Are There Bad Side Effects to Microneedling?

Wonderful question.  Microneedling can stimulate collagen regeneration and when combined with PRP it can improve scars in a variety of skin types.  The expectations of treatment are pinpoint bleeding and localized irritation.  Side effects are rare when the correct technique is used.  I have never seen this but possible rare side effects include infection, hyperpigmentation or worse scarring.  It is also possible that there may be no improvement in your scars if the correct depth is not used.

Microneedling is a great treatment for textural acne scars as it helps produce collagen and elastin and can be used safely on all skin-types. There can be some redness, swelling and pinpoint bleeding after treatment, but these are all normal reactions. We also offer microneedling with PRP (platelet rich plasma) which can help shorten recovery time and deliver growth factors to your skin for added skin rejuvenation. Typically we recommend 4-6 treatments depending on the severity of the scarring. 

 Microneedling  has become the most popular procedure for many skin conditions, such as enlarged pores, fine lines, perioral rhytides, wrinkles, minor sagging, pigmentation, many types of scars including acne scars, striae and stretch marks on any part of the body. There are many different types of microneedling devices such as Intensif RF microneedling, and microneedling without heat such as skinpen, dermapen, cosmopen and collagen PIN. 
Microneedling procedures in certain states like MA are regulated and have to performed by qualified individuals ( is outside the scope of practice of Estheticians and Registered Nurses in MA). 
The Microneedling procedure can be combined with other procedures such as Micro-dermabrasion, Peels, Lasers, Subcision, Platelet rich plasma, Botox, Sculptra and Hyaluronic acid. It is also used to enhance the delivery of drugs for many other pathological skin conditions.
The most common side effects are pain, erythema, bleeding and swelling. Some rare complications such as infection, herpes simplex, scarring, hyperpigmentation and granulomas are also reported. 
The keys to minimizing side effects would be - detailed medical evaluation with your physician prior to the procedure, preparing the skin for better results, using strict aseptic techniques while performing Microneedling and following post procedure guidelines devised by your physician.
  

Microneedling is a great treatment option used to treat a variety of skin conditions such as acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles and photo damage by stimulating collagen production. During the procedure, the Cosmopen, a state-of-the-art microneedling device is used to create microscopic channels. While the microscopic channels heal, collagen and elastin are naturally produced by your body, encouraging your skin to shrink, tighten and diminish the appearance of acne scars. When choosing a provider, it is essential to do your research. Make sure the provider is an elite and certified provider at a dermatologist, facial plastic surgeon or medical aesthetic practice. 
Although there is no downtime related to microneedling treatments, some patients may see up to 24 hours of redness. Patients are able to resume normal, daily activities the following day. 

One of the beauties of micro-needling is that there are
essentially no side effects. It is perhaps one of the most effective treatments
for acne scarring. It is important to not perform the procedure if there is
active acne as this could result in infection. You can expect your face to look
mildly sunburned for a day or two after the procedure. Deeper needling, which
we term medical needling involves topical anesthetic and will create a
longer-lasting sunburn look. It also is more affected for deeper scars.

Microneedling works by injuring the skin in such a way that it responds by producing new collagen, which in turn plumps the skin and restores volume. It works well for texture, lines, volume loss and acne scarring
At my Vancouver cosmetic surgery practice we use rolling needles by Environ and have seen phenomenal results in staff and patients alike. The best part: microneedling is a fairly low-risk procedure with side effects tending to be few and far between.
The rolling equipment should be sterile and personal (each patient should have his or her own roller, and these should be autoclaved before each session) and the face should be cleaned and prepped before treatment to avoid cross-contamination or spread of bacteria. Patients with active acne should consider alternative options before treatment as dermal rolling can easily spread bacteria over the skin, potentially causing breakouts. Patients prone to cold sores should let their treatment provider know so that a preventive prescription can be given prior to the session.

Microneedling is also known as Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT). Our clinic’s preferred method of treatment is the Eclipse Micropen. The tiny needles used during the procedure create controlled micro-injuries. The skin responds to the injuries by  producing new collagen which essentially fills in scarring. The treatment is very low risk. A quality treatment provider will further reduce risk by checking for possible contraindications prior to treatment and will also prepare you for your post-treatment home care.

Micro-Needling is a wonderful treatment for treating acne scarring.  The treatment should be performed in a qualified physicians office by a trained medical professional.  Treated correctly the side effects are very low.  The most common is redness, swelling, and possible bruising. You will also feel like you have a bad sunburn for a few hours. Overall Micro-Needling is relatively safe with minimal side effects. As with any medical treatment it is best to be assessed in person. For the best results you will most likely need at least 6 treatment. The treatments should be spaced at least 4 weeks apart. Good luck with your treatments. 

When done with proper technique , there are few reasons that Microneedling would elicit unfortunate side effects. Even pinpoint bleeding that can occur with a deeper treatment , usually only leaves redness and mild inflammation for 2-4 days max!    This treatment can offer fantastic outcomes for  texture, fine lines and acne scars!!

I have found micro-needling to be a great option for treatment of acne scars. Given the severity of the scars, multiple sessions (6-8 treatments) spaced about 4-6 weeks apart is what I generally recommend. Because the downtime of micro needling is much less than that of a laser procedure, I have found that many patients have been pleased with micro needling over laser for treatment of acne scars. I find that the results are even better when combining the micro needling with PRP (platelet-rich-plasma)