A minimally invasive procedure that promises smoother skin and helps you look younger might sound like a dream. But what if I told you that's precisely what microneedling provides?
With the help of tiny needles, this popular therapy stimulates the creation of collagen and rejuvenates the skin. The question is, does microneedling hurt? Like most things in life, the response to this is a complex "it depends."
Although microneedling doesn't hurt all that much, it can be uncomfortable, especially for people with sensitive skin. But worry not! This guide looks at ten practical ways to lessen the discomfort associated with microneedling.
Understanding Microneedling and Pain Perception
Fine needles with lengths ranging from 0.5mm to 3.0mm are included with microneedling equipment. The selected needle depth determines the target areas and treatment intensity.
Deeper needles target wrinkles and scars, while shallower needles (around 0.5mm) are typical for superficial issues, including fine lines and enlarged pores. Deeper penetration, of course, equals a more intense experience.
Is microneedling painful? Well, during microneedling, pain perception is subjective and affected by several factors:
1. Pain Tolerance
So, what’s your pain tolerance? Some people are inherently more sensitive to pain than others. There is an urban myth that says women are more pain-tolerant than men. On the other hand, women are more pain-sensitive than men. Women are more likely to report increased pain intensity and lower thresholds and tolerance in response to painful stimuli.
2. Needle Depth
The needle depth matters. As previously indicated, you will feel a more potent sensation with deeper needles. As per the National Library of Medicine's available data, the needle length significantly influences the discomfort experienced during microneedling. Below is a summary of the main ideas:
- Hypodermic needles hurt more than microneedles: This is a beautiful place to start because it shows that injections using microneedles are typically less painful than those using conventional needles.
- Longer microneedles cause more discomfort: According to the study, the pain score rose sevenfold for every threefold increase in needle length. It implies that the pain from shorter needles is substantially less than that from longer ones.
- The quantity of needles has less of an impact. Although the number of microneedles utilized has some influence on pain, it is very slight. The number of needles increased tenfold, while the pain score increased only by a factor of two.
3. Skin Sensitivity
Skin sensitivity is common. For instance, in the US and the UK, 38% of men and over 50% of women say they have sensitive skin. People with sensitive skin are more prone to feeling uncomfortable when using cosmetics and toiletries. They are likely to experience subjective itching and irritation.
4. The Treatment Area
The lips and the area surrounding the eyes are susceptible due to a more significant concentration of nerve endings. The location of your microneedling procedure significantly impacts how uncomfortable you can get. It is the reason why:
- Nerve endings: The concentration of nerve endings in specific facial locations makes them more vulnerable to needle puncture. The most sensitive areas are usually the lips, the area surrounding the eyes, and the forehead.
- Thicker skin naturally provides excellent needle resistance, which may result in less pain. The dermal layer is typically denser in parts like the jawline and cheeks than it is thinner in areas like the under-eye area.
According to statistics, most people handle microneedling well, although the procedure isn't completely painless. More than 70% of participants in a 2021 study published in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Dermatology felt mild to moderate discomfort when receiving topical anesthetic during microneedling.
How to Lessen Microneedling Pain
After answering the question, "Does microneedling hurt?" let's look at methods to lessen any discomfort:
1. Topical Anesthetics
Your first line of defense against the pain of microneedling is topical anesthetics. These ointments or lotions have chemicals like prilocaine or lidocaine that momentarily cause the skin's surface to go numb. To give the anesthetic enough time to take effect, your dermatologist or aesthetician will usually apply it 30 to 45 minutes before the treatment.
Pro Tip: Before seeing your practitioner, talk about your pain threshold. Those with increased sensitivity might suggest a more potent topical anesthetic or taking medicine orally.
2. The Power of Pre-Treatment Skincare
The comfort that one is likely to experience with microneedling depends on their skin condition. Take these actions to get your skin ready for a less uncomfortable encounter:
Gently exfoliate. Constant exfoliating leads to removing the layer of skin that has not shed necrotic cells, allowing for better penetration of the needles. Steer clear of rough sponges likely to cause adverse effects on the skin, including irritation.
Retinol, AHAs, and BHAs must be avoided for at least one week before the microneedling procedure. It may also be the case that these components will improve skin sensitivity.
Another reminder is to consume at least six glasses of water a day. One week after the procedure, the skin should be moisturized, especially in the barrier area. This strengthens and decreases friction.
3. Choose a Professional Microneedling Practitioner
Your comfort level will dictate which licensed dermatologist or aesthetician with microneedling experience you will go for. Look for experts who:
- Have board certification. Ensure the first practitioner you have selected has the adequate experience, credentials, and permits to conduct microneedling.
- What about previous experience with the team? Explore the practitioner’s microneedling history and review some of the literate endorsements.
- Decide on priorities. Select the expert, explain your pain level, address your concerns, and let them walk you through the steps.
4. Communication Is Essential
You do not have to stay quiet during your microneedling session, just like any other treatment session you go through. The setup needs to be comfortable, so you and your practitioner must be truthful with each other. Here's how to demand what is rightfully yours:
- Report more intense pain than you expected from your practitioner. If necessary, microneedling technology can regulate the depth or force with which the needle pierces the cell membrane.
- During the entire treatment, asking for short breaks to compose oneself is alright. Ask questions as well.
5. Using Relaxation Techniques
It is unnecessary to have the scare of your life while undergoing the microneedling process. While deep breathing and meditation can help in reducing levels of anxiety, they too can also make things worse.
So, again, is microneedling painful before and after? Though it is undoubtedly painful, the pain from microneedling will not make you want to clench your teeth while bearing through pain that is hard to bear. It may cause little discomfort during the process, resembling light puncturing or tingling. The skin may thereafter feel sensitive or show some slight redness and swelling.
By applying comforting strategies, your stress level is considerably dampened and can, therefore, be easily regulated to provide a more relaxing process. Here are a few valuable methods to investigate: Here are a few valuable methods to investigate:
Inhaling deeply
Pay attention to your deep, large, even, and regular breaths. Take a deep breath through your nose and hold it for two seconds. Next, exhale gently through your mouth for six seconds. Continue doing this to improve manners and reduce stress while dealing with the process.
Meditation with a Guide
Thousands of guided meditations are available on apps or through the internet that directly help with discomfort. When this happens, try to take deeper breaths to stop feeling the prickly feelings, or better yet, have someone speak soothing things to you while imagining peaceful places.
Gradual Relaxation of the Muscles
Progressive muscle relaxation is done differently by tightening and relaxing a given muscle group at a given time. Initiate the exercise by curling the toes and then relaxing them, pulling the toes, and releasing the pull. Start with your lower body muscles, then progress through each part of the body as you go up, and then go through all the exercises again. This technique is beneficial in removing the stress that has accumulated within the body and making the body relaxed all over.
Techniques for Being Mindful
Try to get in touch with your feelings, but do not analyze and judge; be present. It is just pins piercing your skin; do not focus on the feeling. By doing so, techniques like mindful visualization enable one to relieve the microneedling pain you experience.
6. Utilize the Distraction's Power
It is possible to feel some slight pain when undergoing microneedling. So, do not stay idle! Having something to do will help you to deal with the pain. Try the following distraction methods:
- Listen to some soothing music. A good playlist of your preferred songs is perfect music therapy. Do this while the process is underway. Playing upbeat music can help you feel better and take your mind off the needles.
- Let your thoughts wander outside the treatment area by imagining yourself in a calm and serene setting.
- Having a friend around might be helpful. Bring a friend or family member. They may offer encouragement and engage in conversation to help you relax and distract yourself from the process.
7. After-Procedure Care: Calming Your Skin
Adequate aftercare is essential for best outcomes since microneedling produces tiny, controlled wounds in the skin.This is how to calm your skin after a treatment:
- Clean your face gently twice daily with a mild, fragrance-free cleanser. Avoid rough rubbing or cleaning.
- You can now apply a moisturizer fervently using a soothing, fragrance-free moisturizer. This will help you to nourish your skin and aid in healing.
- You can always go right with sunscreen. Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher daily to shield your freshly treated skin from damaging sun rays.
- If you love makeup, now’s not the time. To ensure your skin heals appropriately, minimize makeup and don’t wear it for at least 24 hours after the operation.
8. Handling Pain Following Treatment
Although the patient experiences substantial pain relief from treatment with topical anesthesia, a certain amount of transient sensitivity could be expected in the period after the treatment is given. This is how you handle it:
- Try cooling relief. It is recommended that you apply an ice pack or cooler compress in the region and over the injured area, but cover it using a small piece of cloth.
- Calamine lotion is an example of the relaxant creams used in treating the irritation. You should discuss this option with your health care practitioner.
- In extreme cases, you may use over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen preferably with the doctor’s consent.
9. Reasonable Expectations
The outcome of microneedling therefore may not be immediately seen. It takes several weeks to months for the skin to form new collagen and heal. It is equally advisable to undertake this surgery with realistic goals in mind and to refrain from planning it a week before a major event.
In most cases, the patients have indicated that the gains for their conditions take many weeks to manifest themselves.
10. Discuss Potential Side Effects
Despite the fact that microneedling itself is generally safe, it is important to know of any potential side-effects. Talk candidly about these in advance with your practitioner:
- Some temporary outcomes possible after microneedling include redness and swelling that subside within several days.
- Some slight reddening and swelling may occur especially if your doctor has had to penetrate deeply into the skin.
- In order to minimize the probability of infection you should pay attention to washing and following the aftercare instructions.
- Tanning of the skin at the area treated is a rare side effect. The susceptibility of darker skinned individuals is slightly higher than that of other individuals.
Other Factors to Consider
After learning the tips above, here are more points to consider.
1. Modify Your Schedule
The appropriate timing for your microneedling treatment might help you control pain and discomfort. It can help to avoid periods of the day or month when your pain threshold is higher.
For instance, avoid making plans when you're menstruating since you may be more sensitive to pain. So, pick a time of day when you feel refreshed and at ease. Make sure you're not under a lot of stress because that can make you feel pain more intensely.
2. Gradual Intensification of Treatment
Over time, your skin will become accustomed to the microneedling procedure and experience less pain if you begin with milder treatments and progressively increase their intensity.
Start with reduced device settings or shorter needle lengths. As your skin gets used to the intensity, gradually increase it in consecutive sessions.
3. Selecting the Appropriate Needle Length
The needle lengths used in microneedling devices vary from 0.25 mm to 2.5 mm. The degree of discomfort felt during the treatment may vary depending on the needle size.
Here are my suggestions
- Shorter needles (0.25 mm to 0.5 mm) are adequate and provide less pain for superficial treatments like enhancing skin tone and texture.
- For deeper problems like stretch marks or acne scars, you may need longer needles (1.0 mm to 2.5 mm); these can be more uncomfortable but are frequently more successful.
4. Understand Your Menstrual Cycle
As mentioned, this time of the month is usually associated with a decreased pain threshold. You might be shocked to learn that this sensitivity even applies to the skin on your face, though. Prostaglandins are lipid hormones produced at the site of illness or injury, and they rise during the first few days of your cycle. It can cause inflammation and increased sensitivity to light.
Arrange your first microneedling session outside this delicate window, preferably a few days before or during your menstrual cycle.
Why Choose Diaminy Microneedling Products
A customer-focused aesthetics medical device firm, Diaminy is committed to helping patients achieve their non-surgical life transformation goals. Our solutions incredibly benefit patients and medical professionals significantly reducing the pain associated with microneedling.
Superior Microneedling Tools
We prioritize comfort and accuracy when designing Diaminy's microneedling equipment like the derma roller. Our cutting-edge technology guarantees the least amount of pain during treatments.
These microneedling devices are designed with precision engineering to minimize skin trauma, reduce discomfort, and accelerate healing. They feature adjustable settings, allowing practitioners to tailor the needle depth and speed to meet the specific comfort needs of their patients.
Besides, these devices operate efficiently and smoothly, minimizing discomfort during treatment. Their flexible solutions allow clinicians to customize care to meet each patient's unique needs, addressing specific issues and sensitivities to reduce suffering.
Tailored Attention
Diaminy provides tools for comprehensive skin assessments, helping professionals determine the best course of action for each patient. Practitioners can customize protocols based on patient feedback and pain thresholds to ensure a more comfortable experience. Additionally, Diaminy continually develops innovative solutions to enhance patient comfort with new products and methods.
In Summary
Is microneedling painful? The response varies, but you may significantly reduce discomfort using appropriate techniques. Using these ten tips, you can make your microneedling experience more comfortable and guarantee outstanding outcomes. Remember that planning and recovery are just as crucial as the treatment to get the finest results with the most minor pain.
Diaminy’s commitment to customer satisfaction and high-quality products makes it a valuable partner in minimizing microneedling pain. Check out Diaminy's online shop for our products today!
