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What is Microneedling & Are There Alternatives?

What is Microneedling & Are There Alternatives?
Microneedling has generated a lot of buzz in recent years as a popular way to amp up collagen production and thicken your skin. It's been touted for its ability to tackle wrinkles, scars, and other skin issues effectively. Yet, before jumping on the bandwagon, it's essential to weigh a few factors. Delving into how microneedling actually works and less invasive skin treatment alternatives can give you a clearer picture of whether it aligns with your skin care goals.
01

What is Microneedling?

Microneedling uses tiny sterile needles to penetrate the upper layers of the skin: the epidermis and the dermis. While there are many types of microneedling procedures, the most common microneedling treatments use either a pen or roller to uniformly penetrate the skin. These tiny needles create micro-injuries in the epidermis and dermis, triggering a cascade of healing responses.
02

What Does Microneedling Do?

What is microneedling good for and does microneedling tighten skin like Botox and other cosmetic dermatology favorites? Once the aforementioned cascade of healing is triggered, there are numerous microneedling benefits that may follow. This includes stimulating the production of new collagen and elastin, improving skin firmness and elasticity .1
Microneedling can also tackle an uneven skin tone by promoting skin resurfacing and cell turnover. this is often used to address wrinkling, scarring and hyperpigmentation .1

Microneedling Process

A licensed professional should always perform your microneedling treatment to ensure that the needles are sterile and sharp. Most microneedling procedures begin with a thorough skin cleansing and a numbing cream to minimize discomfort. Depending on the treatment area, the procedure can range from 20-30 minutes. Post-treatment, expect some redness and mild swelling akin to a sunburn, which generally subsides within a few days.2Β Consult the physician performing your treatment about numbing creams, any serums used, and how this may influence your healing process. If you're wondering how long microneedling takes to heal, you can read all about the healing process and best practices for microneedling aftercare here!

Is Microneedling Safe?

While generally considered safe, microneedling carries inherent risks due to its invasive nature. A primary concern is the potential for infection, as the microchannels created can serve as entry points for pathogens.2 Proper microneedling aftercare of the affected treatment area using a gentle cleanser designed for even the most sensitive skin, is necessary to prevent infection.

While considered safe for sensitive and darker skin types, microneedling does come with certain risks. The micro-injuries created during the microneedling procedure can sometimes lead to excessive inflammation and increased melanin production around the site. Given these risks, consult with a dermatologist to determine if microneedling suits your specific skin type.2,3

03

Alternatives to Microneedling

Here are some alternative treatments to microneedling that can help boost skin collagen and cell turnover.



Laser Therapy

Laser therapy, or laser skin resurfacing, can be a highly effective alternative to microneedling work for those seeking skin rejuvenation without the associated risks of micro-injuries. Using focused light energy, laser treatments cause controlled damage to the upper layers of the skin to stimulate collagen production, improve texture, and reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and scars .4

If you have a darker skin tone, make sure to discuss the risks of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation with your dermatologist to determine if laser therapy is the most appropriate treatment plan for your skin's unique needs .5

Microdermabrasion is a similar in-office skin care treatment that uses a special abrasive crystal to gently exfoliate the outermost layer of dead skin cells, promoting cell turnover and stimulating collagen production. Since it's a lot less invasive than microneedling work and provides focused exfoliation, this procedure can be repeated relatively frequently .6

Chemical peels

Medium and deep chemical peels are strong, acid-based exfoliating treatments that can address some deeper forms of skin conditions, like acne scarring. They deeply exfoliate the skin, penetrating the epidermis and dermis, removing dead skin cells, and stimulating new cell growth. This can help thicken the epidermis and help you mend an uneven skin tone. Keep in mind that deep chemical peels can take up to a month to heal. Similar to microneedling, these procedures must be performed with a professional to be performed safely.

Diet

A balanced diet is the foundation of healthy skin, providing the essential nutrients that support skin structure, function, and appearance. Eating the right foods can promote overall skin health and collagen growth passively. While it may be harder to spot the direct effects of your diet on skin, your diet can help prevent age-related damage and loss of volume and strength. Here are some of the best ingredients for skin:
  • Fruits:
    Rich in vitamin C, citrus and other fruits provide the essential building blocks for collagen synthesis while packing a powerful antioxidant punch.7
  • High protein foods:
    Proteins like meats, poultry, fatty fish, eggs, and legumes contain essential amino acids necessary for collagen production.8
  • Nuts and Seeds:
    Zinc and copper are important for collagen production and overall skin health. Not only are nuts and seeds rich in these minerals, they also contain lots of healthy fats and oils that help maintain the skin's lipid barrier.9,10

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Topical Products

Looking for a non-invasive method to enhance skin collagen? OneSkin’s proprietary OS-01 peptide is scientifically proven to stimulate collagen production in the skin and turn back skin’s biological clock.11,12 Incorporating OneSkin's range of topical skin care products, from our OS-01 FACE peptide moisturizer and broad spectrum sunscreen with peptides to our and OS-01 EYE peptide eye cream, into your daily skincare regimen provides a straightforward method to boost your skin's natural collagen production.12 By enhancing skin’s natural collagen production and improving its overall health, our OS-01 Peptide is clinically proven to 12,13:

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  • Improve skin barrier function
  • Boost skin hydration
  • Even out skin texture
  • Reduce skin wrinkling
  • Enhance skin radiance
Products containing OS-01 can be used in conjunction with microneedling and other procedures, from laser treatments to dermal fillers, to magnify your skin’s health, strength, and appearance so you can embrace aging with confidence.Regardless of the treatment you decide on, always be sure to consult your skin health professional on recommended post-treatment care, from filler aftercare to Botox aftercare and more. Keep your OneSkin products on hand to help you through the journey and to help you reap the full benefits of your treatments.


Last Updated April 23, 2025

Reviewed by

Alessandra Zonari

Alessandra Zonari

PhD, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and Co-Founder of OneSkin

Alessandra earned her Master’s degree in stem cell biology, and her PhD in skin regeneration and tissue engineering at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil in collaboration with the 3B’s Research Group in Portugal. Alessandra did a second post-doctoral at the University of Coimbra in Portugal. She is a co-inventor of three patents and has published 20 peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals.