Whether you're derma rolling from home or having professional treatment in a clinic, a common question is... When to wash your face after microneedling treatment.
Today, in this quick tip we let you know the dos and don'ts regarding face washing.
When To Wash Face After Microneedling
The recommended wait time to wash your face after microneedling treatment is 24hrs.
If your session involved a very large needle then you should try to stretch it to 48hrs.
This amount of time allows the surface layer of the skin to heal which means you're now safe to start using a gentle cleanser and resume your normal face washing routine.
What Happens If I Wash My Face Too Soon?
When we microneedle our skin we create tiny puncture holes that force the skin's natural healing process to kick in and start more collagen and elastin production (skin cells).
The first 24-48 hours are very important in this process, so we want to make sure we're not adding any variables to the skin that can slow down the healing process.
What Should I Do After Microneedling?
It's best to apply a high-quality hyaluronic acid product like Tri-Hyaluronic Acid Serum.
Adding a serum like this will keep your skin hydrated after your microneedling procedure and stop it from itching.
For more information on this topic, you can check out:
Let's Get Specific - How Many Hours Ater Microneedling Can I Wash My Face?
The standard wait time is 24hrs.
Now, I know what you're thinking... We all heal at different rates, someone could heal faster than others. Yes, that is true.
We stick to 24hrs for a number of reasons.
Skin Healing Timeline
The healing process normally peaks within 24 hours, by waiting 24 hours we've captured the large majority of people.
Ease of Remembering
If we were to give advice to each person, we'd just be guessing and the person would have a harder time remembering the exact time that face washing is allowed.
Safety Margin
Providing a rounded-up time of 24 hours means that we have a suitable margin of safety. If the average healing time was 22 hours, rounding up to 24 hours ensures that almost all people will be past the sensitive post-treatment period.
Standardisation
Medical and skincare guidelines often use standardised time intervals for recommendations. This makes it easier for practitioners to be consistent in their advice and for patients to remember and adhere to instructions.
Can I wash my face with water only?
Yes, you can wash your face after microneedling with water. The important thing is not to use cleanser or any products that could have ingredients that may cause irritation.
Stick to water and hyaluronic acid only after microneedling.
Summary
Microneedling is great for skin concerns such as acne scars, wrinkles, stretch marks and more.
We need to remember that the magic happens during the healing process so we should follow the recommended guidelines on face washing to ensure optimal results.
24 hours is not a long time to wait to go back to your usual skincare routine (applying gentle cleanser), so be patient and the facial rejuvenation gods will be on your side.
If you have peeling skin (forcibly peeling skin) or dry skin, you should apply a Tri-Hyaluronic Acid Serum.
Skin sensitivity is normal after microneedling so avoid sun exposure (sun damage), strong active ingredients such as Vitamin C and alpha hydroxy acids and don't wear makeup.
For more information on this topic see the article How long after skin needling can I wear makeup?