Microneedling at home or Professional Treatments: What's the difference?
Microneedling at home vs. Professional Treatments:
What’s the Difference?
Microneedling is one of the most effective skincare treatments for collagen production, fine lines, and skin rejuvenation. But should you do it at home or visit a professional?
If you've been thinking about microneedling, you might be wondering: Are microneedling at home pens as effective as in clinic treatments? Let’s break down the key differences so you can make the best choice for your skin.
1. Needle Depth & Skin Penetration
The biggest difference between at-home and professional microneedling is how deep the needles penetrate.
✅ At-home microneedling:
- Needle depths range from 0.25mm to 1.5mm.
- Best for serum absorption, skin hydration, dark circles, eye puffiness, skin lightening and fine lines.
- Can be done 1–2 times a week for consistent results.
🏥 Professional microneedling:
- Can go as deep as 3.0mm, reaching much deeper skin layers.
- Ideal for deep acne scars, deep wrinkles, and major skin concerns.
- Typically done once every 4–6 weeks due to longer recovery time.
2. Pain & Recovery Time
Microneedling at home is much gentler with amazing results and causes little to no downtime. Professional treatments are more aggressive and often require numbing cream and staying inside for 3-8 days, (depending on the depth and bleeding).
✅ At-home: Minimal redness that fades within a few hours.
🏥 Professional: Can cause swelling and redness for 3–8 days.
3. Effectiveness & Results
If you’re looking for glowing skin, 300% better serum absorption, and long-term collagen support, microneedling at home is a great option. However, if you need intensive scar treatment or deep anti-aging repair, professional microneedling is the way to go.
✔️ At-home is best for:
- Hydration & glow
- Fine Lines and Crowsfeet (those pesky lines around our eyes)
- Skin lightening, Rosacea
- Eye Puffiness (eye bags) dark circles
- lip lines and plumping
- Skin texture improvement
💉 Professional is best for:
- Deep wrinkles & acne scars
- Stretch marks
- Deep Forhead wrinkles
and of course professionals address the same concerns in addition to these deep treatments.
4. Safety & Risks
Microneedling at home kits are designed to be safe for self use, while professional deep microneedling requires medical supervision to avoid over injury and possible medication to avoid infections
🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Using too much pressure at home.
- Using non-sterile needles.
- Applying strong actives (retinol, acids) immediately after.
Which One Is Right for You?
If you want to boost your skincare routine, enhance product absorption, and maintain collagen production to avoid saggy skin and losing elasticity, an at home microneedling pen is a perfect choice. However, if you need serious skin correction, seeing a dermatologist for professional treatments might be better.
Want to start microneedling at home? Try our Lumni Professional microneedling kit, its a safe, easy and effective way to achieve radiant skin at home!