The beauty industry can be best described as a patch of glossy land where every new fashion trend and offering is a colorful house of its own. As a visitor to this land, you obviously can’t live in each house— no matter how beautiful and elegantly constructed they seem to be. This is where the ability to choose judiciously comes in. As you decide which skin treatment is best for you, it’s important to understand what each treatment does, its long term impacts and how to best execute it. In this whirlwind of ever-evolving skin treatments, microneedling is a significant example.
Microneedling: So what is it all about?
A unique skin treatment that triggers the natural healing process of the skin by facilitating the production of collagen and elastin, microneedling has often been described as a “minimally invasive” cosmetic procedure that uses needles to create tiny needles to create punctures or holes in the skin. If certain pre-and post-treatment instructions are followed, microneedling is capable of improving the appearance, texture and evenness of the skin with minimal downtime.
Before the Procedure: Pre-Treatment Instructions
Due to the intricate nature of the treatment, it’s important to keep pre-treatment instructions in mind. Remember, they’re just as important as post-treatment care, and it’s essential to strike a balance between pre-treatment and post-treatment instructions to achieve favorable results.
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Avoid sun exposure: As you prepare to go into your microneedling treatment, avoid sun exposure for at least two weeks before your first session. If you must go outside, wear sunscreen with SPF of 30 or higher.
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Avoid alcohol or caffeine: Alcohol and/or caffeine cause redness and swelling on the skin, something that you want to avoid before your microneedling session. So, before your first session, put that drink down!
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Discontinue acidic skin care products: Since acid-based skin products and retinoids can make your skin more sensitive and increase the risk of inflammation and irritation, you must discontinue using them at least 24 hours before your microneedling treatment.
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Wash your face thoroughly: It’s important to go into your session with a clean face. Before your treatment begins, remember to use a gentle cleanser or face wash to remove dirt, oil and makeup.
During the Procedure: What to Do During the Treatment
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Wear loose fitting or comfortable clothes: During your microneedling treatment, it’s important to make sure that you are clad in comfortable attire that is loose-fitting and doesn’t irritate/come in contact with your skin.
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Wear a hat or sunglasses after your treatment: After your treatment, avoid sun exposure for as long as you can. This is why wearing a hat or sunglasses is a good option.
After the Procedure: Post-Treatment Instructions
After your microneedling treatment, remember that your skin might be red or flushed. It’s important not to panic and recognize that this is a natural side effect which will resolve in 48 hours or less. You might also experience other symptoms such as peeling and breakouts which might take longer to heal. Here are some ways to minimize side effects and heal your skin faster after microneedling:
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Sunscreen is your best friend: For the first two weeks after your microneedling treatment, remember to constantly apply sunscreen whenever you go outside.
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Put off the perspiration: For the first 72 hours after your treatment, avoid heavy-duty activities such as swimming pools, saunas, intense gym workouts or any other activities that might cause heavy sweating.
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Cut off the cosmetics: After a microneedling session, you might be tempted to hide the hot flashes of red on your skin with makeup. This is a risky decision, because the makeup will block the pores on your new skin and might even cause breakouts. Avoid using makeup for the first 48 hours after microneedling.
While upcoming skin and beauty treatments may look tempting, it’s important to realize that no beauty treatment or skin resurfacing method is a one-size-fits-all solution and what works best for your skin is an individual choice that might not work for everyone.