Microneedling is a helpful cosmetic procedure but it leaves your skin sore. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that speeds up the healing process of wounds. However, vitamin C can be quite irritating to the skin. Then, is vitamin C serum what you need after microneedling?
Microneedling is a cosmetic procedure that stimulates your skin to rejuvenate. It uses microneedles to create small tears on your skin to trigger the production of collagen and elastin. This helps to reduce the prominence of the signs of aging, scars, and promotes skin elasticity.
Every skincare specialist will tell you to be careful what you apply to your skin post-microneedling, and this is because of how tender it leaves your skin. Can vitamin C help your skin after microneedling treatment? If it can, how should you use the serum?
Should You Use Vitamin C Serum After Microneedling?
Post-microneedling, your skin is very tender and prone to irritations. Therefore, you want to stay away from ingredients that make your skin too sensitive and cause irritations.
Vitamin C falls in the category of ingredients that trigger cell turnover which can cause skin irritations. Using vitamin C serum immediately after microneedling treatment is not advisable.
Although it is an antioxidant that aids the quick healing of wounds, it can make the healing process slower with worse skin as a by-product.
In some cases, your surgeon may use vitamin C serum immediately after microneedling. This is based on expert knowledge. If you had an at-home microneedling, you should not use vitamin C serum immediately after without consulting a skincare specialist.
When Should You Use Vitamin C Serum After Microneedling?
Use vitamin C serum 2-3 days after microneedling treatment. It gives your skin time to heal. After microneedling, the skin appears red and slightly swollen. It is also very sensitive and should be treated with the utmost care.
After 48-72 hours, your skin will better respond to any treatment you apply to it. It will begin to heal instead of becoming redder or pores getting clogged with the product. As a sign of healing, cell turnover begins and you’ll notice peeling and flaking.
Vitamin C serum enhances the effect of microneedling by adding a natural radiance to your skin. Also, as an antioxidant, it will enhance the healing process to give you youthful, plump skin.
How to Use Vitamin C Serum After Microneedling
Two to three days after microneedling, you can begin to use the products in your routine. However, because your skin is still quite sensitive, you should introduce them slowly, in small concentrations.
With vitamin C serum, you can start by applying it once a day and build up gradually as your skin heals and tolerates the serum better. The application process follows the regular order of your skincare routine.
Use the serum after cleansing and just before you moisturize your skin. Your skin is still quite sensitive; as a result, do not apply pressure on your skin when using your products.
Gently tap in the serum and lock in moisture with a hydrating moisturizer afterward. Do not use vitamin C serum with retinoids and always apply sunscreen before stepping out in the morning.
What Does Microneedling Do for Skin?
Microneedling is a procedure that restores aging and scarred skin back to its youth and radiance. It is not necessary unless your skin needs it.
The sound of having a tool packed with needles creates tears on your skin and could make you cringe but the end product is better skin.
Microneedling effectively addresses mild to severe acne scarring and reduces the prominence of wrinkles and fine lines, and other signs of aging that plague the skin.
How does this happen? The tears on your skin push it to heal by producing proteins collagen and elastin which are necessary for firmer, youthful skin. Moreover, they help your skin take on its original shape and beat aging to its game.
In addition, microneedling stimulates cell turnover which helps to slough off dead skin cells and regenerate new cells (skin rejuvenation), thereby improving your complexion.
Is Serum Good After Microneedling?
Yes, it is. Serums are good treatments for post-microneedling and the major reason for this is that they are great vehicles for the delivery of active ingredients.
While other skin care products can irritate your skin, serums are gentle and soothing. When you begin to apply products two days after the procedure, you can use a serum.
Sometimes, a hyaluronic acid serum is used immediately after microneedling. The serum helps to hydrate your skin and stimulate collagen synthesis to speed up recovery.
Additionally, serums and microneedling work in tandem to produce collagen and elastin needed for producing new skin.
After microneedling, your skin is open to quickly absorb serum which provides your skin with necessary minerals and vitamins for healing and rejuvenation.
What Should You Avoid Before Microneedling?
- A week before your microneedling appointment, stay away from products that will exfoliate your skin or make it super-sensitive
- Two weeks before you get microneedling treatment, avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight, waxing, electrolysis, and laser procedures
- Do not use anti-inflammatory drugs for at least a week before your procedure
- Treat any virus on your skin before your procedure
- If you are shaving your skin before microneedling, do it a day before your appointment
What Should You Avoid After Microneedling?
- Avoid putting anything on your skin for the first 24 hours after microneedling
- Do not get into a pool for at least 24 hours after microneedling treatment
- For the first three days, stay away from anything that will get you sweaty
- Until 48 hours after your procedure, stay away from products that contain alcohol, fragrances, exfoliating acids, retinol, and benzoyl peroxide
- Do not use ice on your skin, no matter how tempting it gets
- Stay away from exposure to artificial and natural ultraviolet radiation until two weeks after the procedure
- Don’t consume or apply anti-inflammatory drugs until seven days after the procedure
- Do not apply makeup on your skin for the first 24-48 hours after microneedling. If necessary, use mineral-based makeup
What Should You Do After Microneedling?
- For the first 24 hours after microneedling, rinse your skin with lukewarm water
- After 24 hours, use a mild cleanser to cleanse your face
- Use only recommended ointment to prevent infections on the exposed skin
- Never go not without sunscreen for the first two weeks of your procedure
- Drink a lot of water to keep your skin hydrated
How Often Should You Get Microneedling Treatment?
The safest way to go about microneedling is to not go overboard. For maximum results, you’ll need to undergo about three to six procedures. However, they should not come immediately after each other.
In between each procedure, you should allow the previous treatment to run its course for up to four weeks. This spacing also allows your skin to heal before the needles come on it again.
Also, the effects of microneedling are not permanent. The results last for about four to five months after which you will need maintenance procedures. Therefore, your surgeon would put you on a routine appointment which could be quarterly or twice a year.
FAQs
Is vitamin C serum good for microneedling?
Yes, it is good for microneedling but you should not apply vitamin C serum immediately after microneedling.
After the treatment, your skin becomes very sensitive and prone to irritations. Using vitamin C immediately after can trigger a worse situation.
Can you exfoliate after microneedling?
You should not exfoliate your skin immediately after microneedling. Stay away from cleansers and scrubs for the first 24 hours after the treatment.
Applying harsh ingredients on your skin post-treatment can slow down the healing and prolong the soreness of your skin.
Should you stop vitamin C serum before microneedling?
Yes, you should. Before your procedure, avoid putting vitamins on your skin, products that stimulate cell turnover, and products that exfoliate your skin, and make it sensitive.
Conclusion
Microneedling is a sensitive procedure and how you care for your skin post-treatment is just as important as the treatment.
To a large degree, it determines the effectiveness of the procedure. Microneedling aftercare encompasses what you put and do not put on your skin after the procedure.
Vitamin C serum is one of the products you should avoid post-microneedling. After the procedure, your sore skin looks red and is very sensitive. Vitamin C, although a vitamin necessary for healing, can trigger skin irritations and slow down healing.
A piece of advice? Get microneedling with an expert who will walk you through aftercare, which is an important part of the treatment.
Thanks for reading.
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