You just finished your microneedling session. Your serum is applied, your skin has that fresh-treated glow. Now what?
What you do in the next 24-72 hours can either maximize your results or undo all your effort. Let’s make sure it’s the former.
Immediately After Treatment
Right after microneedling, your skin is in a unique state. Those tiny channels are still open, your skin is flushed from the stimulation, and your natural healing response is kicking in.
Leave your serum on. Whatever serum you applied during treatment—leave it. Don’t wash it off, don’t layer other products over it. Your skin is absorbing it deeply right now.
Don’t touch your face. I know it’s tempting to feel how smooth your skin is. Resist. Your hands carry bacteria, and those open channels are basically a welcome mat for contamination.
Skip anything else. No toners, no moisturizers over the serum, no spot treatments. Just the treatment serum and nothing else for the rest of the evening.
The First 24 Hours
This is the critical window. Your micro-channels are closing but still more permeable than normal.
Morning After
Cleanse gently with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free cleanser. Pat dry—don’t rub.
Apply a hydrating serum. Niacinamide serum or a simple hyaluronic acid serum works great. Both support barrier repair without irritating.
SPF is non-negotiable. Your skin is more sensitive to UV damage right now. Use at least SPF 30, preferably mineral-based since it sits on top of skin rather than absorbing in.
What to Avoid
No makeup. Foundation and concealer can clog those healing channels and trap bacteria.
No active ingredients. Skip the retinol, vitamin C, AHAs, and BHAs. Your skin doesn’t need exfoliation right now—it needs protection and hydration.
No sweating. Avoid workouts, saunas, or anything that makes you sweat heavily. Sweat is salty and can irritate freshly treated skin.
No direct sun. Stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible. If you must be outside, hat plus sunscreen plus shade.
Days 2-3: Recovery Mode
By day two, your skin is well into healing mode. You might notice some mild flaking or dryness—this is normal and actually a good sign that cell turnover is happening.
Keep it simple. Gentle cleanser, hydrating serum, moisturizer, SPF. That’s your entire routine for these days.
Hydration is everything. Your skin is working hard to repair itself. Support it with plenty of hyaluronic acid serum and a good moisturizer.
Still no actives. Resist the urge to “help” your skin along with retinol or acids. You’ll just cause irritation.
| Timeframe | Do This | Avoid This |
|---|---|---|
| 0-6 hours | Leave serum on; sleep | Washing face; touching skin |
| 6-24 hours | Gentle cleanse; hydrate; SPF | Makeup; actives; exercise |
| 24-48 hours | Hydrating routine; SPF | Retinol; acids; sun exposure |
| 48-72 hours | Gradual return to normal routine | Harsh exfoliation |
When to Reintroduce Active Ingredients
After about 48-72 hours, your skin barrier should be mostly recovered. Now you can start bringing back your regular products:
Day 3-4: You can reintroduce retinol serum, but maybe use it every other day at first.
Day 4-5: Vitamin C is fine to use again.
Day 5+: Resume your normal routine, including any exfoliating acids.
Products That Support Healing
Having the right products on hand makes aftercare easier:
Gentle cleanser: Something fragrance-free and non-foaming. Cream or milk cleansers work well.
Hydrating serum: Hyaluronic acid serum or niacinamide serum are perfect for this phase.
Simple moisturizer: No fragrance, no actives. Just hydration.
Mineral sunscreen: SPF 30+ with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
Red Flags to Watch For
While some redness and sensitivity is normal, certain signs indicate something’s wrong:
Redness that gets worse instead of better after 24 hours. Pustules, pimples, or signs of infection. Excessive swelling or pain. Rash or hives.
If you experience any of these, stop your routine and consult a dermatologist.
For more on building an effective microneedling routine, check out our guide on how often to microneedle and choosing the right needle depth.
