Nano Needling Vs Microneedling: What’s The Difference?
Though skincare formulations are getting better, there’s a growing market for skin rejuvenation techniques. These procedures, which can range from laser treatment to dermabrasion, are designed to deliver significant results in less time. Specifically, they’re meant to be more effective than at-home treatments, which need more time to take effect. There are a few different procedures to choose from, such as nano-needling and microneedling.
But with such similar names, it’s harder to spot the difference, especially if it’s your first time getting skin rejuvenation treatments. Considering their growing popularity, it’s worth taking a look at what nano-needling and microneedling mean, how they’re different, and whether they have any similarities.
What Is Microneedling?
Microneedling can promote skin rejuvenation by increasing the production of collagen in your skin. It involves professionals using very small and thin sterilized needles to create micro-punctures in your skin. These needles penetrate the skin at a depth of 0.25 to 1.5mm, depending on the severity of the skin concern and your goals for getting the procedure.
These micro-injuries are meant to kick-start your body’s natural healing process without causing a lot of discomfort. The healing process promotes collagen and elastin production, as well as cell turnover. The result is smoother and firmer skin with a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles and deeper acne scars.
What To Expect With Microneedling
Microneedling is a good choice if you want to treat skin conditions deep wrinkles, bumpy skin texture, and poor skin laxity. Because it penetrates the skin at deeper levels, it’s categorized as a ‘minimally’ invasive procedure. So, professionals use numbing cream on clients’ skin before using the microneedling tool. It also means you’ll need about 24 to 48 hours of downtime to help your skin recover.
Depending on your skincare goals, you’ll need to schedule treatments each month during the initial phase. Once you achieve your desired results, you can book maintenance sessions once or twice a year to help preserve your youthful-looking skin.
What Is Nano Needling?
Contrary to what the name implies, the nano-needling procedure doesn’t use needles at all! In fact, it’s a non-invasive treatment that rejuvenates your skin without penetrating it to create micro-injuries. It’s effective at improving skin elasticity, targeting hyperpigmentation, and reducing the appearance of fine lines. Also known as nano-needling infusion, it distributes active ingredients into your skin using numerous microscopic channels. Instead of needles, the pen-like device has tiny cone-like structures made of silicone.
Even though they don’t penetrate the skin, they infuse active products and help with the resurfacing process. Their design allows the skin to absorb more product, leading to a reduced appearance of skin blemishes like acne, hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles.
What To Expect With Nano Needling
Nano needling is a non-invasive procedure, so there’s no need to apply a numbing cream to the skin during the process. It also means there’s no downtime involved, except for some post-treatment skincare that helps you maintain results.
If you don’t have major skin concerns and want glowing skin with no downtime, nano-needling is a great choice. You can walk out of the clinic and go back to your daily routine with gorgeous, glowing skin. And because it doesn’t require penetrating the skin barrier, the procedure can be performed more frequently. You can book sessions as often as every two weeks.
Differences Between Microneedling and Nano Needling Treatments
Now that we’ve discussed what each skin rejuvenation procedure involves, let’s talk about how they’re different. To make things simple, we’ve divided the differences into four categories as follows:
Depth Of Penetration
While both microneedling and nano-needling penetrate the skin at some level, it’s important to understand the structure of the skin. The epidermis is the topmost layer of skin, preserving its moisture content and protecting it from harm. Meanwhile, the dermis is the middle layer, as well as the thickest layer of skin.
In microneedling, the needles have a deep dermis needle depth of 0.25mm to 1.5mm. That’s where collagen production takes place, making it highly effective for treating deep scars and wrinkles. In contrast, nano needling only penetrates the epidermis, making it effective for faster infusion of active ingredients.
Invasiveness
Due to the prevalence of various invasive skin treatments, one of the first things people want to know is whether a procedure will hurt. The invasiveness of a procedure is a pretty accurate determinant of how much discomfort it’ll cause.
Microneedling is a minimally invasive (yet invasive, nonetheless) treatment that involves the use of numbing cream on the skin. Since it’s classified as a medical procedure, microneedling is supervised by a licensed dermatologist.
On the other hand, nano-needling is non-invasive and doesn’t cause any discomfort. It’s categorized as a cosmetic facial and doesn’t require the use of numbing cream on the skin.
Healing And Downtime
Downtime is another important factor that people consider before selecting a skin treatment. How long will I need to stay at home? How many days before I can go to the beach again? With microneedling, your skin needs between 3 to 6 weeks to heal. Your dermatologist will also recommend 1 to 3 days of downtime, followed by post-treatment care like avoiding exfoliants and excessive sun exposure.
Since nano needling doesn’t cause micro-injuries, your skin doesn’t require as much time to heal. Consequently, there’s no downtime associated with nano needling, and you get an immediate glow after treatment sessions. Nevertheless, dermatologists recommend taking better care of your skin after the procedure to preserve results.
Tools Used
The last difference we’ll be discussing is the mechanism involved in each procedure. Although both treatments are effective at reducing the appearance of fine lines and excessive pigmentation, they use different tools.
In microneedling, a professional uses a pen-like needle cartridge with 12 to 36 fine needles. These can be adjusted to penetrate the skin at different depths varying from 0.5mm to 2.5mm. Since there are different settings, skin therapists use superficial settings of around 0.5mm for delicate areas, like around the eyes. Meanwhile, deeper depths of 2mm to 2.5mm are used to treat wrinkles and acne scars.
A nano-needling device, on the other hand, has cone-shaped silicone tips that make nano-channels to infuse active ingredients into your skin. Your skin therapist will use a cartridge containing multiple microscopic silicone tips. Instead of puncturing the skin, they create nano-channels at a depth of about 0.15mm for easier delivery of active products to the skin. They use a specialized serum that helps increase cell turnover and reduces pigmentation.
Potential Side Effects
Besides downtime, a major concern is whether the treatment will cause unpleasant side effects. Though both treatments are considered safe, potential side effects can differ. In microneedling, you’re likely to experience temporary side effects like inflammation, redness, and flaking skin. These side effects are common and subside in a few days with proper aftercare.
Since nano needling is non-invasive, there’s a much lower risk of side effects. This makes it a go-to choice for people who have sensitive skin and/or prefer frequent treatments.
Cost and Frequency of Treatments
How much a treatment costs also depends on how frequently you need sessions in order to see results. Microneedling treatments are spaced several weeks apart so that your skin has enough time to heal. On average, you should wait between 4 and 6 weeks before your next microneedling session. On the other hand, nano needling can be done more frequently and as part of your broader skincare regimen.
Because of its intensity and the need for frequent treatments, microneedling ends up being the more expensive option. In contrast, nano needling is less intensive and can deliver results in as little as one session. This makes it a less costly skin rejuvenation treatment.
Duration of Results
A common question among clients when choosing between the two treatments is: How long does it take to get results? Because of their varying mechanisms, microneedling and nano needling have different timelines for delivering results.
If you choose microneedling, it’ll take longer to see results because of the downtime involved. That means it’ll take a few weeks before you start seeing a difference. However, once you achieve your desired results after a specific number of sessions, your results last a long time and with fewer maintenance treatments. That’s because it stimulates the skin’s healing process at a deeper level.
In nano needling, you can expect faster results. Many clients have reported having glowing skin right after the procedure. Even though the results are more immediate, they don’t last as long because the procedure only rejuvenates the topmost layer of skin. It’s also why you’ll need regular maintenance sessions with nano needling.
Conditions Treated
Despite their similar-sounding names, microneedling and nano-needling are recommended for different cases. Dermatologists usually recommend microneedling for clients looking to address deeper skin issues, like stretch marks, scars, and wrinkles. It’s more effective in these cases because it stimulates cell turnover in the dermis, where scars and deep wrinkles typically form.
While nano-needling can reduce the appearance of such skin concerns, they don’t have as much of a profound effect on deeper issues. Instead, they can address superficial skin concerns by improving your skin’s texture and enhancing product penetration. With regard to skin types, nano needling is well-suited to sensitive skin. It’s usually preferred for skin maintenance rather than fixing specific skin concerns.
Similarities Between Microneedling And Nano Needling
So far, we’ve discussed the basics of both microneedling and nano-needling, as well as how they’re different. Now, let’s talk about a few key similarities:
Use Pen-Like Devices
The most obvious similarity is that both procedures require a pen-like device with a cartridge. This design makes it easy for them to move across the face and other areas of the body. It also allows better control of the tool when targeting specific areas. Depending on the method, this cartridge includes thin needles or cone-shaped microscopic silicone tips.
Oscillating Tips
In microneedling and nano-needling, the pen-like devices have oscillating tips containing either needles or silicone pins. The tips rapidly move in and out as a skin therapist moves the device across your skin. Depending on the procedure, this oscillating movement creates nano-channels or micro-injuries in the skin at different depths.
Induce Cell Turnover
Both skin rejuvenation procedures are similar when it comes to their basic principles and goals. Even though they achieve different results, they encourage the skin’s healing process and subsequent cell turnover. They do this by promoting the production of elastin and collagen, essential proteins that give your skin its firm structure.
Are Less Risky Than Laser Procedures
While microneedling is described as minimally invasive, both treatments are similar because of their non-surgical nature. As long as they’re performed correctly by a professional, both treatments also carry a lower risk of side effects. This is especially true when compared to procedures that use heat or laser devices, which carry a risk of burning or hyperpigmentation when not done properly.
Are Complementary With Other Treatments
Another similarity between microneedling and nano-needling is that you can combine them with other skincare treatments. For instance, you can combine microneedling with PRP for a faster healing process. Similarly, you can combine nano-needling with facials to improve skin tone and texture.
In fact, both techniques also improve the absorption of topical skincare treatments since they penetrate the skin. Professionals can adapt both techniques to suit different parts of your body, such as your chest, neck, and hands. Your treatments can even be customized based on your current skin condition and desired outcomes.
Both Require Pre And Post-Treatment Care
Another similarity between microneedling and nano-needling is that they require pre-treatment and post-treatment care for better results and lower risk of side effects. These typically include staying out of the sun, not using retinal or acid-based products, and avoiding harsh exfoliants. Even though nano needling doesn’t require downtime, dermatologists recommend taking care of your skin to retain results.
Contraindications
One area where microneedling and nano-needling overlap is that of contraindications. These refer to who shouldn’t get these skin rejuvenation treatments. Common contraindications for microneedling and nano needling include pregnancy, rosacea, psoriasis, active acne, cold sores, or sunburn. These are just a few, so we recommend talking to your dermatologist about who should and shouldn’t get skin rejuvenation treatments done.
At the same time, it’s best to mention what medication or skincare products you’re using, as well as any health conditions they should know about. For instance, if you have a history of cold sores and active Herpes, you’ll need to take antiviral medication two days prior to your treatment sessions.
Should Be Done By Professionals
In either case, skin rejuvenation procedures should be performed by professionals who have completed the necessary training modules to administer the treatment safely. Because microneedling is a minimally invasive and complex procedure, it requires more training and expertise. More importantly, there’s a higher risk of experiencing side effects when it’s not done properly. Similarly, nano needling is less effective when it’s not done by a professional.
While there are at-home variations of both treatments, they’re less potent and require consistent usage to deliver results. In contrast, professionals use equipment that delivers greater efficacy, so you’re likely to see results faster. That’s why we recommend going to a professional setup like instead of using at-home options.
Selecting The Right Treatment Option
By now, we’ve laid out both the differences and similarities between microneedling and nano-needling. If you’re still considering which one to choose, here are our recommendations:
If you’re looking for intense skin rejuvenation that targets deeper skin concerns, we recommend microneedling. Scars and deep wrinkles exist deep within the dermis, so microneedling can encourage healing at a deeper level. For superficial treatment and a non-invasive approach to improve skin tone and texture, nano needling is better.
Common Factors To Consider
Need to choose between microneedling and nano needling? Here are some of the factors your dermatologist will consider to help you make a decision.
Skincare Goals
They’ll start by asking about your skincare goals: what kind of results are you expecting? This also depends on your current skin condition. If you’re hoping to achieve smoother skin and have no major skin concerns like acne scars, then you don’t need intensive treatment.
But if you’re struggling with issues like scars, deep wrinkles, or hyperpigmentation and want to make them less visible, intense treatment is needed. It also matters how quickly you want to see results. If you’re ready to schedule frequent sessions in return for long-lasting results, your dermatologist will recommend a different option as opposed to when you expect results faster.
Current Skin Condition
Your dermatologist will assess your skin’s current condition to see if you’re a better fit for microneedling or nano-needling. Because it penetrates the skin at a deeper level, microneedling isn’t suitable if you’re currently struggling with active acne or open lesions. Similarly, it’s not safe for clients with moderate to severe psoriasis or eczema.
Tolerance For Downtime
Can you afford to spend a few days of downtime and take needed aftercare measures? Your schedule and availability can impact your choice. Let’s say that you’re preparing for a major event that’s in a few days, or you’re about to go on vacation. Realistically, your skin can’t heal from a microneedling procedure right away. In this case, superficial treatments like nano needling are a better option since they deliver results quickly.
But if your schedule can allow a few days of downtime in return for long-lasting results, gradual treatments like microneedling are a better choice.
Conclusion
To sum it up, microneedling and nano-needling are both relatively safe skin rejuvenation treatments. Both procedures involve using a pen-shaped device with oscillating tips that move up and down and puncture the skin at different depths. They boost the skin’s healing process, promoting cell turnover and the production of elastin and collagen.
The main difference between microneedling and nano-needling is that they penetrate the skin at the dermal and epidermal levels, respectively. Therefore, the former is minimally invasive, while the latter is non-invasive. This leads to differences in downtime and the duration of results. Although both treatments have at-home variations, there are risks of doing it wrong or getting inconsistent results. That’s why dermatologists recommend choosing in-studio skin rejuvenation treatments as done by a professional.
Book Safe And Effective Microneedling Or Nano Needling At Donna Bella Laser MedSpa
If you’re considering getting safe and effective microneedling or nano-needling, or you just can’t choose, we can help. Get in touch with us at Donna Bella Laser MedSpa today to book a consultation with our experts. Once we determine the right choice for your skin type and condition, we’ll schedule microneedling or nano-needling sessions to meet your skincare goals.
