SkinPen Microneedling Aftercare

Your SkinPen treatment is complete. SkinPen creates controlled microchannels that initiate the skin’s natural healing and remodeling process. Your skin barrier will be temporarily more sensitive, so gentle care and sun protection are especially important during the first several days.

Follow any individualized instructions provided by Vital. Those instructions take priority over this general guide.

The First 24 Hours

  • Use only the post-treatment products provided or approved by Vital.

  • Do not apply makeup for at least 24 hours.

  • Avoid cleanser unless your clinician instructed you otherwise. If cleansing is necessary, use clean hands and cool or lukewarm water.

  • Avoid exercise, sweating, hot yoga, saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs, and swimming.

  • Avoid direct or prolonged sun exposure.

  • Do not use washcloths, brushes, exfoliating pads, cleansing devices, rollers, gua sha, or other facial tools.

  • Do not apply retinoids, vitamin C, exfoliating acids, benzoyl peroxide, scrubs, essential oils, fragranced products, or other active ingredients.

  • Do not rub, scratch, pick, or exfoliate your skin.

  • Sleep on a fresh pillowcase and avoid sleeping directly on the treated area.

  • For comfort, use a clean, cool compress or lightly mist the skin with clean water and use a fan. Do not apply ice directly to the skin.

What Is Normal?

Temporary reactions can include:

  • Redness similar to a mild or moderate sunburn

  • Warmth, burning, stinging, or tingling

  • Tightness or mild sensitivity

  • Mild swelling

  • Tenderness

  • Itching

  • Dryness or flaking

  • Rough or “sandpaper-like” texture

These reactions should gradually improve. In SkinPen clinical studies, most redness, dryness, burning, itching, tightness, and tenderness resolved within several days, although peeling or flaking sometimes continued for up to seven days. Official SkinPen patient labeling

Days 1–3

Once you are instructed to resume cleansing:

Morning

  1. Cleanse gently with clean hands, lukewarm water, and an approved gentle cleanser.

  2. Apply an approved hydrating serum or simple moisturizer.

  3. Beginning the morning after treatment, apply a mineral SPF 30–50 if your skin is intact and tolerates application.

Evening

  1. Cleanse gently with clean hands and lukewarm water.

  2. Apply an approved hydrating product.

  3. Follow with a simple, fragrance-free moisturizer.

Continue to avoid:

  • Strenuous exercise and significant sweating for approximately 72 hours

  • Pools, hot tubs, lakes, and other potentially contaminated water

  • Saunas, steam rooms, and excessive heat

  • Direct or prolonged sun exposure

  • Active or exfoliating skincare

  • Picking, scrubbing, or manually removing flaking skin

Sun Protection

Avoid direct sun exposure for at least 72 hours. Excess sun exposure soon after treatment may increase the risk of irritation and unwanted pigment changes.

When your skin tolerates application:

  • Use a broad-spectrum mineral SPF 30–50.

  • Reapply according to the product instructions and after significant sweating.

  • Wear a wide-brimmed hat when outdoors.

  • Continue consistent daily sun protection throughout your treatment series.

Do not apply sunscreen over open, weeping, or significantly irritated skin without first contacting Vital.

When Can I Wear Makeup?

Wait at least 24 hours before applying makeup.

Resume makeup only when:

  • The skin is fully intact

  • There is no bleeding, weeping, or open skin

  • Application does not cause burning or significant irritation

Use clean hands, freshly cleaned brushes, and clean applicators. Avoid heavy rubbing during application and removal. If your skin remains very red, tender, or irritated after 24 hours, wait longer.

When Can I Restart Active Skincare?

Avoid active ingredients for at least 5–7 days and until redness, sensitivity, dryness, and flaking have resolved.

This includes:

  • Retinoids and tretinoin

  • Vitamin C

  • AHAs and BHAs

  • Glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids

  • Benzoyl peroxide

  • Exfoliating enzymes

  • Scrubs and cleansing devices

  • Hydroquinone and other pigment-correcting products

  • Strong acne or anti-aging treatments

Restart active products one at a time rather than resuming everything on the same day. If a product stings or causes persistent redness, stop using it and allow more time for your skin to recover.

If you use prescription tretinoin, hydroquinone, acne medication, or another corrective treatment, follow the individualized restart date provided by Vital.

Days 3–7

  • Continue gentle cleansing, hydration, and daily mineral sunscreen.

  • Do not pick or peel flaking skin.

  • Makeup may be worn if the skin is fully intact and comfortable.

  • Light exercise may be resumed once significant redness, heat, swelling, and irritation have resolved.

  • Continue avoiding active skincare while the skin remains dry, peeling, tender, or irritated.

  • Avoid waxing, threading, dermaplaning, facial treatments, peels, laser treatments, or other procedures until the skin is completely healed and Vital has cleared you to resume them.

When Will I See Results?

The visible healing period and the remodeling process occur on different timelines.

Redness and sensitivity usually improve over the first several days. Dryness, flaking, or rough texture may continue as the surface heals. Your skin may begin to appear smoother and more refreshed over the following weeks.

Collagen remodeling continues after the surface has healed. Results may continue developing between treatments and after completing a recommended series. The amount and timing of improvement vary by treatment area, treatment depth, skin condition, and individual response.

Contact Vital Promptly If You Experience

  • Redness, pain, warmth, or swelling that is increasing rather than improving

  • Pus, drainage, pustules, spreading crusting, or other signs of infection

  • Blistering or open sores

  • Significant or rapidly worsening swelling

  • A widespread or intensely itchy rash

  • Hives or a possible allergic reaction

  • A cold-sore outbreak

  • Darkening or lightening of the treated skin that concerns you

  • Bleeding or weeping that persists

  • Symptoms that remain intense or are not improving as expected

SkinPen patient labeling specifically identifies increasing redness, warmth, itching, or pus formation as possible signs of infection. It also identifies cold-sore reactivation and temporary lighter or darker pigmentation as possible adverse events. SkinPen patient labeling

Seek Immediate Medical Care

Call 911 for:

  • Difficulty breathing

  • Swelling of the lips, tongue, face, or throat

  • Fainting or another sign of a severe allergic reaction

  • Any other medical emergency

Do not wait for a response to a routine message before seeking emergency care.

Questions About Your Recovery?

Contact Vital through Spruce for secure guidance. Please include:

  • The date of your treatment

  • When your symptoms began

  • A clear description of what you are experiencing

  • Well-lit photographs of the treated area

This guide provides general aftercare information and does not replace individualized medical advice. Instructions given directly by your treating clinician take priority.