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In brief
- After microneedling you wait the first three days with exercise, sauna, steam, swimming pool and hot showers. Make-up is possible from the third day, but ideally you wait two weeks. You pause retinol, acids, vitamin C and scrubs for about a week. You stay out of the sun for the first days and apply sun protection every day after that. Touch your skin as little as possible and leave any flakes alone.
- Being red is part of it: one to two days, roughly like after a day in the sun. After that your skin may be dry or flake slightly for a few days.
- Wash your face with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser, pat it dry and apply a soothing, hydrating cream without active ingredients or fragrance.
- A course is four to six treatments, with three to four weeks in between. You don't book other skin treatments in the first two weeks.
- If the pain increases, you see pus, you get a fever or the redness gets worse instead of better after two to three days, go to your GP.
Written by Nilay, owner and beauty therapist at Moons BeautyUpdated on
What is fine, and when again?
After microneedling your skin repairs the tiny channels made during the treatment. This is what we advise for the first three days and for after that.
| Topic | The first three days | After that |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Skip it | Build up gently once the redness is gone and your skin feels calm |
| Sauna, steam and swimming pool | Wait | Possible again once the redness is gone and your skin feels calm |
| Showering | Short and lukewarm, not hot | As you are used to |
| Make-up | Leave it off for the first two days. If you really have to, from the third day | Ideally leave it off for two weeks |
| Sun | Stay out of the sun, a cap or hat helps | Sun protection SPF 30 or higher every day |
| Sunbed | Wait | The sunbed stays off for the first two weeks |
| Retinol, acids, vitamin C and scrubs | Pause | Pause for about a week, then gently back |
| Other skin treatments | Don't book | Not in the first two weeks |
| Flakes | Leave them be | They disappear by themselves |
Some clinics say 24 or 48 hours for exercise and sauna. We advise three days, because by then your skin is also ready for make-up. If your practitioner gives you different advice, follow that.
The first 24 hours.
Right after the treatment your skin is red, warm and tight, roughly like after a day in the sun. That is part of it. You go home without make-up.
For the first hours and the first night, this applies:
- Touch your face as little as possible, and with clean hands when you do
- Stay out of the sun. If you go outside, a cap or hat helps
- Wash your face with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser, and pat it dry
- Apply a soothing, hydrating cream
- Sleep on a clean pillowcase
The recovery day by day.
This is what recovery looks like on average. For you it may go a little faster or slower.
Day 0
Red, warm and tight
You go home without make-up and stay out of the sun. Wash your face with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser, and apply a soothing cream. Exercise, sauna, steam, swimming pool and hot showers wait.
Day 1 to 2
The redness fades
After one to two days the redness is gone or almost gone. Your skin may feel tight or dry. Stick to your mild routine and leave make-up off for now.
Day 3
Make-up is possible, exercise still waits
Make-up is possible from today, if you really have to. Ideally you still wait. Exercise, sauna, steam and swimming pool wait until the three days are over, so until tomorrow.
Day 4 to 7
Building up gently
Exercise and the sauna are possible again, gently, once the redness is gone and your skin feels calm. Your skin may still be dry or flake slightly: leave the flakes alone. Retinol, acids, vitamin C and scrubs stay paused for about a week. Apply sun protection every day.
Week 2
Back to your routine
You start your active products again gently, one at a time. Ideally you leave make-up off until two weeks have passed. The sunbed stays off and you book other skin treatments only after that. Your skin often already looks smoother and fresher.
Exercise, sauna, swimming pool and showering.
Heat, sweat and steam make skin that is still repairing redder and more sensitive. That is why we wait three days.
Exercise
For the first three days you skip exercise. From day four you build up gently, as soon as the redness is gone and your skin feels calm.
Sauna and steam
Sauna, steam room and steam bath also wait three days. After that it is fine again, once your skin is no longer red.
Swimming pool
The swimming pool waits three days as well. If your skin is still red afterwards or feels tight, wait a little longer.
Showering
Showering is fine, short and lukewarm. Hot water and long steaming wait three days. Pat your face dry afterwards.
When can you wear make-up again?
Make-up is possible from the third day. Ideally you leave it off for two weeks, so your skin can recover in peace.
If you really have to, choose a light layer and use clean brushes and sponges. Remove it in the evening with a mild cleanser and lukewarm water.
Sun, sunbed and sun protection.
For the first days you stay out of the sun. If you have to go outside, a cap or hat helps. After that you apply sun protection with SPF 30 or higher every day. If you have pigmentation, that is especially necessary.
The sunbed stays off for the first two weeks. If you have been in the sun or on a sunbed just before your appointment, tell us when you book: we then wait about two weeks with the treatment.
Why sun protection belongs with every skin, you can read in sun protection.
Retinol, acids and vitamin C.
After microneedling your skin is too sensitive for active ingredients for the first days. So pause these for about a week:
- Retinol
- Acids, such as AHA and BHA
- Vitamin C, also as a daytime serum
- Scrubs and peeling pads
When do you start your products again?
Clinics mention varying periods, from 48 hours to a week. We advise the cautious option: about a week. After that you start gently, with one product at a time. If your skin stings or turns red, pause again for a while.
More about what you use when is in the order of your skincare and in vitamin C serum.
Washing and care in the first days.
Keep it simple and mild. The less you do to your skin, the calmer it recovers.
Morning
- Wash your face with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser
- Pat your face dry with a clean towel, don't rub
- A soothing, hydrating cream without active ingredients or fragrance
- Sun protection SPF 30 or higher
Evening
- Cleanse your face with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser
- Pat your face dry
- A soothing, hydrating cream
- A clean pillowcase on your bed
Touch your face as little as possible and leave the flakes alone. They disappear by themselves.
Redness and flaking: what is normal?
Most skin goes through the same pattern. This is what belongs to it and what to watch for.
A good idea if
- Feeling red, warm and tight, roughly like after a day in the sun
- One to two days of redness, then less
- A few days of dry or slightly flaking skin
- A tight feeling that fades in the first days
Check with us first
- Pain that increases instead of decreases
- Pus
- Fever
- Redness that gets worse instead of better after two to three days
Do you get cold sores easily?
Microneedling can trigger a cold sore outbreak. If you get them easily, tell us beforehand, when you book or before the treatment starts.
When do you book the next treatment?
Microneedling is done in a course of four to six treatments, with three to four weeks in between. Your skin needs about four weeks to renew itself, and we follow that rhythm. After a course you see the full result after about three months.
You don't book other skin treatments in the first two weeks after microneedling. If you have been in the sun or on a sunbed in between, tell us when you book your next appointment.
More about the treatment itself, the variants and the prices is at microneedling in Enschede. What the pen does exactly, you can read in dermapen: what is it?.
When do you go to your GP?
If the pain increases, you see pus, you get a fever or the redness gets worse instead of better after two to three days, go to your GP. If you are unsure about what you see, contact us via the contact page.
Frequently asked questions about microneedling aftercare
What should you not do after microneedling?
For the first three days you skip exercise, sauna, steam, swimming pool and hot showers. Ideally you leave make-up off for two weeks. You pause retinol, acids, vitamin C and scrubs for about a week. You stay out of the sun for the first days and the sunbed stays off for two weeks. You don't pick at flakes.
Can you shower after microneedling?
Yes, short and lukewarm. Hot water and long steaming wait for the first three days. Wash your face with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser and pat it dry instead of rubbing.
When can you exercise again after microneedling?
After the first three days. From day four you build up gently, once the redness is gone and your skin feels calm. Sweat and heat make recovering skin redder and more sensitive.
Can you go to the sauna or swimming pool after microneedling?
Not in the first three days. After that it is fine again, as soon as the redness is gone and your skin feels calm. If it still feels tight or is still red, wait a little longer.
When can you wear make-up after microneedling?
From the third day, if you really have to. Ideally you leave make-up off for two weeks, so your skin can recover in peace. Use clean brushes and sponges and remove it in the evening with a mild cleanser.
Can you go in the sun after microneedling?
For the first days you stay out of the sun, a cap or hat helps. After that you apply sun protection with SPF 30 or higher every day. The sunbed stays off for the first two weeks.
When can you use retinol, acids or vitamin C again after microneedling?
After about a week. Clinics mention periods from 48 hours to a week, and we advise the cautious option. Start gently after that, with one product at a time, and pause again if your skin stings or turns red.
How long are you red after microneedling?
Usually one to two days, roughly like after a day in the sun. If the redness gets worse instead of better after two to three days, go to your GP.
Is flaking normal after microneedling?
Yes. After the redness your skin may be dry or flake slightly for a few days. Leave the flakes alone and don't pick at them, they disappear by themselves. A soothing, hydrating cream helps with the dry feeling.
What do you put on your skin after microneedling?
A soothing, hydrating cream without active ingredients or fragrance. Wash your face with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser first and pat it dry. During the day you apply sun protection with SPF 30 or higher.
When can you book the next microneedling?
A course consists of four to six treatments, with three to four weeks in between. If you have been in the sun or on a sunbed in between, tell us when you book. You don't book other skin treatments in the first two weeks.
When do you go to the GP after microneedling?
If the pain increases, you see pus, you get a fever or the redness gets worse instead of better after two to three days. If you are unsure about what you see, contact us via the contact page.
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