In brief
- A peel uses an acid to loosen the dead cells on your skin. Your skin becomes smoother and more even, and you often see that within a week.
- Microneedling uses fine needles to make tiny channels in your skin. As it recovers, your skin makes new collagen, and you see that mostly in the months afterwards.
- For dull skin, uneven tone and clogged pores you usually start with peels. For small scars, fine lines and firmness you are more likely to choose microneedling.
- We often alternate them. What suits your skin, we discuss during the first skin appointment.
Written by Nilay, owner and beauty therapist at Moons BeautyUpdated on
Two ways to renew your skin.
Both treatments prompt your skin to renew itself, which is why they are often mentioned in the same breath. The difference lies in where they act. A peel works from the outside, on the top layer of your skin. Microneedling sets your skin's repair in motion with tiny pricks, and new collagen comes out of that.
For a peel we apply an acid to your skin. That acid loosens the dead cells that stay stuck on top, so they come away within a few days. What is underneath is smoother and more even, and your skin has its glow back. At Moons you choose from fruit acids in three strengths, mandelic acid for more sensitive skin and the herbal peel with sponge, algae and herbs.
For microneedling we go over your skin with the Dermapen. The fine needles make tiny channels, and your skin starts repairing them. In doing so it makes new collagen and elastin, the building blocks of firm, supple skin. At the same time a serum goes in with it, and through the channels it gets deeper than a cream you apply at home.
That also changes when you see something. After a peel you notice within a week that your skin is smoother. After microneedling your skin soon looks fresher, and most of it happens in the months afterwards, as the new collagen builds up.
Peel and microneedling side by side.
This is how they differ in a normal appointment at Moons. The prices are per session.
| Topic | Works on | How it feels | The days after | Price per session |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical peel | The top layer: glow, colour and clogged pores | The acid stings briefly, then it subsides | Sometimes a few days of light flaking, sometimes you notice nothing | from €69.00 |
| Herbal peel | The top layer, and your circulation goes up | An intensive massage, and afterwards your skin stings for a few more hours | In the days after, your skin peels naturally | €79.00 |
| Microneedling | The structure: firmness, small scars, lines and pores | After a numbing cream mainly vibration and a slightly scratchy feeling | Red for one to two days, like after a sunny day | from €89.00 |
After a peel and after microneedling you can add LED therapy, for €20.00 and twenty minutes extra. The light calms your skin after the treatment.
What usually fits what you see in the mirror.
A first direction for each skin concern. At your appointment we look at your skin itself, because two people with the same concern do not by any means always have the same skin.
Dull skin
Start with peels. They remove the dead layer that makes your skin dull, so it glows again. More on this under dull skin.
Pigmentation
Here they often work together: peels to even out your complexion and microneedling with a brightening serum. Daily sun protection is part of it. See pigmentation.
Small acne scars
For small dents and unevenness you usually choose microneedling, because it works on the structure. The herbal peel is also often chosen for this. See acne scars.
Fine lines and firmness
This is microneedling territory. Your skin becomes firmer, and as a result lines soften. See fine lines and loss of firmness.
Enlarged pores
Both can help. Mandelic acid suits it well, the herbal peel is often chosen for it, and microneedling with niacinamide works on pores. See enlarged pores.
Blemish-prone skin with spots
Choose a peel first, or an acne treatment. We do not do microneedling on inflamed spots, because the needles could spread the inflammation. See blemish-prone skin.
Sensitive skin
Then we start gently, with mandelic acid. That acid has a larger molecule and therefore works in more gently. Your skin does need to be calm first, see sensitive skin.
Dry skin
Microneedling with hyaluronic acid is the obvious choice here. It gives your skin deep moisture, and in the weeks afterwards it also stays better hydrated. See dry skin.
Your schedule also plays a part.
Better not to book microneedling right before a party or a photoshoot. Your skin is red for one to two days, and make-up is only allowed from the third day. Ideally you leave it off for two weeks.
After a peel your skin sometimes flakes for a few days, especially around your nose and mouth. After that, make-up actually sits beautifully on it. If you know how your skin reacts to a peel, you can safely book one a week before an occasion.
If your skin has to look good tomorrow, choose a nourishing treatment or the Vitamin C treatment. They freshen up your skin, and you have no downtime from them.
And then there is the sun. After both treatments your skin is more sensitive to UV for a while. Autumn and winter are therefore a good time to start, see also your skin after summer.
Alternating often works best.
In practice we often combine them. We alternate them: peels to even out your skin, microneedling for the structure. That way you work on the surface and on firmness, and your skin has time to recover in between.
You do both as a series, with a few weeks in between. How many times and in which order depends on your skin and on what you want to achieve. We agree that with you during the first skin appointment, where we start with a skin analysis and treat you straight away.
What you do at home counts. During a series you use sun protection every day, even when it is cloudy. And leave scrubs and strong acids alone at home for a while, so your skin can recover between treatments.
When we postpone both for a while.
Almost the same limits apply to both treatments. We are strict about that, because at the wrong moment they only make your skin more unsettled.
A good idea if
- Your skin is calm, with no inflamed patches or small wounds.
- You use sun protection daily, or you want to start doing so now.
- You have no sun holiday planned for the next two weeks.
- You want to do a series, with a routine at home alongside.
Check with us first
- You have just been in the sun or on a sunbed. Then we wait about two weeks.
- During pregnancy and while you are breastfeeding, we do not do microneedling or peels, not even the herbal peel. Mild nourishing treatments are possible.
- You use isotretinoin or another strong medication for your skin. Then discuss it with your doctor first.
- You have an active cold sore, inflamed spots or small wounds. Those need to heal first.
- You have a mark that changes shape or colour. Have your GP look at that first.
Good to know before you choose.
Building up slowly works better than one strong peel
A series of mild peels does more than one heavy one, and carries less risk of irritation. Even if you have had peels before, we therefore start at a lower strength and build up.
A peel works even without flaking
How much your skin peels says little about the result. Skin that shows nothing in the days afterwards renews itself just as well.
A Dermapen works differently from a roller
The difference lies in the precision. With the Dermapen we set the depth per zone, and the needles go straight into your skin and straight out again. A roller rolls through at an angle, and that causes more irritation.
Frequently asked questions about microneedling or peel
What is the difference between microneedling and a peel?
A peel uses an acid on the top layer of your skin: dead cells come loose, and your skin becomes smoother and more even. Microneedling uses fine needles to make tiny channels, after which your skin makes new collagen. So you see a peel quickly, while microneedling builds up over the months afterwards.
What is better for acne scars, microneedling or a peel?
For small dents and unevenness most people choose microneedling, because it works on the structure of your skin. The herbal peel is also often chosen for this. You can read which approach suits your scars under acne scars.
What works better against pigmentation?
With pigmentation they often work together. Peels make your complexion more even, and microneedling with a brightening serum works on the pigment itself. Use sun protection with it every day, because UV makes pigment darker again.
Can I combine microneedling and a peel?
Yes, and we often do. We alternate them, so your skin can recover in between. We decide together which order suits you.
Which hurts more, microneedling or a peel?
A peel stings briefly when the acid goes on your skin, and that subsides again. For microneedling we first apply a numbing cream. After that you mainly feel vibration and a slightly scratchy feeling.
Which has the shortest downtime?
Usually a peel. Your skin is a little pink that day, and sometimes it flakes for a few days. After microneedling your skin is red for one to two days, and make-up is only allowed from the third day.
Can I have a peel if I have skin of colour?
Yes. With skin of colour we start with mandelic acid, because it works in more gently, and we build up more slowly. That keeps the chance of irritation and extra pigment small.
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