Skincare Products to Use and Avoid After Dermarolling

January 27, 2020

Get the most out of your dermarolling treatment by adding a few of these serums and face masks afterward.

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I recently shared a post on how I’ve been using dermarolling to tighten the loose skin on my stomach. Although the treatment is slightly uncomfortable, I have been so blown away by the results that I had to try it on my face.

Long story short, my face has a rough past. I’ve had acne since I was in 6th or 7th grade and it has continued into my adult life– which is now under control with Curology and a daily skin routine.

For the longest time, I wore my makeup to bed. Cringe. I know. After that, I had an adverse reaction to formaldehyde in lash glue. Unfortunately, I didn’t know what was causing the reaction for around 2 months. The extended trauma to the skin around my eyes left me with aged skin and fine lines.

I’m 29 years old. I’m too young to have wrinkly eyes and aged skin. And since this all happened, I’ve been tirelessly trying to find something that works.

I’ve bought the expensive creams and serums. And I’ve used all the masks and eye creams. While there has been some slight results, I still haven’t been overly confident with my skin.

That is, until recently. Dermarolling combined with the right aftercare has worked like a miracle.

So, I want to share the skincare knowledge wealth. We all deserve to have beautiful glowing skin.

How Does Dermarolling Work

Dermarolling, also called microneedling, creates thousands of tiny pinpricks on the skin. These short needles penetrate the epidermis and only a very small amount of the dermis of the skin, making the treatment noninvasive.

However, it is not recommended that you go above 2mm in length at home as it could cause damage or lead to infection. If you need this deep of a treatment, it is advised that you consult with a professional.

Also, you need to be aware that this treatment needs to be sanitary in order to prevent infection and be safe. To read all of the sanitary instructions for a safe at home dermarolling procedure as well as information on which length of needles you will need, head to this post.

Dermarolling on its own can produce wonderful results. But, if you want to increase your results and speed up the process, you’ll want to include a few skincare items after dermarolling.

This is because the pinpricks in your skin allow for much more of your skincare products to be absorbed and put to good use. So, you’re getting more bang for your buck on your nice skincare products, and you’re enhancing your natural beauty with an easy monthly dermarolling treatment.

Skincare Products to Use After Dermarolling

Let me be clear, you do not and should not use all of these products after dermarolling. Instead, look through the benefits of each one and decide what benefits you want most and what you are comfortable with.

Skyn ICELAND Arctic Hydration Rubberized Mask with Vitamin C

This face mask is one of my all-time favorites because it really leaves results that you can see and feel. The Vitamin C in this mask enhances the benefits of dermarolling without being so strong that they will irritate your skin. Still, use with caution, as some people are very sensitive to Vitamin C. It’s best to do a patch test with the dermaroller and Vitamin C serum or mask ahead of time to prevent irritation.

This mask is 100% vegan and free of harsh chemicals and parabens. It’s ideal for those with dry or combination skin. But, combined with the microneedling, you will see instant plumpness and hydration.

Ar around $12 per mask, this is a little pricey. But, in comparison to spending $300 on a single microneedling treatment at an office, it’s a steal for the benefits.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid is seriously a must-have skincare product whether you are dermarolling or not. The amazing thing about hyaluronic acid is that each molecule has the ability to attract up to 1000 times it’s weight in water. Hello, hydration!

However, what many companies don’t tell you is that Hyaluronic acid molecules are typically too large to penetrate the skin and they will actually draw moisture out of your skin, making it feel temporarily more hydrated.

This is why I love The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2%+B5. Their formula contains no alcohols, oils, or silicone. The formula is 100% vegan and cruelty-free. And they use three forms of hyaluronic acid with varying molecule weights and a cross polymer (B5) to help skin absorb as much of the product as possible.

When used before and after dermarolling, the benefits of this product include plump, more hydrated skin. And it can also reduce the look of fine lines and improve skin cell production.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera has long been praised for its antioxidants and moisturizing benefits. Paired with dermarolling, you will get the ultimate benefits from aloe vera. Plus it’s soothing and won’t irritate the skin.

If you want to add aloe vera after dermarolling, I highly suggest you get a good quality aloe vera, like the one shown above, from Amazon. It’s 100% aloe vera from the leaves of the plant, not powder.

And instead of using Xanthem or Carbomer, they use Seaweed Extract as their thickening agent. This ensures that the product is absorbed maximally without leaving a sticky residue.

Niacinamide

This is another great serum from The Ordinary. I just love their skincare products.

This one is best for those with oily skin. Niacinamide helps to regulate sebum production in the skin, which is what causes your skin to get oily and clog your pores.

**Important note: you should not use a dermaroller over active acne. It can do more harm than good by spreading the acne. Instead, use the dermaroller to decrease the visibility of acne scars.

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Lines Serum

This serum is youth-juice for your skin. It contains a good number of active ingredients to help moisturize, increase elasticity, texture, and firmness.

The ingredients in this serum include Vitamin-A, peptides, caviar extract, argan oil, licorice, and collagen. The peptides and collagen are powerful anti-aging properties, while the licorice, vitamins, and CoQ10 help to brighten and restore the skin to a youthful radiance and complexion.

What to Avoid After Dermarolling

Immediately following a dermarolling treatment your skin is going to be vulnerable. Those tiny pinpricks are microscopic injuries to your skin. As long as you take care to use the right products and avoid the irritating ones, the healing process is not painful and will not cause damage.

However, that being said, there are products and activities you should avoid at all costs after dermarolling.

• AHA & BHA. Both of these are serious exfoliating formulas, typically found in peeling solutions. Due to the sensitivity of your skin after dermarolling, you should avoid peeling solutions for the first week following your treatment.
• Exfoliants. Due to the intensity of dermarolling, it is advised to avoid any exfoliating washes or products for the first 48 hours following a treatment.
• Makeup. Try and do your microneedling treatment on a day that you don’t have to wear makeup. Due to the little holes in your skin, makeup can clog pores and even cause an infection.
• Swimming. Avoid swimming in open water or chlorinated pools for at least 24 hours after dermarolling. Open water has bacteria and chlorine is a harsh chemical that could negatively react with your open skin.
• Tanning Products. Tanning products are specifically for the outermost layer of skin and not be absorbed at a deeper level. Using a tanning product after microneedling could lead to infection, blackheads, whiteheads, or inflammation.
• Retinol Products. Although retinol is widely known for its incredible anti-aging benefits, it’s considered a reactive ingredient. This means it may severely irritate your skin and cause pain, redness, and even permanent damage. It’s best to avoid retinol products for the first 48 hours following a dermarolling treatment.

Before and After

The first photo has been almost a year ago. Since then I have incorporated daily skin care including cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. Two to three times a week I use facemasks, and once a week I use an AHA 30% + BHA2% peeling solution to help with texture and scaring.

It wasn’t until recently that I started dermarolling. And I cannot contribute it all to the treatment, but I would say that it has played a huge part in my recent skin changes.

Because dermarolling allows the products to get into your skin as well as initiating production of new collagen and elastic, it works better and provides more significant results than topical treatments alone.

Again, it’s important to note that I did not use the dermaroller while I had active acne on my face. This can spread the acne and increase irritation. Instead, dermaroll when your face is clear to get rid of scaring and discoloration.

Did you find this post helpful? Will you be trying a dermaroller