Microneedling: before and after

Before your appointment

1–2 weeks before

1. Stay out of the sun and off sunbeds. Treating recently sun-exposed skin raises the risk of irritation and pigment change.
2. Stop self-tanner on the area being treated.
3. Pause aggressive exfoliation — scrubs, strong acids and at-home resurfacing devices.
4. No waxing, threading or depilatory creams on the treatment area.
5. Hold off on other procedures nearby — peels, laser or injectables — unless your provider has cleared the timing.

3–5 days before, unless told otherwise

1. Stop retinoids — tretinoin, Retin-A, retinol.
2. Stop exfoliating acids — glycolic, salicylic and other AHAs and BHAs.
3. Keep the skin well moisturised. Hydrated skin tolerates the treatment better.

The day of

1. Arrive with clean skin — no makeup, lotion, oil or SPF on the area.
2. Tell your provider what has changed — active breakouts, a cold sore history, any infection, new medications or any change in your health since booking. This genuinely affects whether we treat you that day.

After your treatment

The first 24 hours

1. Hands off. Do not touch the treated area.
2. No makeup for at least 24 hours, or longer if your provider says so.
3. Use only the products your provider recommended. This is not the moment to introduce something new.
4. No sweating, exercise, saunas, hot tubs or steam. Heat is the main thing that causes trouble on day one.
5. Stay out of direct sun.

Days 2–7

1. Cleanse gently with a mild cleanser and lukewarm water.
2. Moisturise, and wear broad-spectrum SPF 30+ every day.
3. Do not pick or peel flaking skin. Let it shed on its own — picking is how texture problems start.
4. Keep retinoids, acids, scrubs and brushes out of your routine until your provider says you are fully healed.

What is normal

Redness like a mild sunburn, warmth, tightness, mild swelling, dryness, light peeling, and a rough sandpaper texture as the skin renews. Most of it settles within a few days, though it varies by person and by how deep the treatment was.

Questions