Long-term microneedling results for acne scars and shallow fine lines?

Question

I’ve had 7 microneedling sessions so far, with at least 28 days apart. I’ve seen good results so far, but I still got acne scars and very shallow fine lines. How many sessions more can I do? Given the proper healing time (at least 28 days), can I keep doing it for years every month? Is there any study where pacients have had microneedling done for years?

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

There is no published evidence supporting the long-term safety or efficacy of monthly microneedling sessions for years, but current studies show that most improvement in acne scars and fine lines occurs within the first 4–6 sessions, spaced 4–8 weeks apart, with diminishing returns after additional treatments.

Typical Protocols: Most clinical studies use 2–6 sessions, spaced 4–8 weeks apart, and report moderate improvement in acne scars and fine lines. For example, one study found that four sessions (one per month) led to significant improvement in acne scars, with 85% of patients seeing some reduction and no reported worsening. Another study using six sessions at two-week intervals also showed noticeable improvement in scars and skin texture.

Diminishing Returns: After 4–6 sessions, further improvement tends to plateau, and additional sessions may yield only minimal further benefit.

Long-Term/Repeated Use: There are no published studies or safety data on patients undergoing monthly microneedling for years. The longest follow-up in the literature is typically 3–6 months after the last session. No studies have evaluated the effects or risks of indefinite, ongoing monthly microneedling.

Safety: Short-term studies report that microneedling is generally safe with minimal downtime and low risk of adverse effects when performed at appropriate intervals. However, the long-term effects of repeated, frequent microneedling over years are unknown.

In summary: While you can safely undergo several more sessions (up to 6–8 total) with at least 28 days between treatments, there is no evidence to support or refute the safety or benefit of continuing monthly microneedling for years. Most improvement is seen within the first several sessions, and ongoing monthly treatments for years have not been studied or recommended in the medical literature

Long-term microneedling results for acne scars and shallow fine lines?

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Long-term microneedling results for acne scars and shallow fine lines?

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Everything you need to know about Microneedling

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.