If you’ve spent months getting your acne under control, clearing the breakouts is only part of the story.
Once active acne settles, many people are left with the things acne leaves behind: indented scars, uneven texture, enlarged-looking pores, dark spots, and areas where the skin no longer feels as smooth as it once did.
That is exactly why I’m so excited to bring professional microneedling to Skin+.
Microneedling, also called collagen induction therapy, is a minimally invasive procedure that uses tiny needles to create controlled microscopic punctures in the skin. These tiny punctures activate the body’s natural healing process, encouraging collagen production, elastin production, and skin regeneration.
For acne-prone skin, that matters.
As the skin creates new collagen, it can gradually remodel damaged scar tissue, improve the appearance of acne scars, and create smoother skin and healthier skin over time.
And if you know me, you know I didn’t want to bring in a treatment just because it was popular.
I wanted something that fits the way we already treat skin at Skin+: with a plan, with intention, and with results as the goal.
Why Microneedling Works for Acne Scars
Acne scars are not all the same.
Some people are left with discoloration or dark patches of skin. Others develop atrophic acne scars, which are the depressed or indented scars that form when inflammation damages deeper skin tissue.
For these textural scars, skincare products can only do so much.
A professional microneedling device works below the skin’s surface. The controlled puncturing of the skin triggers the skin’s natural healing process and encourages the production of collagen and other essential proteins that support the skin’s structure.
Over time, this rebuilding process can improve uneven skin texture, soften the appearance of scars, and support better skin elasticity.
Microneedling is also used for other concerns such as fine lines, certain surgical scars, stretch marks, and overall texture.
The important thing to understand is that this is not an overnight fix.
Your scar depth, skin type, acne history, and the severity of your acne scars all influence your results and your overall treatment plan.
First, We Get the Acne Under Control
This is one of the most important parts of our approach.
We do not want to perform microneedling over inflamed active acne, painful pustules, or cystic acne.
Mild acne and non-inflamed acne can be a different story, and there are situations where microneedling may still have a place in the treatment plan. That deserves a conversation of its own, though, so I’ll dive deeper into microneedling with active acne in another post.
For now, the big takeaway is this: when significant inflammation is present, our first step is getting that inflammation under control.
That fits perfectly with what we already do at Skin+.
We clear the acne first. Then we work on what the acne left behind.
If you are still working on getting your acne clear, you can learn more about what to expect from the Skin+ acne treatment process. Acne-prone skin also requires long-term management, even after the breakouts are gone, which I explain more in Acne Isn’t Cured, It’s Managed.
At Skin+, microneedling is not a stand-alone treatment. Our corrective and exosome microneedling sessions are designed as combination treatments, using targeted professional serums and a corrective peel to address the skin from multiple angles in the same session.
That means we are not simply creating microchannels and waiting for collagen to do all the work. We are intentionally pairing the microneedling process with corrective ingredients selected to support the goals of the treatment, whether we are working on acne scarring, uneven texture, discoloration, or overall skin quality.
Our Neuromodulator Microneedling treatment is a little different and is used for a different set of concerns, so I’ll talk more about that treatment separately.
The goal is always to build the treatment plan around what your skin actually needs and use each part of the treatment intentionally.
What Happens During a Microneedling Session?
If you’re thinking about booking your first microneedling session, here’s exactly what you can expect.
We’ll start by thoroughly cleansing your face and preparing the treatment area. Next, a topical anesthetic, or numbing cream, is applied to help make the microneedling procedure more comfortable.
If this is your first medical treatment appointment with us, you’ll then video chat with a Nurse Practitioner while the numbing cream is working.
Because microneedling is considered a medical treatment in Texas, you’ll need a Good Faith Exam before we can perform the service. Essentially, the treatment has to be medically cleared and prescribed for you. During this brief virtual visit, the Nurse Practitioner reviews your medical history and makes sure you’re an appropriate candidate for treatment.
Once you’re cleared and fully numb, we begin the professional microneedling portion of the service.
A professional microneedling device fitted with sterile needles is moved systematically across the skin, creating controlled small punctures or microscopic punctures in the skin’s surface. The length of the needles can be adjusted throughout the treatment depending on the area being treated, your scar depth, your skin, and the goals of your treatment plan. Areas with deeper atrophic scars may require longer needles than areas where we are addressing more superficial uneven texture.
During the needling process, we use a targeted professional glide serum. The glide allows the microneedling device to move smoothly across the skin while also giving us another opportunity to select ingredients intentionally for what we are trying to accomplish.
And we don’t stop when the needling is finished.
For our Corrective and Exosome Microneedling treatments, the next step includes a professional chemical peel selected to further support the corrective goals of the treatment. We then finish with a soothing mask to calm and support the skin after the procedure.
That combination is a big part of what makes our approach different. We are intentionally layering the treatment with controlled microneedling, a targeted glide serum, a corrective peel, and post-treatment support—to address concerns such as the appearance of acne scars, uneven skin texture, discoloration, and overall skin quality.
Afterward, your skin may look pink or red and you may experience some tightness, sensitivity, or slight swelling. These temporary side effects are a normal part of the skin’s healing response.
One of the reasons people love microneedling is the relatively minimal downtime. You’ll leave with detailed post-care instructions, including which skincare products to use, what to avoid, and how to protect your skin from sun exposure while it heals.
And then the really exciting part begins: your skin starts rebuilding.
The Real Results Happen After the Treatment
One of my favorite things about microneedling is that the procedure itself is only the beginning.
After your first session, your skin starts rebuilding.
Those controlled micro-injuries activate the body’s repair process, encouraging the production of collagen and elastin. These essential proteins help support firmness, structure, and elasticity.
This is where the long-term improvements come from.
Over time, the skin can become smoother and more even as new collagen remodels the damaged tissue.
You may start noticing a more radiant complexion and smoother texture as the skin heals, while collagen remodeling continues in the weeks and months afterward.
Depending on the treatment plan, microneedling treatments are spaced apart to allow the skin time to heal and rebuild.
Most acne scarring requires a series of sessions for the best results and optimal results.
Think progress rather than perfection overnight.
The goal is noticeable results that continue building over time: softer-looking scars, more even texture, better skin elasticity, and more radiant skin.
The Next Chapter After Clear Skin
For years, so much of our work at Skin+ has focused on stopping the cycle of acne:
- Fewer new breakouts.
- Less inflammation.
- Less congestion.
- Fewer new scars.
Now we get to go further.
Once your acne is controlled, we can begin focusing on the aftermath.
We can improve uneven texture.
We can work on the appearance of scars.
We can address discoloration.
We can stimulate collagen production and skin regeneration.
We can help the skin look smoother, stronger, and more refined.
That is what makes microneedling so exciting to me.
It is not a magic eraser. It is an effective solution that uses the skin’s own healing process to create gradual, meaningful change.
And for someone who has already done the hard work of getting their acne under control, this can feel like an entirely new phase of the journey.
If you’re still working toward clear skin, start by learning what to expect from acne treatment at Skin+. Once the acne is controlled, we can start talking about what comes next.
You’re no longer just trying to stop the next breakout. Now we get to rebuild the skin acne left behind.
