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Microneedling

Last reviewed 15 September 2026Written and reviewed by Jay Keni, MDReviewed biannual
MicroneedlingEvidence
ModestBReal but small, or real only under specific conditions.
The claim
Stimulates collagen and improves texture, scars and fine lines with minimal downtime.
The verdict
Consistent, modest improvement in texture and acne scarring across several sessions.
Worth it?
Yes for texture and scarring in someone who wants low downtime. No if the expectation is tightening.
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What the evidence supports

Controlled trials repeatedly show improvement in acne scarring and skin texture after three to six sessions, with effects that are real and small. The depth reached determines the result, which is why a professional device set to a clinically meaningful depth and a home roller are different treatments with the same name. Home devices with needles long enough to matter also carry the infection risk that makes them a poor idea.

Why this entry is short

This is a graded stub. The verdict, the grade and the citations are settled and reviewed; the long-form write-up is queued behind a recorded consult-room explanation, in the order these questions actually come up in the office. The row is here now because an evidence index with twenty honest lines is more use than one with four essays and nothing else.

What this is based on

  1. Foppiani et al., microneedling for facial rejuvenation — systematic review and proportion meta-analysis of 21 studiesAesthetic Plastic Surgery · 2025
  2. Ramaut et al., microneedling — a systematic review of scar and rejuvenation outcomesJournal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery · 2018
  3. Cohen & Elbuluk, microneedling in skin of color — uses and efficacyJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology · 2016

Grades describe the quality of the human evidence, not my opinion of the treatment. Where the literature changes, the grade changes and the review date moves with it.

The full guide

All guides →

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The most powerful resurfacing tool we have, and the one most often used on the wrong patient. Here is what the treatment does to skin, who it suits, and an honest day-by-day account of the recovery nobody describes in advance.

Recent coverage

All news →
NewsTrends & Culture1 September 2026

Kylie Jenner Filmed Her Microneedling. Here Is What It Does.

NewBeauty reports that Kylie Jenner documented a microneedling appointment on social media, numbing cream included. The coverage is worth using for the treatment rather than the person: microneedling has reasonable controlled evidence for acne scarring and skin texture over a series of three to six sessions, and very little for tightening. The depth the needles are set to is the whole treatment, which is why a professional device and a home roller with the same name are different procedures.

NewBeauty, “Kylie Jenner Gave Her Microneedling Appointment the Selfie Treatment” — read the original

See how it's graded: Microneedling →

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