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Sep 04, 2023

Microneedling: Does It Work? All Your Microneedling FAQs Answered

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

Those tiny needles go a long way.

If the AHAs and BHAs you've bought aren't giving you the hit of brightness you’ve been looking for, then it might be the time to try microneedling.

It can sort everything from large pores to the first signs of wrinkles. And the best part? This non-invasive skin treatment requires hardly any recovery time, so there's no need to hibernate in your house for a week afterwards.

Here's everything you know before trying microneedling...

As the name suggests, microneedling does involve needles, but it's not as scary as you might think...

‘Microneedling involves using tiny needles to cause micro-injuries to the skin, stimulating the fibroblast cells to heal the skin. These needles can be mounted on a roller, electronic pen or stamp,’ explains Dr Sophie Shotter.

The micro-needles won't feel the most comfortable but pain should be minimal. However, there may be redness for a day or so after use, depending on your skin type or if you’re on the sensitive side.

The main aim of the treatment is to generate collagen so your skin feels tighter, smoother and softer.

This means there will be fewer visible fine lines and a reduction in the appearance of scarring and pores. It may take a few sessions to see results, but after one treatment your skin should instantly appear brighter (once the post-redness irritation has vanished, of course).

Dr Anne Wetter explains: 'initially the technique was introduced for skin rejuvenation, now, however, it is being used for a very wide range of indications including acne scarring, post-traumatic/burn scaring, alopecia, skin rejuvenation, drug delivery, hyperhidrosis, stretch marks and much more'.

Dr Shotter warns that although ‘microneedling can be used on most skin types, it is not suitable for people with an active skin infection, including acne. We wouldn't treat pregnant or breastfeeding women with microneedling either. If you have a sensitive skin type you may also get more "reaction" after microneedling and be red for longer than average’.

Dr Wetter also flags to 'take caution if the patient has an active acne, eczema, rosacea, or perioral dermatitis, and usually medicate/treat the underlying issue before microneedling. But again, it is a very safe and effective treatment for all skin types. Especially in dark skin types, it is one of my favourite treatments to reduce the risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation'.

There's plenty of dermatologists and salons offering microneedling as part of their facial treatments.

While we like to save avocado for our toast, there's no denying the wave of DIY beauty and at-home skincare tools available.

There are a number of microneedling tools you can buy but considering the needles involved, exactly how safe are they?

‘Home devices are not as effective as in-clinic devices,' says Dr Shotter. 'They will not penetrate as deeply into the skin, but can aid superficial penetration of products.

'Be cautious about where you are buying home use devices from, as many available online are unregulated and the quality of the needle is not good and can cause skin damage and micro-scarring’, continues Dr Shotter.

To see if at-home microneedling tools are a viable option, we tested them out with a panel of beauty testers and in our lab. Below is a roundup of the ones that got our seal of approval.

How we test

92 beauty testers trialled a range of at-home microneedling and derma roller tools, to see which ones had an impact on skin, without causing irritation.

For eight weeks, they assessed whether they saw a difference in the look of their pores, scarring, hyperpigmentation and fine lines, and whether skin looked brighter, firmer and clearer.

In the lab, our experts used a VISIA complexion analyser to assess everyone's skin after four and eight weeks of using each microneedling tool. The machine assessed any improvements to brown spots, wrinkles, pores and skin texture.

Sitting in a chair for a facial massage and having it be called a 'workout'? We're here for it, and Face Gym's at-home line of tools didn't disappoint either.

Our panel said their skin looked firmer and more toned after using this tool for eight weeks, with skin looking clear of breakouts too. It delivered some serious glow and almost everyone noticed an improvement in scarring and wrinkles.

This low maintenance device claims to take up just a minute of your time a day.

Did it work? Yes, it was a top pick from testers for minimising the look of pores and was pain-free for all. Skin felt smoother and softer, and appeared brighter after the trial, with nearly all saying wrinkles looked less obvious.

There's a reason Nurse Jamie has become a favourite brand among A-listers (and a constant sell-out too). This tool is great for targeting specific troublesome areas, as it requires you to press and lift, rather than roll over, skin.

Testers loved the minimal effort that was required to get results and it was a favourite for reducing the look of brown spots. Rough texture? Gone, with the majority seeing softer, more dewy skin too.

The handy travel case will help keep this tool in tip-top shape (not to mention bacteria-free). Everyone found it helped sort out any irregular skin texture, with pores appearing less noticeable.

All our testers loved how smooth and pillow-soft their skin felt, so much so, everyone agreed they'd keep this in their skincare arsenal in the future.

If you're a newbie, this was a favourite for being easy-peasy to roll across the contours of the face.

It didn't cause any post-microneedling redness or irritation and still managed to tackle wrinkles for most testers. One tester even said that it gave an instant glow to dull, tired-looking skin.

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