What happens if you use retinol too soon after microneedling?

Author: Mrs. Angeline Gaylord MD  |  Last update: Thursday, October 16, 2025

Conclusion. Combining retinol with microneedling can be a powerful tool to get youthful skin but using it too close in time can become the cause of redness and irritation on the skin. By knowing when to use retinol after the treatment, you can avoid these skin sensitivity issues.

What happens if I use retinol after microneedling?

Retinol and chemical sunscreen are both generally safe to use after microneedling. Microneedling enhances the absorption of products applied to the skin. This means that if you apply retinol after microneedling, it may penetrate deeper into the skin, potentially leading to increased effectiveness.

What happens if you use active ingredients after microneedling?

There are certain skincare ingredients you should avoid for a week after doing the microneedling, which include certain active ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, because your skin is already irritated from the treatment. It's best not to use any active ingredients that could increase the irritation.

What happens if you do microneedling too soon?

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 I use tretinoin 2 days after microneedling?

Skin + Me Dermatology Team recommends that you stop using your Daily Doser from five to seven days before your microneedling, and begin using it two days after treatment.

Microneedling: 5 Tips You MUST Know BEFORE & AFTER | Doctorly + Esthetician

How many days before microneedling stop retinol?

Retinol usage should be paused one week before your microneedling treatment. This product can typically be resumed one week after your treatment, but you should first consult with your provider to ensure this is the best course of action for you.

How long to wait between serum and tretinoin?

Once you've massaged the Tretinoin onto your skin, you can apply your serums and/or moisturiser if you use these at night. There isn't a golden rule about how long to wait before applying these as different formulations of Tretinoin take different times to absorb. If in doubt, wait for 15-20 minutes.

How to know if microneedling went wrong?

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.

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.

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 happens if I use vitamin C serum after microneedling?

We recommend not using vitamin c serum after microneedling as it is a powerful active ingredient. When you apply vitamin c directly after a micro-needling treatment, it may irritate the skin. This is almost guaranteed for sensitive skin types but is also common with other skin types.

Why is my face so tight after microneedling?

Microneedling pricks the skin, creating invisible wounds that trigger healing. In response, your skin will likely feel tight and dry, maybe as if you have a mild sunburn. Because the tiny wounds are fresh, there is a risk of infection.

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 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.

How long does it take for retinol to absorb?

Retinol (leave to absorb for 10-20 minutes)

“It is important to leave a 10-20 minute wait time before applying the next product. Retinols are powerful antioxidants and it is important to allow it to fully absorb if you want to avoid your skin becoming sensitive,” says Dr Liakas.

How soon after microneedling can I use moisturizer?

-Avoid waxing and any other skin care treatment for two weeks following the treatment. -After 2-3 days you can return to regular skin care products or as soon as it is comfortable to do so.

When to resume retinol after microneedling?

Your skin must feel natural and normal after healing, and then you can apply retinol to maximize the benefit. Normal Needles: The most common treatment is when microneedling is done at the normal depth, which will take about 3-5 days to heal. So, you can only take retinol after a week.

Why am I not seeing microneedling results?

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.

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.

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.

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.

What is the sandwich method of tretinoin?

Option one: The sandwich technique

After washing your face, apply a layer of moisturiser. Allow it to dry down for 5-10 minutes. Then, apply a pea-sized amount of tretinoin to your entire face. Allow this to dry down for 5-10 minutes.

Why wait 20 minutes before applying tretinoin?

Wait 20 to 30 minutes before applying this medicine to make sure the skin is completely dry. Applying tretinoin to wet skin can irritate it. To use the cream, gel, or lotion form of this medicine: Apply just enough medicine to very lightly cover the affected areas, and rub in gently but well.

What is the best nighttime moisturizer after tretinoin?

1. The best night cream to use with tretinoin cream. The La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Multi-Purpose Balm. This multi-purpose repairing cream was specifically created to soothe irritated dry skin.

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