What You Should Know Before You Try Microneedling

Microneedling is quickly becoming more and more popular with beauty lovers. Claiming to boost collagen and minimize acne scarring, it's a device used by dermatologists that punctures the skin using teeny tiny needles, which are anywhere from 0.5 to 2.5 millimeters in size (via ELLE).

While microneedling may sound daunting, the best thing about it is that it doesn't hurt — and works almost instantly. "From microneedling alone, you will look plump, pink and luminous for a couple of weeks," dermatologist Macrene Alexiades, M.D., Ph.D., who has extensively researched microneedling, told ELLE. "On a short-term basis, it plumps the skin and makes the skin look more radiant from inflammation and very superficial swelling." But what about long-term results? Here's what you need to know before you try microneedling.

ELLE points to various studies that show how microneedling improves collagen, stimulates hair growth, and reduces cellulite, while Manish Shah, M.D., a plastic surgeon based in Colorado, told Good Housekeeping that it's the best treatment options available for stretch marks. 

However, Alexiades notes that results are usually temporary. "As my over ten years of research has shown, you must combine microneedles with radio frequency in order to get long term wrinkle and scar reductions and improvements in skin quality," Alexiades told ELLE.

Ultimately, microneedling is a financial commitment which costs anywhere between $100 and $600 per treatment. Though you'll notice immediate results, for long term results, Mona Gohara, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine, says you may need up to six treatments depending on how your skin reacts. "Response to treatment may vary, but some may need four to six sessions over several months to obtain the desired results, while others may be happy after one to two," Gohara told Good Housekeeping. "But maintenance treatments may be necessary to keep the progress up and prevent further damage." If you choose to go ahead with the treatment, be sure to budget accordingly.