Microneedling is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that stimulates your blood circulation. It’s typically done to improve the appearance of scars and increase collagen production. Microneedlingin a clinical environment takes several hours to prepare for and undergo.

Something that isn’t often discussed is the aftercare necessary after the procedure. Microneedling actually punctures your skin, so you need to take steps to protect your skin barrier as it heals. Even if you’re microneedling at home, you’ll still need to take extra care of your skin in the days after performing the treatment.

Keep reading to learn more about what to expect after microneedling and how to take care of your skin afterward.

What to expect

After you have a microneedling procedure, some side effects are to be expected. When you leave your appointment, your skin may be flushed or bright red, as if you have spent the entire day out in the sun and have a mild to moderate sunburn.

The redness and swelling will most likely persist for 24 hours or slightly longer. Even with careful aftercare, there isn’t much you can do to get rid of the redness immediately after microneedling.

Covering up the redness with makeup is one of the worst things you can do, as the makeup will block the pores on your newly exposed skin and might even cause breakouts. You’ll need to have some patience as the redness subsides, but in the meantime, you can apply gentle, unscented products with natural ingredients to get some relief.

Swelling and some skin peeling are all considered to be within the realm of normal up to 48 hours after the procedure. Other side effects, like bumps, breakouts, and dry skin, are also within the scope of what you may experience after microneedling, but not everyone will experience them.

Taking care of your skin with moisturizer and gentle cleansers can make your side effects as minimal as possible.

Aftercare tips

Your doctor should provide detailed instructions on what to do after microneedling. The instructions may be based specifically on your medical history or skin type, so make sure to follow them carefully.

As a general rule, you should reach for sunscreen constantly for the first 2 weeks after microneedling. Make sure to apply sunscreen anytime you go outside in the days following your treatment.

Don’t spend prolonged time out in the sun for the first week after your microneedling procedure, as you’ll be more prone to sun damage than usual.

Use any topical antibiotic cream that your doctor prescribes to avoid infection.

Wash your hands before you touch your face.

Don’t put on makeup, especially with a makeup brush that has been used before, in the 24 hours following microneedling.

You’ll also need to avoid swimming pools, saunas, and situations where you might sweat heavily, including intense workouts at the gym, to protect your newly treated skin. After 72 hours have passed, you may be able to resume these activities.

What to use and avoid

For the first few days after your microneedling procedure, you’ll need to avoid any skin care product that contains harsh chemicals meant to exfoliate. Avoid anything that’s scented, and don’t use glycolic acid or alpha hydroxy acids.

Retinol A and vitamin C serum should be avoided for the first 48 hours, minimum, after microneedling. Once 2 full days have passed, you might want to gradually add products back into your daily beauty routine instead of doing your usual regimen, especially if you use products that have strong anti-aging formulas.

Be sure to run any cleansers, toners, or scrubs that you plan to apply in the 2 to 3 days after microneedling by your provider to make sure the ingredients won’t worsen side effects.

Hyaluronic acid can be usedTrusted Source following microneedling, and it’s even recommended in some cases to help stimulate collagen production after your procedure.

If your skin is feeling dry, it’s generally safe to apply coconut oil as an emollient to lock in moisture and hydrate your face after microneedling. Diluted, alcohol-free witch hazel may also be used to cleanse dry skin. Stick to using gentle, natural ingredients that you’re familiar with.

Recovery

The redness that you experience from microneedling will mostly fade within 48 hoursTrusted Source. Other symptoms, such as peeling and breakouts, might take slightly longer to resolve.

Most of the visible recovery from microneedling happens in the first day or two after treatment, but healing will still be happening under the surface of your skin for up to 2 monthsTrusted Source afterward.

When to see a doctor

Microneedling is generally consideredTrusted Source to be a very low-risk procedure. Occasionally, side effects can escalate and require medical attention. Symptoms to look out for include:

fever over 100.4°F (38°C)

nausea

hives

yellow or green discharge

bleeding

headache

Infections caused by microneedling do happenTrusted Source, often when instruments that aren’t properly sterilized are used on your skin. Allergic reactions to the needles used for microneedling are also possible.

Do you ever notice small, dark spots on your legs after you shave? Turns out they’re actually clogged pores, not unlike a blackhead. Sometimes mistaken as dirt, these dark dots resemble the seeds on the skin of strawberries (hence the informal term “strawberry legs”) and are more noticeable on some skin types than others.

“Strawberry legs describes the appearance of dark spots in the skin occurring in a pattern that corresponds to hair follicles or pores,” Causes vary but include when shaven hairs are darker (and therefore, more visible) than skin color, enlarged hair follicles, clogged pores, and keratosis pilaris, she adds.

Murphy-Rose compares the dark spots to a blackhead on the face or body. “Enlarged pores can become clogged with buildup (keratin debris, oil, and bacteria) that oxidizes and darkens when exposed to air. Dermatologists call blackheads ‘open comedones’ because they are open and exposed to the air, causing the black dot we see.” But luckily you can help to prevent them from forming by changing the way you shave (among other things). We tapped Murphy-Rose and Ali Tobia to find out how.

Below, we’ve rounded up all the tips that truly help prevent and treat strawberry legs. Keep reading to learn more.

Dry-Brushing

Preventing strawberry legs actually starts a day or two before you shave. To help with the exfoliation process, vigorously brush legs with a soft dry brush in circular motions prior to your bath or shower. Then, soak skin in warm water for five to 10 minutes before you shave—this helps draw out impurities and loosen dead skin cells trapped inside the pores.

Physical Exfoliation

Don’t forget to exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. Regular exfoliation helps keep these dark pores at bay as do proper shaving methods, shaving tools, and a good skincare regimen. It’s recommended that you exfoliate your legs on a regular basis with a glove or body scrub that polishes away dead skin cells.

“Exfoliation can be very effective in preventing strawberry legs because it helps to soften the skin and loosen up the dirt and oil that’s already in your pores, which obviously helps to prevent that dirt and oil from getting trapped in your pores when you shave,”

“If you are using a scrub to exfoliate, make sure to use a mild product, and use a gentle motion when you do the actual scrubbing,” advises Tobia. “Sometimes we think that scrubbing harder cleans better, but the truth is that all it adds is irritation to the top layer of skin,” she explains.

Chemical Exfoliation

Exfoliation can also include chemical varieties, which just so happen to be Murphy-Rose’s preferred prevention and treatment method since “speeding up the shedding of dead skin cells with regular exfoliation will make someone less prone to clogged pores.” Her favorite products contain AHAs and salicylic acid, “a beta-hydroxy acid that exfoliates dead skin cells to make it harder for pores to clog. Unlike many other hydroxy acids, salicylic acid travels down into follicles to keep skin exfoliated and clean deep inside the pores,”

“Salicylic acid can be found in at-home chemical peels, body washes, lotions, and saturated pads. Most acid-containing body washes (Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash) and lotions (Cerave SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin) can be used one to two times daily,” instructs Murphy-Rose. “Saturated pads should be used three times a week and then gradually increased to daily use if not causing irritation or noticeable skin peeling/flaking.” Since salicylic acid is not recommended for pregnant women, she suggests products containing lactic acid or glycolic acid as an alternative. Tobia highly recommends Environ’s Body Essentia Derma-Lac Lotion, which has “lactic acid in the formulation to exfoliate your skin without abrasives.”

Moisturizing

Following exfoliation, you should always moisturize, emphasizes Murphy-Rose. “Keeping your skin well-hydrated will help dead skin cells to shed off naturally and appropriately,” she explains. For those with dry skin, she recommends using products with rich moisturizers like shea butter and ceramides. She tells us, “Many swear by Gold Bond Rough & Bumpy Skin, which is great for dry skin and gentle enough to be used—and should be used—twice a day). Glytone’s Kp Kit includes an AHA body wash and lotion. You can also try chemical peels at your board-certified dermatologist’s office.”

Today we’re talking about gold facials — yep, a facial where they slather skin-soothing ingredients and real gold on your face.

Businesses that provide these facials claim that gold has many skin-boosting properties.

But does science-backed evidence really confirm these claims? That’s where we come in!

A gold facial? Uh… really?

Really. Some salons offer gold facials with 24-karat gold included in services, due to the metal’s purported anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties.

While gold facials are a recent invention, there’s evidence that goes as far back as 2500 B.C. of gold used in traditional Chinese, Indian, and Arabic medicine.

For example, Swarna bhasmaTrusted Source (which translates to “gold ash”) is used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat:

• asthma
• rheumatoid arthritis
• diabetes mellitus
• nervous system diseases

In fact, gold compounds have been used off-label to treat skin conditions like cutaneous lupus and pemphigus vulgaris, a dermatologist

Oral medications containing gold, such as auranofin, were also once used as a second- or third-line agent to reduce joint inflammation in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Benefits of gold on skin

Advertisements for gold facials often claim that gold has a host of skin-improving benefits, including:

• reducing inflammation and redness
• protecting against free radicals
• supporting collagen production
• fighting aging

“Though scientific evidence is lacking, gold is thought to have powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties

Some makers of gold beauty products claim that gold flecks warm your skin to help with circulation. But most gold skin products are made with colloidal gold. These are nanoparticles suspended in liquid that are tiny enough to penetrate your skin.

Although scientific research and reviews suggest that gold compounds may interfere with processes in your body that lead to inflammation, “currently there are no FDA-approved indications for gold specific to dermatology,”

Skin care companies claim that gold products and facials can:

• reduce wrinkles
• calm inflammation
• increase absorption of other skin care products

However, “there is no scientific data that gold can do any of this when applied to skin,” “Gold may have some antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but there is no evidence that it’s better than any other more commonly used ingredients that have more scientific data.”

Does it work?

Sure, gold facials may benefit your skin — but it’s likely because the gold is mixed with other, more effective ingredients.

A few common ingredients added to gold that make it truly effective include:

• Peptides. Peptides are naturally occurring amino acids that make up proteins in your skin. Research, including a 2020 review, suggests peptides may help repair skin aging and sun damage and improve your skin’s barrier function.
• Antioxidants. Antioxidants like vitamin C  o neutralize normally occurring free radicals in order to treat sun damage, skin aging, and inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis.
• Alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). AHAs, such as glycolic acid and lactic acid, are  n skin care peels to regenerate and thicken skin as a treatment for acne, scars, dark spots, and age spots.
• Glycerin.  suggest that glycerin helps boost your skin’s barrier function to lock in moisture and protect against irritants.
• Hyaluronic acid. This substance, which your body naturally makes, binds to water.  shows that hyaluronic acid may help increase your skin’s hydration and decrease the appearance of wrinkles. It may also help treat mild to moderate eczema by improving your skin’s barrier function, according to a

The tiny nanoparticles in colloidal gold also give skin a shimmery glow that might make it look immediately brighter and slightly bronzed, adds Shainhouse.

“This visual effect can make skin tone appear more even and younger, as the particles reflect light,

1. Glycolic Acid

You Will Need

OTC cream with glycolic acid (10% or less)

What You Have To Do

Apply the cream as directed on the box.

How Often You Should Do This

Use this daily for best results.

Why This Works

Glycolic acid is an exfoliant that removes the dead and oily layer of skin cells and brings to surface the soft and smooth skin. This alpha hydroxy acid also tones the skin (1).

2. Coconut Oil

You Will Need

Few drops of virgin coconut oil

What You Have To Do

1. Cleanse your skin and pat it dry.
2. Now, massage the affected area with coconut oil for a minute or so.
3. Leave it on overnight.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this every night.

Why This Works

Coconut oil has antimicrobial properties that are effective against the bacteria causing pimples. It is also an emollient that hydrates and nourishes the skin

3. Witch Hazel

You Will Need

• Few drops of witch hazel
• Cotton

What You Have To Do

Take witch hazel on the cotton and swipe this gently over the affected skin.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this twice every day.

Why This Works

Witch hazel is a natural astringent that balances the skin’s pH and regulates oil production. As a result, the pores do not get clogged by the excess sebum anymore and do not develop into acne. It also has antibacterial properties.

• Prepare your skin for the winter with products that help renew the skin with its powerful ingredients.
• Day and night repair
• Lierac Sebologie Double Concentrate, which provides 24-hour high-concentration care against acne and all skin roughness that may be caused by the clogging of pores after sun and sea; It fights against impurities such as greasiness, shine, large and prominent pores, acne. The daytime concentrate, which helps to equalize the skin tone, reduces sebum production and provides instant dullness with its antibacterial effect. Using an intensive treatment at night, the serum helps to regenerate and deeply cleanse the skin by removing dead cells with glycolic acid.

Blemish war

• Skin Ceuticals Discoloration Defense Serum, which fights skin blemishes, is especially on the stage for skins that have been exposed to UV rays and triggered melanin production as a result of prescription drug use and medical applications … Contains 1.8 percent tranexamic acid, 5 percent niacinamide and 5 percent Hepes. The serum offers a corrective effect against blemish marks with clinical studies.

Moist all day long

• CeraVe is an intense moisturizer with moisturizing power throughout the day. It contains three basic elements necessary for the skin; ceramide, hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Thanks to the controlled release technology of the product, which helps moisturize the skin and repair its protective barrier, the moisturizing effect continues throughout the day. It was specially created for those with moisture problems.