peeling, flaking and breakouts may take a little longer.

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.

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.

How to 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.

Can you microneedle too deep?

Longer needles at 1mm or higher could cause damage and trauma at the deeper layers of skin while increasing risk of skin infection. The safest size I would recommend for others to use at home is up to 0.5mm as that is the minimum needed to effectively stimulate collagen.

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.

Why does my skin look awful after microneedling?

It's all normal for skin to look red or inflamed, possibly even scratched or bloody, and possibly feel rough and tender to the touch. These side effects of microneedling will go away eventually.

Is Dr Pen as good as SkinPen?

When it comes to choosing between SkinPen and Dermapen, SkinPen is the clear winner. Not only does it offer superior precision and safety, but shorter treatment times make it more convenient for busy patients. In addition, SkinPen's technology provides a more even distribution of needles across the skin.

Is deeper microneedling more effective?

However, as micro-needling is fairly new to the beauty world, there is room for speculation. One study found evidence that, while there is no significant difference after 1.5mm depth, consistent results were achieved between 0.5 to 1.5 mm. Therefore, the study concluded that 1-1.5mm needles are an optimal choice.

Can an RN do microneedling?

Experience with Medical Procedures

Many nurses have extensive experience performing medical procedures, from administering injections to managing wound care. This background equips them with the skills needed to execute microneedling with confidence and competence.

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