When you want to improve your appearance, skin care becomes a daily routine. However, no matter how much time you spend on skincare, you can’t defeat natural aging. Procedures like microneedling are a powerful tool to maximize your collagen production and experience natural wrinkle-free skin. In this article, we will learn more about the microneedling procedure and when to use retinol after the technique. Let’s begin!
Understanding Microneedling
With minimum invasion therapy, microneedling stimulates collagen and elastin production by controlling punctures in the skin. This controlled injury triggers the body’s natural healing response which in turn stimulates collagen production. Collagen is important for maintaining skin firmness and elasticity, which leads to a youthful appearance.
Role of Retinol
Retinol is an anti-aging buddy that promotes collagen production and minimizes the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. It helps to address concerns related to sun damage and aches.
When To Use Retinol?
Both microneedling and retinol have the same benefits, triggering collagen production, but using them too close to each other can irritate the skin. Here’s why waiting after microneedling is crucial:
- Small Wounds: The procedure of microneedling creates tiny holes in the skin that are invisible through the eyes, but the holes are open and need time to heal and completely close. If anything is applied to the skin when the pores are still open, it can irritate the skin.
- Sensitive Skin: When you are done with microneedling, your skin becomes more sensitive, and good care should be taken to prevent it from any kind of irritation.
- Depth of Microneedling: When the microneedling is done on a deeper level, then it requires a longer waiting time. The deeper the process, the longer the waiting time. Consult your dermatologist for specific recommendations based on the depth of your treatment.
What Is The Timeframe To Use Retinol After Microneedling?
As the retinol can irritate the skin if it is not healed completely after microneedling, you must consider the timeline according to the depth of the procedure. Here’s a quick view of the techniques:
- Shorter Needles: If the treatment has shallow microneedling then you can use retinol after 24- 48 hours. Your skin must feel natural and normal after healing, and then you can apply retinol to maximize the benefit.
- Normal Needles: The most common treatment is when microneedling is done at the normal depth, which will take about 3-5 days to heal. So, you can only take retinol after a week.
- Deeper Needles: Many people opt for deeper microneedling depending upon the need. It requires more extensive healing. You have to wait until 7 – 10 days for complete recovery, and you must use retinol only after that.
These are general guidelines to follow. It is always advisable to emphasize the feel of the skin. If you experience any redness, burning, or discomfort after using retinol, discontinue use and consult your dermatologist.
Conclusion
Combining retinol with microneedling can be a powerful tool to get youthful skin but using it too close in time can become the cause of redness and irritation on the skin. By knowing when to use retinol after the treatment, you can avoid these skin sensitivity issues. By patiently waiting for complete healing, you can increase the benefit of microneedling and retinol to get the glowing skin you deserve.
