Microneedling works by creating thousands of tiny channels in the skin to kickstart your own collagen. For a day or two afterwards your skin is in repair mode and a little more vulnerable than usual, so the aftercare matters as much as the treatment. Follow these and you give your results the best chance to show up.
No products or makeup for 24 hours
For the first 24 hours, keep your skin bare beyond anything Zoe has sent you home with. That means no makeup and no piling on your usual routine. Those freshly made channels are still closing, and the cleaner you keep the surface, the lower the risk of irritation or breakouts. A clean pillowcase that night is a small thing that helps.
No direct sun for 72 hours
Your skin is more sensitive to UV while it heals, and sun exposure now is the quickest way to undo good work and trigger uneven pigment. Stay out of direct sun for at least 72 hours. Once you are back to daytime products, daily SPF is non negotiable, it protects the collagen you have just paid to build.
Avoid touching your face
It is tempting, but hands carry bacteria and the surface is still settling. Resist picking, scratching or prodding, even if things feel a little dry or tight as they recover. Let the skin do its thing.
Skip anything that makes you sweat
For the first couple of days, give intense workouts, saunas and steam rooms a miss. Heat and sweat can irritate freshly treated skin and introduce bacteria to those open channels. A gentle walk is fine, a spin class and a steam afterwards is not.
No actives for 7 days
Park your strong actives for a full week so the skin can repair without being pushed. That includes:
- AHAs and BHAs such as glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid.
- Vitamin C in its stronger, more acidic forms.
- Retinoids including retinol and prescription retinoids.
Keep it simple while you heal
A gentle cleanser, a fragrance free moisturiser and SPF are all your skin needs for the first week. If you are ever unsure whether something is safe to use yet, leave it off and ask.
What is normal afterwards
Some redness, warmth and a tight, sunburn like feeling for a day or two is completely normal, and you may notice light flaking as the surface renews. If anything worries you or does not settle as expected, message the clinic and Zoe will talk you through it. Stick to the plan and your skin rewards you with smoother texture and a fresher tone in the weeks that follow.
