What product to use before microneedling?

Author: Oleta Flatley DVM  |  Last update: Friday, October 24, 2025

Before you start needling your skin, apply enough hydrating serum on the area of concern. This is to help lubricate the skin and ensure the pen glides across the skin while maximising the benefit of microneedling treatment. Use serums such as ​​Hyaluronic Acid serum, peptides, ceramides, or EGF for microneedling.

How to prep your skin for skin needling?

Preparation Guidelines

Prolonged sun exposure, including exposure to tanning beds, may cause skin irritation during your treatment. You will also need to temporarily stop using certain skincare products, particularly retinoids and acid-based products, such as azelaic acid, glycolic acid, or salicylic acid.

How do you precare for microneedling?

If there's dense hair present in the treatment area, shave the day before you arrive for your appointment. If you're prone to cold sores, take an antiviral agent for 2 days prior to and the day of the treatment. Avoid blood thinning agents for one week prior because bruising is a common side effect of microneedling.

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.

What can I put on my face before microneedling?

Before you start needling your skin, apply enough hydrating serum on the area of concern. This is to help lubricate the skin and ensure the pen glides across the skin while maximising the benefit of microneedling treatment. Use serums such as ​​Hyaluronic Acid serum, peptides, ceramides, or EGF for microneedling.

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

What serum is best for microneedling?

Hyaluronic Acid Serums

Using a hyaluronic acid serum for microneedling can significantly improve your skin's texture and fullness. Hyaluronic acid is known for its ability to hold onto moisture, making it an excellent choice for post-treatment care.

Should I use serum before microneedling?

Skin priming should start 1-4 weeks before your treatment. Skin priming ensures the best results from skin needling. The use of stable vitamin C and vitamin A serums in the weeks before skin needling, 'jump-starts' the process of collagen production, accelerating the benefits from treatment.

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.

Do you put product on before or after microneedling?

Immediately after your micro-needling procedure, we will apply moisturizer and/or sunscreen topically. Avoid sun tanning and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

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 speed up healing after microneedling?

Here are five essential tips to help speed up your microneedling healing process and get you back to your glowing self in no time.
  1. Keep Your Skin Hydrated. ...
  2. Protect Your Skin From the Sun. ...
  3. Follow a Gentle Skincare Routine. ...
  4. Avoid Strenuous Activities. ...
  5. Nourish Your Body From Within.

What should you not do before microneedle?

What You Should Avoid Before Microneedling
  • NSAIDs. You should avoid NSAIDs in the week leading up to your microneedling treatment session. ...
  • Accutane and Other Drugs and Supplements. ...
  • Certain Hair Removal Methods. ...
  • Heat-Based Cosmetic Treatments and Others. ...
  • UV Damage. ...
  • Cold Sores. ...
  • Makeup and Other Cosmestics. ...
  • NSAIDs.

What is the best moisturizer after microneedling?

It is best to stick to gel-based moisturizers that are non-comedogenic and do not cause acne. You can also opt for oil-free options such as those made with vitamin E or other natural ingredients like aloe vera gel which are known for their healing properties.

Can I use vitamin C serum before microneedling?

Before Treatment

1 WEEK BEFORE Discontinue all topical products containing Tretinoin (Retin-A), Retinols, Retinoids, Glycolic Acid, Alpha Hydroxy Acid, Vitamin C, or any anti-aging products. 1 WEEK BEFORE treatment, do not ingest blood thinning medications such as Aspirin, Motrin, Ibuprofen, and Aleve.

How to prep 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.

Why does my skin 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.

How soon can I drink coffee after microneedling?

Avoid alcohol, caffeine, Niacin supplement, high-sodium foods, high sugar foods, refined carbohydrates, spicy foods, and cigarettes 24-48 hours before and after your treatment.

What can I apply before microneedling?

We recommend numbing creams that contain at least 5% Lidocaine. Apply approximately ⅓ to ½ of the tube to the area to be needled, leave on for 20 minutes then thoroughly remove the cream. Once you've removed the cream, cleanse the skin again.

What is the best serum for microneedling?

Selecting the right serum is key to promoting healing and collagen stimulation after microneedling. Some of the best serums to use after dermarolling or with a microneedling pen include: Hyaluronic Acid Serums: Known for their superb hydrating properties, these serums help retain moisture and smooth out fine lines.

Can I microneedle without serum?

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.

What should I put on my face for microneedling?

Before you start needling your skin, apply enough hydrating serum on the area of concern. This is to help lubricate the skin and ensure the pen glides across the skin while maximising the benefit of microneedling treatment. Use serums such as ​​Hyaluronic Acid serum, peptides, ceramides, or EGF for microneedling.

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.

What is the best cream or serum after microneedling?

Your skin will be more sensitive than usual immediately after microneedling, so it's important to choose a serum that's gentle and kind to skin, while still giving you that extra nourishing boost. Enter, hyaluronic acid.

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