What Not To Do The Day You Get Microneedling Done
You may have heard of microneedling a lot recently, and that's because it's growing in popularity amongst those looking to minimize their skin concerns — primarily acne scars and wrinkles. The procedure involves creating tiny holes in the skin using thin needles. This causes your skin to produce more collagen and elastin, which are responsible for making it appear more youthful, per Cleveland Clinic. The two proteins work together to smooth and firm your skin. This is different from microdermabrasion, which you may be familiar with.
Microdermabrasion is a procedure similar to microneedling, except it doesn't involve any needles. Instead, a skincare professional uses a handheld device that exfoliates the skin by sanding down the top layer. In either case, as with any procedure, it's important to take the proper precautions to ensure everything goes to plan. To achieve the young, smooth skin you want, here is a list of what not to do the day you get microneedling done.
Don't work out or perform any physical activity
After your appointment, it's crucial not to exercise or do any sort of physical activity that may make you sweat. If you do, your blood flow could significantly go up, potentially causing swelling and irritation, Face Med Store states. This could make the treated area much more sensitive and painful as well. Cardio, swimming, and even yoga are off limits until your body has had time to heal. Even if you believe the workout is low-impact, it's best to save leg day for another day.
It's also recommended not to work out the day before you get microneedling done. Doing so ups your chances of swelling and hyperpigmentation, and makes the experience much more unpleasant. You're more susceptible to bruising, which can be extremely painful. If you absolutely must work out, the best thing to do is exercise a couple of days leading up to your appointment, as long as you give your skin enough time to prepare.
Don't wear makeup
One of the key things to keep in mind on the day of your microneedling appointment is to refrain from wearing makeup. According to Southwest Michigan Plastic and Hand Surgery, patients are requested to wait between two to three days before putting any sort of makeup products on the skin; however, you're free to wear tinted moisturizers and tinted sunscreens as soon as 24 hours after the procedure. This is to limit the amount of scarring and irritation on the treated area. Take this time to embrace your natural beauty!
Skincare products that contain retinoids, vitamin C, alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), or beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) are off-limits too, Healthline explains. These ingredients are created to exfoliate the skin, which is the last thing you want to do after you get microneedling done. You need to keep your skin clear of any harsh ingredients, so skip the skincare routine for at least 48 hours.
Avoid exposing yourself to the sun
It is highly recommended you avoid any sun exposure both before and after your appointment. In fact, you really shouldn't be in the sun at all one to two weeks after your procedure, Vibe Beauty states. When you expose yourself to the sun after microneedling, you're opening yourself up to the possibility of hyperpigmentation. Because the procedure targets the most shallow layer of skin, it's a very rare occurrence; however, if you don't take the proper measures following your appointment, you may be one of the few it affects.
In the event you absolutely cannot avoid the sun, make sure you wear a wide-brimmed hat or baseball cap before going outside. After the allotted time is up and you can wear skin products again, we suggest wearing a moisturizer that contains an SPF (which you should be doing anyway, btw) to prevent sun damage. Remember, there's no such thing as too much protection from the sun.
Don't take anti-inflammatory medications
You might be tempted to pop a few ibuprofen before your appointment to help with the pain, but The Skin Center warns against doing so. The same goes for Motrin and Advil — don't take any type of anti-inflammatory medications three days before you're due for microneedling. These will block the natural inflammatory cycle from happening, which is necessary for your skin to rejuvenate. Essentially, ibuprofen acts as a goalie in a game of youthful skin, so keep your eye on your calendar to make sure you aren't taking it too late.
It's also important to avoid taking any blood-thinning supplements one week before the procedure — this includes natural supplements as well, such as Omega 3, fish oil, and Vitamin E. Following the microneedling process, your blood will clot in order for your body to produce collagen and elastin (per Little White Lies), but if you've taken blood thinners, you decrease the chances of that happening.