An Introduction to Microneedling

2026 has certainly become the year of self-transformation and investing in one's health, and that includes skin care. Between thousands of products to choose from and hundreds of treatment methods to try, it can be overwhelming to know what might be right for you. That's where we come in.

In today's post, we're exploring the world of microneedling, a form of texture-reducing, collagen-boosting skincare that we perform right here in our Toluca Lake offices everyday. We hope you enjoy learning about this self-care practice that's been around for over one hundred years!

What is Microneedling?

Microneedling is a minimally-invasive skin care procedure in which small needles, usually grouped, create small holes in the outer layers of the epidermis. The creation of these small holes then triggers your body's natural production of elastin and collagen to heal the incisions, thus leading to an overall fuller, firmer, more youthful appearance over the course of a few sessions.

At our office, we use a combination of two different microneedle attachment types: the twelve-point and the nano. A twelve-point needle, as the name would suggest, has twelve small needles that create the small incisions on the skin, while the nano needle only has one.

We also use hyaluronic acid and vegan apple stems cells in our treatments to further boost collagen production and help to sooth the skin, making it a great method of skincare to try even for those with the most sensitive of skin.

A Brief History

Microneedling was first developed in 1905 by German dermatologist Ernst Kromayer as a way to help treat hyperpigmentation and scarring. He did this by attaching rotating burrs to a standard dental drill to remove the top layers of skin as a form of microdermabrasion.

Needle-less to say (see what we did there?), the technology for microneedling has greatly improved, especially with the introduction of the idea of a micro-pen in 1995 by South African plastic surgeon Dr. Desmond Fernandes, and later with the invention of Steve Marshall's Dermapen in the early 2010's.

The Process and Recovery

Before coming in for treatment. we recommend removing any cosmetics on your skin to allow the epidermis to breathe before the procedure. The process is incredibly gentle, with virtually no patients needing the addition of a topical numbing agent. It takes right around an hour from start to finish, and feels like a gentle, buzzing facial.

Here are some things we recommend you avoid while trying microneedling:

1. NSAIDS directly before or after treatment

2. Wearing makeup for 2-3 days post-treatment

3. Direct sun exposure for 2-3 post-treatment

We'd like to note that your face may be a bit red, tight and shiny for the rest of the day post-treatment, but that these symptoms should subside the next morning. Before bed after treatment, rinsing your face with cold water and applying a gentle serum is totally fine! We just recommend avoiding heavy lotions and anything with fragrance.

Benefits of Microneedling

Now that you know the in's and out's of microneedling with the Wildflowers, we'd love to expand upon some of the benefits we've covered in this blog post so far.

Here are a few ways that microneedling can be an asset to your skincare journey:

1. Minimization of skin texture as a result of things like acne scarring, fine lines or wrinkles, stretch marks and lightly-raised moles.

2. Aiding with discoloration or hyperpigmentation on the skin's surface.

3. The production of collagen and elastin that can positively contribute to the skin appearing fuller and more vibrant. This is done after the micro-channels in the skin are opened and the body naturally produces increase collagen fibers to heal the area.

4. Ideally for those with darker skin tones, as it does not involve lazers, heat or light, which can be especially damaging and harmful for those with more melanin.

We hope you've enjoyed this information on the process and benefits to trying microneedling. Though we've only scratched the surface (much like this procedure), we truly hope you've gained a touch of insight in this transformative act of self care. We hope to see you in our chair soon!

With love,

The Wildflowers