Why does my skin look worse right after microneedling?

Author: Jerald Abernathy  |  Last update: Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Sometimes skin can look slightly swollen after microneedling. This is due to the natural and mechanical injury of the treatment. Degree of swelling (if any) will depend on skin sensitivity and the aggressiveness of the treatment. When swelling does occur, it is subtle and subsides in about three days.

How long does microneedling purging last?

Some breakouts after microneedling may be due to “skin purging” as impurities are brought to the surface. This is temporary and should resolve within a few days to weeks.

How long does it take for skin to settle after microneedling?

Microneedling is an outpatient procedure, so you can go home once it's done. Your skin might be red and swollen for up to five days. An ice pack can help reduce irritation and discomfort. Most people can wear makeup the day after the procedure, but you should stay out of the sun until your skin heals.

What does your skin look like immediately after microneedling?

Immediately after microneedling, you may see some redness (lighter skin tones) or darker shades (darker skin tones) on your treated skin. Your treated skin may feel like it's sunburned, causing minor discomfort, burning, or swelling. These reactions usually disappear in a few days to a week.

How long does microneedling take to look normal?

This triggers your body's wound healing processes to heal your micro wounds immediately. However, the most dramatic results will not be visible until four to six weeks after treatment. It takes roughly this long for your body to create new, strong, healthy collagen.

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

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.

How to know if microneedling is working?

Approximately two to four weeks after your Dermapen microneedling treatment, you'll start to see more significant microneedling results. This is when collagen and elastin production ramps up, leading to noticeable skin texture and tone improvements.

What is the best thing to put on skin after microneedling?

What to Put On Your Skin After Microneedling
  • Avoid harsh scrubs or products.
  • Only clean your skin with a professionally formulated cleanser.
  • Apply targeted skincare serums that will penetrate deeply into your skin.
  • Keep your skin well-hydrated with a gentle moisturizer.
  • Apply medical-grade sun protection.

What are the drag marks from microneedling?

Common potential side effects of this procedure are minimal, which include the following: Grid marks that look like waffles have been imprinted in your skin may be seen. This signifies an allergic reaction as to where the microneedling device went in through your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin.

What are the symptoms of bad 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.

What does skin purging look like?

In other words, when you use certain products, your skin is likely to look worse before it looks better. A purge can look like blackheads and whiteheads, and it's likely to appear in the places where you normally break out.

How bad do you look after microneedling?

Within 48 hours, the majority of the redness you experience after microneedling will go away. Peeling, flaking and breakouts may take a little longer. Although not everyone will experience them, additional side effects from microneedling include pimples, acne, and dry skin.

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.

Why does my pigmentation look worse after microneedling?

There is a chance that microneedling post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can occur in some individuals. This happens as a response to the way that the skin heals, leading to an overproduction of melanin in the treated areas.

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.

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.

Should I moisturize right after microneedling?

Once the 24 hours have passed, it is wise to use moisturizers on your face as they will help prevent dryness and irritation. It is recommended that you use a hydrating moisturizer after your microneedling treatment because it will retain moisture in your skin and promote healing.

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.

How long does it take for skin to look good after microneedling?

What to Expect Weeks After Microneedling. SkinPen® is an effective treatment option that creates results that continue to improve over time. Within a few days of treatment, patients will begin to see brighter, glowing skin and full results will appear within two to four weeks after treatment.

What happens if microneedling goes wrong?

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.

What is the success rate of microneedling?

Microneedling has been found to be effective in reducing even burn scars [Figure 5] by up to 80% in a study on 16 patients by Aust et al. It was stipulated that there is normalization of collagen-elastin matrix in the dermis at 1 year.

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.

Should I use Aquaphor after microneedling?

What is the recovery like? As you have seen, your face will be red and sensitive for about a day. You will want to moisturize well. For the first day after the treatment, you'll want to use Aquaphor or some other nourishing serum that we will give you.

How often should I microneedle my face?

Microneedling results are relatively easy to maintain, and the best way to keep the skin looking its best after treatment is with regular appointments. Most people can sustain their results with an appointment every six months to preserve the effects of collagen production.

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