Started microneedling during Accutane to help with mild scarring. Is it supposed to look like this? (photo)

In our practice we would not treatment anyone with any type of treatments as mild as the treatment may be if the patient is on Accutane. Because your skin is sensitive, as mild as the treatment is, it can result in scaring or more damage to the skin. Accutane thins out and dry’s the skin, it strips out all the oils and nutrients your skin needs to help it heal from any treatment. Our practice recommendations for a person currently using accutane or a person that has used accutane within 6 months prior of being on accutane, would be refused for any treatment. We would only treat an accutane patient 12months after being off of accutane and we would start on light procedure because of skin sensitivity.

Usually its preferred to wait at least 6 months for any cosmetic treatments (this includes microneedling) since  Accutane slows your body's healing process. You usually have about 3 days of redness and then some possible peeling after microneedling. However, you will probably take longer to heal due to the affects of Accutane. 

I do not recommend receiving microneedling (or almost any other skin treatment) while you are taking Accutane and for at least 6 months after you stop taking it.  Accutane thins the skin and makes it very fragile, increasing the risk of complications and scarring. If I were you, I would not do any additional sessions for now.

Typically when patients have been on Accutane we like to wait 6 months before doing certain cosmetic treatments. Accutane effects wound healing which slows down the healing process. Microneedling usually has two to three days redness followed with minimal peeling. In your case it may take a little longer to heal due to the accutane. 

Microneedling or any other skin injection or laser should not be performed during Accutane treatment and it is recommended to wait at least six months after using Accutane. With that said I would feel confident that your dermatologist is highly qualified to help you with your acne scars. Microneedling can also be performed as a spot treatment just over the scars.
Videos showing how a treatment is performed is never the gold standard of a particular therapy because every patient is different and has different needs. That is why medical treatments are performed by a physician. 

Hello Lilly, 
It is usually not common practice to have microneedling done during a course of accutane, in fact, it is recommend to wait at least six month after accutane treatment to consider undergoing microneedling. 
However, redness and sensitivity are expected after treatment and are to last a few days. I would recommend adhering to the doctor's post care instructions especially with using SPF 30 and avoidance of sun exposure.
Hope this helps. 

Impossible for a constructive comment, as we did not know how the procedure was performed, needle depth, passes, and the type of acne scars targeted. Microneedling is a general not targeted form of scar revision. In context of Accutane, it is safe (JAMA journal 2017, ASDS consensus) however dose modulation must be taken into consideration as well. Before photos of your scarring will help as this will indicate the TYPE of acne scars. YOUTUBE videos are not always accurate- a specialist dermatologist or plastics can guide you. Acne scar revision comprises of specialised procedures. For the best results, one should target the acne scar type with ideal treatments METHODS. Using one device is not optimal. As everyone has a unique pattern of acne scarring, the best solution is a tailored one.  The web reference below will take you to a resource to help you understand acne scar revision at a specialist level. I embedded all the videos in one page to help.

 

As an example deep ice pick scars, and narrow box car scars are best treated with TCA CROSS. Deep narrow scars respond better to this treatment than even the most expensive lasers. On the flip side, rolling, and atrophic acne scars can improve with fractional devices such as Fraxel, fractional lasers, ProFractional erbium lasers, Infiini –Intensif –Intracel radiofrequency microneedling. Atrophic scars (depressions) can be treated with either fat grafts, PRP or dermal fillers. Tethered and anchored scars are best treated with surgical techniques such as subcision. Other surgical techniques that I use include punch elevation, surgical elevation, punch excision and traditional excision for focal scars. Early and very mild acne scars respond well to eMatrix and non-energy microneedling, as well as vascular lasers. Skin colour changes such as PIH or dark marks respond best to sun protection, creams, and Q switch lasers in the nano and pico pulse durations.

 

The majority of patients will have a collection of different scar types, and hence a tailored treatment METHOD will be best. Careful examination, especially under angled lighting with scar mapping will give you an understanding of what are the best options for your scars. Additionally tactile examination namely touch will give me an understanding of the amount of subdermal fibrosis, as special equipment is needed for this sub-set of acne scars.  In the majority of patients its finding the correct combination that give you best results, and everyone is unique! It is never about the device, its about the specialist behind the equipment that will deliver the best outcomes. All the best, Dr Davin Lim. Acne scar dermatologist specialist. Brisbane, Australia.