How Often Should You Do Microneedling?

Despite the wide availability of topical skin treatments, it takes more than a serum or moisturizer to fix deep scars or wrinkles. And when the goal is to get visible results faster, going to a professional for treatments like microneedling is a great option. These days, dermatological procedures like microneedling are gaining immense traction for cosmetic reasons.

Unlike topical treatments, it stimulates the healing process to improve skin texture and tone. But just like other professionally administered treatments, microneedling needs to be done a certain number of times to get visible results. So, how often can you do microneedling? Here’s a guide on how often to do microneedling treatments based on your skin concern, as well as factors that could affect your frequency of sessions.

What Is Microneedling?

This is a minimally invasive treatment to address uneven skin texture and tone. During a session, a dermatologist uses tiny, fine needles to create micro-injuries in the topmost layer of your skin. These holes act as controlled damage that promotes the skin’s healing process and subsequent cell growth. As your skin heals, it starts to produce fibroblasts that encourage the production of elastin and collagen in new skin cells, addressing age-related concerns like wrinkles. These are essential proteins that keep your skin firm and smooth out the texture.  

This simple treatment is commonly used on the face but is useful for other areas as well, such as your neck, back, or legs. In fact, it’s suitable for any area that can benefit from new cell growth, as long as you get the required number of treatments to get the preferred results. Unlike other facial rejuvenation procedures that involve heat or lasers, microneedling doesn’t carry a risk of skin discoloration.  

How It Works

During the microneedling procedure, a dermatologist uses a pen-like device with tiny needles. They gently move the needling device across the skin, making multiple microscopic channels, commonly known as punctures. These micro-injuries are painless; kick-starting the body’s natural healing process, which includes the production of collagen. With more collagen produced, it reduces the appearance of wrinkles and scars.

Common Applications

When it comes to cosmetic uses, microneedling has various applications and long-term benefits. It’s a suitable treatment to reduce scarring, wrinkles, enlarged pores, and skin discoloration. Medical professionals may also recommend microneedling to address hair loss, with evidence that it’s useful for alopecia areata.  

Even if you don’t have skin problems, microneedling also acts as a preventative treatment to counter signs of aging and maintain your skin health. By integrating microneedling into your skincare routine, you can stimulate collagen production. This counters signs of aging and improves skin resilience.

Factors That Impact How Often To Do Microneedling

If you’re wondering how often you need microneedling treatments, the answer depends on a few factors. Your treatment plan depends on your specific skin needs, skin health goals, the treatment area, needle depth, and how your skin responds to treatment. Not to mention, different skin types respond differently to the wound healing process stimulated during treatment.

Skin Concerns: Scars, Uneven Skin Tone, and More Topical numbing cream

The severity of your skin conditions is perhaps the biggest factor impacting the frequency of microneedling treatments. If you’re dealing with major skin problems like deep acne scars or skin damage, you may need frequent sessions during the initial phase of treatment. Your practitioner may recommend additional treatments to complement microneedling. It’s also possible that you don’t have any significant skin concerns and prefer microneedling to improve skin texture. In that case, sessions can be spaced apart.

Treatment Area

Microneedling can address skin concerns in a variety of treatment areas, like the face, arms, neck, chest, and legs. Where you get the treatment can impact how soon you’ll need to schedule the next session. That’s because the skin on your face heals at a different rate than the skin on your back or arms.

The most common treatment area is the face, which requires 3 to 4 treatments in the initial phase. After that, you’ll need to schedule 2 to 3 sessions each year.

Needle Depth

The depth of your microneedling treatment can affect outcomes because of their influence on skin response. If your specific skin concern calls for deeper treatments, you may need longer recovery times. This means booking fewer microneedling treatment sessions a year.

Skin Type, Age, and Response

Every person’s skin heals at a different rate. For instance, your skin may be ready for the next session after three weeks, while someone else may need more time, or vice versa to maintain results. Your age also plays a role in how quickly you can recover and schedule the next session. The best way to know how often you need microneedling sessions is to consult a specialist. They’ll give you an estimate based on your age, skin concerns, and treatment area.

How Often Should You Microneedle Your Face? General Guidelines

Now that we’ve gone over the various factors that impact how often you might need sessions, let’s take a look at the general guidelines. Your microneedling sessions can be divided into an initial series of treatments and maintenance treatments.

Initial Series and Maintenance Treatments

For starters, you’ll need to attend an initial series of 3 to 4 treatments. Your skin’s ability to heal itself and the severity of your acne scarring can influence how many treatments you need. That being said, these initial sessions will be spaced one month or six weeks apart. These are needed to achieve your desired results. After completing the first round of treatments, you can schedule maintenance appointments to preserve these results. You can schedule maintenance sessions 2 to 3 times a year.

These days, you can also find at-home microneedling derma-rollers with tiny rollers. You can use these more frequently than you would schedule in-studio sessions by a professional.  You can use it up to three times per week when using shorter needles and once every 2 to 4 weeks with longer needles.

Depth of Treatments

The length of the needles can vary depending on the issue being treated. Unlike a typical derma roller, studies indicate that a needle depth of 1.5mm to 2mm is preferred for treating acne, while 0.5mm to 1mm is suitable for treating wrinkles. When treatment is needed for deeper scars, sessions are spaced farther apart. Meanwhile, superficial treatment to rejuvenate the skin doesn’t require the use of deeper needles, so your skin heals faster and you can schedule sessions sooner.

Why Intervals Matter

Besides the frequency of your treatment sessions, the time intervals between sessions also matter. For most people, the average time it takes to replace dead skin cells is 3 to 4 weeks. Of course, your rate of cell turnover is influenced by genetics and age, so older clients may require more time between sessions compared to younger people.  

Though the 4 to 6-week interval is a standard guideline for optimal results, how frequently you need to get sessions is influenced by various factors.

Treatment Frequency For Specific Skin Concerns

As we mentioned earlier, the type of skin concern you’re dealing with impacts how many sessions you’ll need. When you start microneedling, regular treatments can address multiple concerns. Let’s go over some general treatment intervals for superficial skin concerns. Just remember that these numbers can also vary depending on the severity of your skin problem and how quickly your skin heals.

Acne Scars

If you previously struggled with deep, cystic acne that has left behind scars, microneedling is a suitable treatment option. It improves the texture of your scars by making tiny punctures in your skin, stimulating the healing process to reduce scars.

The process increases the production of collagen and elastin, which smoothens your scars from the inside. Consequently, you get a smoother skin texture as your acne scars start fading. To treat these scars, professionals recommend getting 3 to 4 sessions with intervals of 4 to 6 weeks between each session.  

Depending on the severity of the skin concern, your dermatologist may recommend getting additional sessions.

Fine Lines and Deep Wrinkles

Fine lines and deep wrinkles are some of the most common signs of aging that people seek cosmetic treatments for. As you age, your skin produces less collagen, leading to fine lines and wrinkles. Microneedling can increase the production of collagen in your skin, making it feel firmer, smoother, and much more supple.  

To treat fine lines and slight wrinkles, experts recommend getting 4 to 6 sessions, with each session scheduled one month apart. If you have deeper wrinkles, you may require more than the typical 4 to 6 sessions. More importantly, your dermatologist may recommend larger intervals between each session to help your skin heal.   

Pigmentation and Sun Damage

Dark spots and hyperpigmentation are the result of increased melanin production in response to sun damage, burns, injuries, or hormonal imbalances. By making tiny holes in the skin, microneedling supports the healing process and encourages collagen production. Because collagen is crucial for skin cell regeneration, it heals pigmentation from within, replacing skin cells under dark spots to lighten them.

For hyperpigmentation, it’s common to get 3 to 6 sessions depending on the severity of the dark spots or sun damage. These sessions are spaced with intervals of four to six weeks so your skin has plenty of time to heal.

Stretch Marks

Stretch marks differ from the rest of your skin in terms of both texture and pigmentation. They have a raised surface and are typically darker in color, making microneedling an effective treatment. It can reduce the appearance of your stretch marks by increasing collagen production. This encourages cellular regeneration in the area, and as new cells resurface, your skin becomes smoother and appears lighter. For stretch mark reduction, we recommend getting 3 to 6 microneedling treatments, spacing them 4 to 6 weeks apart. However, this timeline can differ depending on the depth of the stretch marks and their degree of discoloration.

Hair Growth

If you’re getting microneedling for hair regrowth, the time between sessions can vary. According to a study, scheduling microneedling sessions every 1 to 3 weeks can encourage hair regrowth.  The results showed that the experimental group receiving treatments showed an increase in hair count at 12 weeks compared to the control group. In total, you may need 6 to 8 sessions to see results, after which maintenance sessions may be needed.

Microneedling For Different Body Areas

As we previously discussed, the target area for your microneedling treatments can also influence how often you need to schedule treatments.

Face and Neck

The face and neck are the most common target areas for microneedling since they display the most visible signs of aging, like sun spots, wrinkles, and scars. Generally, the face and neck area require between 4 and 6 sessions depending on the severity of your skin concern. We recommend scheduling sessions 2 to 4 weeks apart based on how quickly your skin heals.

Body

Did you know that microneedling is also an effective treatment for other problem areas? These can include your upper arms, legs, back, and chest. For instance, microneedling can address sagging in the upper arms. By increasing collagen production, tightens the skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Similarly, it can improve firmness in different areas of the body, such as the chest and back.

Microneedling With PRP

This procedure combines the use of thin needles with the addition of PRP from the blood to make microneedling more effective. PRP is plasma with a higher concentration of platelets, as well as proteins like cytokines and growth factors for skin tissue repair. Adding PRP to microneedling can enhance the healing process and encourage cell turnover. It can potentially deliver better results than just microneedling.

Experts recommend getting microneedling with PRP once every month so that your skin has plenty of time to heal afterward. Not giving it enough time to recover can lead to irritation and potentially have a negative impact on your results. Usually, sessions last for three consecutive months when combined with PRP, and results can last between 9 and 18 months.

Why You Should Let Your Skin Heal

The reason it’s so important to space out your microneedling sessions is to let your skin heal. Remember: the whole point of a microneedling procedure is to kick-start your skin’s healing process. The recommended intervals between sessions and how well you take care of your skin during these periods can impact your results.

Another reason you should let your skin heal is to allow collagen remodeling. This is the process of stimulating new collagen production and tightening existing collagen fibers, which takes 4 to 6 weeks. Similarly, the skin cell turnover cycle takes about 4 weeks, which can go up to 6 weeks as you age.

Giving your skin time to heal after a microneedling procedure allows collagen remodeling and skin cell turnover to take place. Consequently, you get better results, while reducing the risk of skin damage associated with frequent microneedling. Not to mention, it can slow down the process, giving you results much more slowly.

Downtime For Microneedling

Like other non-invasive cosmetic procedures, microneedling doesn’t give you overnight results that disappear after a few days. After completing a microneedling session, your skin will need some time to recover. Most clients recover within 3 days, so you don’t have to worry about facing extended recovery times. In cases involving deeper microneedling treatment, clients may be requested to let the skin heal for a week.

As long as you follow the post-treatment guidelines provided by your dermatologist, such as avoiding direct exposure to the sun and wearing sunscreen 72 hours after the procedure, you can resume daily activities.

When you visit a licensed professional at a clinic like Donna Bella Laser MedSpa, you’ll receive a list of post-treatment care guidelines. These outline how to look after your skin for the first 3 days after your treatment. Usually, post-treatment guidelines include  

• Don’t use retinol or acid products
• Avoid sun exposure and excessive heat
• Avoid strenuous activities that could induce sweating
• Don’t go swimming
• Don’t use harsh cleansers, abrasives, or chemical exfoliants on your skin 
• Don’t wear makeup and keep skin clean

If needed, our licensed dermatologist will also prescribe high quality skincare products products like a gentle cleanser and moisturizer to use after your appointment. These are formulated to promote healing and can be used as part of your temporary skincare routine. Make sure to ask your practitioner what you should do before sessions as well. They usually recommend that you stop taking supplements like fish oil and vitamin E.

Common Side Effects

Before beginning microneedling treatment, there are a few temporary side effects you should be aware of. After a treatment session, you will notice:

• short-term redness,
• swelling,
• flaking skin

These side effects can last for a couple of days. Rest assured that these side effects subside within a few days after the treatment and you can go back to wearing makeup within one to three days. Your skin may also feel sensitive, particularly when exposed to the sun. So, you’ll be advised to avoid skin exposure and start wearing sunscreen 72 hours after the session.  

Like other skin treatments, microneedling can potentially worsen active breakouts. Clients with active inflammatory acne or a history of oral herpes can’t receive microneedling treatment until the lesions heal. If you have a history of oral herpes, make sure to speak with your dermatologist before booking a session. Your practitioner will prescribe an oral antiviral medication for a week before treatment to prevent the treatment from stimulating cold sores.

When To Expect Microneedling Results

Before the process, your practitioner will apply a topical numbing cream to eliminate any discomfort. Depending on the treatment area, one session can take between 15 minutes and a few hours. Generally, clients who schedule microneedling sessions start seeing results after the first healing stage. After 1 to 3 days of your appointment, you’ll see a visible improvement in your skin’s tone and texture. Even so, the timeline can differ depending on the types of results you want to see. Here’s what to expect for different conditions:

Wrinkles and Fine Lines

If you’re considering microneedling to correct wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots, you’ll start seeing visible results after completing three sessions. Depending on the current condition of your skin, you may even see improvements as soon as a few weeks after your first appointment. Specifically, you’ll see improvements in the tightness of your skin and your skin will continue improving as long as you keep up with regular sessions.  If you combine it with other treatments like chemical peels, you may see a greater reduction in the appearance of fine lines.

Scars and Stretch Marks

When getting microneedling treatment for scars and stretch marks, it takes a longer time before you get the results you’re looking for. That’s because smoothening scars requires more effort from your skin. Usually, clients have to take about 6 appointments to see a complete reduction in scarring.

Nevertheless, you’ll definitely notice gradual improvements in the texture of your scar, often within 6 weeks of your first appointment. Scars and stretch marks slowly soften and fade as your treatment sessions progress.

Skin Rejuvenation

Even if you’re not struggling with significant skin problems, you can schedule microneedling sessions to rejuvenate your skin and fix an uneven skin tone. If you get microneedling to improve your skin health and reduce the size of large pores, you can expect to see results very quickly. As soon as your skin heals after a treatment session, you’ll notice healthier-looking skin, as well as improvements in tone and texture within 1 to 2 weeks.

Schedule Safe and Effective Microneedling at Donna Bella Laser MedSpa

o sum it up, the general guidelines for microneedling are to book 3 to 4 initial sessions, scheduled 4 to 6 weeks apart. After that, you can book maintenance treatments 2 to 3 times per year. However, how often you should get microneedling depends on factors like your age, skin condition, and treatment area. While there are various at-home microneedling devices available, such as derma rollers, they can vary in terms of effectiveness.

At-home skincare tools need to be used consistently over a long time before you can see meaningful results. Meanwhile, consulting a licensed dermatologist means that you’ll get a safer experience. Not to mention, you’ll get noticeable results after the first couple of sessions. If you think it’s time to get microneedling treatment for your skin problems, contact our expert team over at to schedule a consultation.