Skincare after microneedling
Reviewed by Dr Shahe Boghossian, GMC 5204600, last reviewed 12 Jun 2026Microneedling creates thousands of micro-channels in the skin using fine needles, triggering a controlled inflammatory response that stimulates collagen and elastin synthesis. For 24 to 72 hours after treatment, those micro-channels are partially open, meaning the skin's absorption is temporarily increased and its barrier is compromised.
Anything applied during this window penetrates more deeply than usual. That is an advantage if you are applying the right things. It is a significant problem if you apply actives at full strength. This guidance is reviewed by Dr Shahe Boghossian, Medical Consultant at The London Road Clinic, a Glo Skin Beauty stockist in Newark, Nottinghamshire.
Recommended for recovery
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Restorative Cream 50 ml
Regular price £60.00 GBPRegular price -
Daily Hydration Drops 30 ml - instant hydration with hyaluronic acid
Regular price £74.00 GBPRegular price -
Restorative Mask 60 ml
Regular price £60.00 GBPRegular price -
HA-Revive Hyaluronic Mist 118 ml
Regular price £46.00 GBPRegular price
The recovery window
What to support, what to pause, and for how long.
Support with
A gentle, non-foaming cleanser and a simple barrier moisturiser. A hyaluronic acid serum is appropriate here, since the increased absorption works in your favour at this concentration.
Glo: Hydrate + Restore · Calm + SoothePause
All actives without exception: retinol, vitamin C, AHAs, BHAs, high-concentration niacinamide. No makeup. No exercise. No sauna, steam or hot shower.
Support with
Continue gentle hydration. Once redness has settled, a broad-spectrum SPF can be reintroduced from day 2, applied gently, not rubbed in.
Glo: Hydrate + Restore · Protect + PreventPause
Still hold off retinol, AHAs and any physical exfoliant. If anything stings on contact, the skin isn't ready for it.
Support with
Once redness and tightness have fully resolved, reintroduce actives one at a time, at their lowest available strength, alternating nights.
Glo: Firm + Repair · Resurface + SmoothPause
Don't reintroduce two actives in the same week. The skin's collagen response is active; interrupting it with irritation costs more time than it saves.
Avoid this mistake
The biggest risk in the 24 hours after microneedling is applying an active, especially a retinoid or a strong AHA, thinking the micro-channels will deliver it more effectively and produce a better result. They will deliver it more effectively. On intact skin, the barrier limits how deeply a product penetrates. After microneedling, that limit is temporarily removed. Full-strength retinol or an AHA in that window causes severe irritation, can trigger a prolonged inflammatory response, and compromises the very collagen stimulus you had the treatment for.
What this routine can and can't do
Microneedling's results build over 6 to 12 weeks as the collagen response matures. A careful at-home routine in the recovery window supports that process cleanly; an impatient one can interrupt it and extend the timeline. The texture improvement and skin quality change that microneedling produces is real, but it requires the inflammation to resolve without interference and the collagen to form undisturbed. The routine's job in the first two weeks is, largely, to stay out of the way.
Microneedling at The London Road Clinic is carried out by trained practitioners at professional depths, not to be confused with at-home dermarolling, which operates differently and carries different risks. This page is about what to use at home after a professional treatment.
What to reach for
Glo Skin Beauty categories for each stage of the microneedling recovery. Browse the range, not a single product.
Hydrate + Restore
The first priority post-needling: hydration while the barrier repairs.
BrowseCalm + Soothe
Fragrance-free, calming formulas only while the skin is reactive.
BrowseProtect + Prevent
SPF from day 2 onwards, applied gently to settled skin.
BrowseFirm + Repair
Collagen-supporting actives from week 2, to complement the treatment's stimulus.
BrowseFrequently asked
How red will my skin be after microneedling?
Most people experience redness similar to mild sunburn for 24 to 48 hours. More intensive treatments may leave redness for up to 72 hours. A feeling of tightness and dryness is normal throughout this period. If you have significant swelling, pain or blistering, contact the clinic that performed the treatment.
When can I wear makeup after microneedling?
Typically 24 hours after the treatment, once the skin isn't broken or weeping, a light mineral makeup is appropriate. Avoid heavy, long-wear formulas while the skin is still reactive, and remove everything gently. Applying foundation to compromised skin can introduce bacteria into micro-channels and delay healing.
When can I exercise after microneedling?
Gentle walking is usually fine from day 2. Avoid anything that causes significant sweating, heat or friction for 48 to 72 hours. Sweat on open micro-channels causes stinging and increases infection risk. Saunas, steam rooms and hot yoga should be left for at least 72 hours, ideally a full week.
Why can't I use vitamin C after microneedling?
Vitamin C in typical skincare concentrations is an acid. On intact skin, the barrier limits how deeply it penetrates. After microneedling, that limit is temporarily removed, and the same product can cause significant irritation in sensitised tissue. Some practitioners apply a clinical-grade vitamin C during treatment. That is a different concentration and context from your at-home product.