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Is At-Home Microneedling Safe?


Microneedling is proven to rejuvenate skin effectively. It can help erase signs of aging, repair various skin blemishes, and even reduce the appearance of some types of scarring. If you’re investigating microneedling options, chances are you’ve seen some heavily promoted at-home products. You may wonder, are they a good investment? More importantly, are they safe to use? Let’s discuss.
How Microneedling Works
Microneedling is a collagen induction technique. It works by causing small “injuries” to the skin. These tiny “cuts” signal to the skin that more collagen and elastin production is needed to renew the skin cells and heal the damage. When targeted in an area with sun damage, for example, blemishes will reduce as the skin increases collagen and elastin production, naturally renewing.
Microneedling has multiple uses. It can reduce the signs of aging by decreasing fine lines and wrinkles. It can treat post-pregnancy stretch marks. It can also reduce the appearance of acne scars and treat uneven pigmentation.
MedSpa vs. At-Home Microneedling
The most popular at-home product is the microneedling roller. You can find rollers of various sizes. Usually, the longer the roller, the deeper the penetration.
There are a lot of reviews and YouTubers raving about at-home products. While microneedling rollers are cost-effective in the short term, comparing them to MedSpa-grade microneedling is, well, like comparing a luxury car to a moped.
Penetration is a crucial factor in how effective microneedling is for the skin. If it’s too deep, the skin can suffer too much damage and react negatively. If it doesn’t penetrate deep enough, the visible results you want will be minimal at best, often unnoticeable.
Microneedling rollers can tear at the skin, especially if misused or if they aren’t a good match for your skin type. Rollers usually penetrate at depths of 0.2 to 1mm, though some go up to 2mm. Depth needs to be adjusted based on the skin being treated, but at-home products don’t allow for proper adjustment.
The microneedling options available at MedSpas like Dermacare of Hampton Roads are very customizable and operated by highly qualified medical professionals.
- Vivace can treat up to a controlled depth of 3.5mm, and it isn’t just a microneedling treatment. It delivers a bipolar radiofrequency, making it an exponentially more comprehensive and efficacious treatment option.
Microneedling is often best used in combination with other treatments and skincare products to achieve maximum results. Dermacare of Hampton Roads experts are trained to help you find the right combo for you.
The Bottom Line
At-home microneedling, while generally safe, can be ineffective and lackluster. If misused, they can even cause more harm than good. At-home products can’t produce customized, professional results.
While at-home microneedling may appeal to your short-term budget, contacting your local MedSpa for a free personal consultation and asking for information on specials, memberships, and other discount options is the smartest investment. At Dermacare of Hampton Roads, our trained medical specialists will discuss your desired outcome, evaluate your unique skin, and recommend the optimal options based on your consultation. It’s the kind of one-of-a-kind, custom care you can’t achieve through mass-produced products.
You may be surprised by just how affordable microneedling (and other skin rejuvenation treatments) can be over the long run and how invaluable the medical expertise of our qualified staff is – we never recommend treatments that we don’t know intimately and believe will generate the results you need. Contact us today!
What Our
Clients Say
From skin restoration to stubborn fat removal, we’ve helped thousands of men and women feel more beautiful and confident.
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I love going to Dermacare! I live an hour from the office but I make time to go. I used to have no idea what was best for my skin care. It was pretty intimidating with how many options and ads I wo…– Lucia G.
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I only went by to get products that I usually have to get online. But when I got there, they had the aesthetician speak with me and give me samples of what she recommended and to compare that to se…– Kimberly J.
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Love my time at Dermacare. I’ve been a client for 5+ years. Go once a month and always get great treatments from Tina. The staff is very professional and always greet me with warmth and enthusiasm….– Linda H.
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The staff at Dermacare is amazing! Thank you ladies for being so friendly and professional. Your skills are amazing! You keep me looking good.– Doretha H.
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Very clean, very professional, and super friendly. Not pretentious at all. I just think some aesthetics practices can come off cold or arrogant, but not these folks. The staff is very knowledgeable…– Angela S.
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I absolutely love Dermacare of Hampton Roads. The staff is always friendly and they are all very knowledgeable. I never feel as though I’m trying to be “sold” something I don’t need or want. The environment is…– Amber M.
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After being a client for more than 8 years, I have nothing but accolades for Dermacare of Hampton Roads.. What initially drew me to Dermacare was the fact that it was medically supervised by a doctor, extremel…– Kathryn C.
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If you’re looking for the right medspa for you, don’t look any further. My experience with Dermacare has been nothing short of exceptional. From the very first day of my consultation, the customer …– Natalie O.
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I had a great experience with Lauren with microneedling with the Vivace machine today. It was a great experience and my first time with the machine. She was very professional and full of knowledge …– Dea W.
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I came across this place on Instagram. I decided to schedule a consultation with them which was done over video chat and was very convenient. The consultation was also free. I met with a nurse who …– Vi R.
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Dermacare Membership Plans

With cellular turnover approximately every 28 days, a Dermacare Membership is the best way to keep your skin vibrant and healthy.
Our members enjoy monthly aesthetic services and laser treatments, in addition to discounts on injectables, packages, and our medical-grade skincare products.