Microneedling And Acne: 5 Things You Should Know
Wondering if microneedling and acne actually go well together? It’s a question we get often, and the answer isn’t a simple yes or no. The truth is, it depends.
If you’re dealing with acne, it’s important to understand when this treatment can be helpful and when it can do more harm than good. In this article, we’ll walk you through what truly matters so you can make an informed decision for your skin.
At Luxe Aesthetics, we’ve worked with a wide range of acne-prone skin over the years. Here’s what our founder and provider, Ashley, with 17 years of experience in healthcare, wants you to know about microneedling for acne before getting started.
Let’s dive in.
Microneedling and Acne: 5 Must-know Things to Consider
So you work with your skin instead of against it.
1. Microneedling Can Make Acne Worse: Here’s Why
Many of our clients ask, “Can I get microneedling with active acne?”
If you’re dealing with active breakouts, you might wonder whether microneedling might help your skin heal faster or fully recover. Based on our experience, though, microneedling for active acne isn’t something we recommend.
Microneedling works by creating tiny, controlled micro-injuries in the skin to stimulate repair and collagen production. That process works great on stable skin.
But when acne is inflamed, those microchannels can spread acne-causing bacteria, increase irritation, and trigger even more inflammation instead of healing.
There’s also the skin barrier to consider. Microneedling temporarily weakens it, which is part of how regeneration starts. In acne-prone, inflamed skin, that disruption can lead to more breakouts and longer recovery time. Not an improvement.
Because of this, our provider, Ashley, always focuses on helping clients calm and heal active acne first, then turns to skin regeneration once the skin is ready.
2. Acne Scars Behave Very Differently Than Active Acne
Yet if you have acne scars without active breakouts, that’s a very different situation.
Active acne involves ongoing inflammation, bacteria, and irritation that’s still happening in real time. Acne scars, on the other hand, are what remain once that process has finished.
They form when the skin doesn’t rebuild collagen evenly during healing, leaving areas without the smooth, uniform support the skin needs.
That’s why acne scars tend to show up as texture, indentations, or uneven skin rather than active breakouts or redness. Here, microneedling for acne scars can actually work great.
When the skin is calm and stable, microneedling creates a controlled healing response. Those tiny micro-injuries signal the body to produce new collagen and elastin in areas where they’re lacking.
Over time, this process helps soften atrophic acne scars and improve overall skin texture in a gradual, natural way.
We see this reflected not only in our clinical experience but in the research as well. Multiple controlled studies show that microneedling significantly improves atrophic acne scars by increasing collagen production and supporting dermal remodeling.
For this reason, we typically recommend it for rolling and boxcar scars after acne has fully settled.
3. Timing Determines Whether Microneedling Helps or Hurts
So, is your skin ready for microneedling?
It works best when the skin is calm and stable, with inflammation settled, breakouts under control, and no open pustules or deep nodules present.
In this state, the skin can respond the way we want it to. It can start repairing itself and rebuilding collagen gradually and evenly. If microneedling is done too early, while acne is still active, the opposite can happen.
Treating inflamed skin can increase irritation, interfere with healing, and in some cases even make scarring worse rather than better. We’ve also seen situations where treating too soon leads to new marks that take much longer to fade.
This is why timing plays such a big role in successful results. Wanting faster improvement is completely understandable, but rushing into microneedling often slows progress instead of helping it.
We always advise calming and stabilizing the skin first, then introducing regenerative treatments like microneedling. Once the skin is truly settled.
4. Microneedling Works Slowly (And, That’s a Good Thing)
In our practice, we like to approach microneedling as a series of treatments rather than a one-time appointment. This is because that’s how the skin actually responds.
Since microneedling creates controlled micro-injuries that stimulate collagen and elastin production, these processes take time to develop and mature.
As the skin heals, new collagen forms gradually beneath the surface, strengthening the skin’s structure and improving texture over weeks rather than days.
This is why meaningful changes don’t happen instantly, and why we set realistic expectations from the very beginning.
A single session can improve overall glow and skin quality. Deeper improvements, especially when it comes to acne scars, come from consistency over time.
With regular treatments, our clients see their skin change in a steady, noticeable way. Acne scars become softer and less pronounced, the texture smooths out, and the skin starts to look healthier and more resilient overall.
Each session builds on the previous one, supporting the skin’s natural repair process.
Over the years, we’ve learned that slow progress is a good sign. When microneedling is done thoughtfully, at the right intervals, and with a clear plan, the results are gradual but lasting. And the skin becomes stronger instead of stressed.
5. Results Depend on a Thoughtfully Designed Plan (Not How Aggressive the Treatment Is)
One of the biggest misconceptions we see is that deeper or more aggressive microneedling leads to better results.
But especially with acne-prone or reactive skin, this often causes more irritation and inflammation rather than improvement, and can even increase the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
What drives results is not intensity, but intention. Needle depth, treatment frequency, and how the skin is supported before and after each session. This matters far more than how strong a treatment feels.
When microneedling is approached thoughtfully rather than aggressively, the results tend to be safer, more consistent, and longer-lasting.
How to Know If Your Skin Is Ready for Microneedling
As we mentioned before, timing matters just as much as the treatment itself.
According to the advice Ashley gives her clients, your skin is ready once there are no open pustules, cysts, or ongoing inflammation. Leftover marks or texture from past breakouts are fine, but the skin shouldn’t still be in a reactive or inflamed state.
Ideally, your skin should feel calm and stable for several weeks before starting microneedling. Redness should be minimal, breakouts should have settled, and the skin barrier should feel strong rather than sensitized.
It’s why a consultation is so important. An experienced provider can tell the difference between active acne and true scarring and help determine whether your skin is ready to move into collagen remodeling.
This approach is also supported by dermatologic treatment studies, which consistently recommend resolving active inflammation before procedures like microneedling, lasers, or peels.
Final Thoughts on Microneedling for Acne
That’s all our guidance when it comes to microneedling and acne. What matters most is understanding whether your skin is dealing with active acne or acne scars.
If you’re ever unsure, a skilled provider can assess your skin and help you choose the right next step for your skin.
We always encourage choosing someone you trust, someone who takes the time to listen, understands your skin in detail, and creates a plan tailored specifically to your needs and your goals, rather than rushing you into a one-size-fits-all treatment.
If you’re in Florida and would like to work with us, you’re welcome to book a complimentary consultation with Ashley.
She’ll take the time to assess your skin and guide you toward a treatment plan that feels aligned with where you’re at and your skin goals.