While it’s tempting to believe those viral videos of people rolling devices over their skin for smoother, younger results, a lot is going on that you don’t see — like infections and skin damage.
If you want a healthy, glowing complexion without taking any risks, you should skip at-home microneedling and leave it to a professional. We sat down with Monique Poirier, Senior Medical Asthetician at HealthOne Skin Clinic, to learn more.
Microneedling is a popular aesthetic procedure that uses tiny needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin. “It stimulates collagen, which essentially triggers the healing process in the skin,” Monique explains.
It’s great for fine lines, acne scars, and signs of aging. Because of these incredible benefits, microneedling has grown in popularity and is offered at thousands of aesthetic clinics around the world.
But what comes with popularity is the desire for shortcuts and DIY’s. Once people realized how beneficial microneedling was, they wanted to do it at home to save time and money. If you look up #microneedling on Instagram or TikTok, you’ll see thousands of people doing it professionally and at home. It’s important to understand the difference so you can make an informed decision for your skin.
So, what are the differences between professional and at-home microneedling? The main differences come down to the device being used, experience level, and safety risks.
First up: the device being used. There are hundreds of microneedling devices on the market, ranging from as low as $200 to $800+, and they’re not all created equal. Many at-home microneedling devices are rollers, where the needles roll over the skin and create tiny, angled punctures. This can irritate the skin and cause scarring.
Monique adds that rollers are unsafe because you need to have sterile needles. “Even if you think you’re cleaning them at home, there’s blood, spores, dead skin — it’s gross. Unless you have an autoclave at home — which no one does — you’re not properly sterilizing your tool.”
On the other hand, most professional microneedling services use a microneedling pen. This works by vertically stamping the needles in a controlled way, which creates a more predictable and consistent treatment across the skin.
“It's also significantly safer because for each patient, we use a single-use 16-needle cartridge. It’s unpackaged right before the procedure and discarded in a sharps container afterward,” Monique shares. “That’s how we prevent infection and ensure cleanliness.”
The second factor is experience level. Put simply, microneedling is an advanced service that should be left to the professionals. It requires a clean, sterile environment and properly sanitized tools that simply can’t be replicated at home.
Microneedling also requires a steady hand and even pressure across all parts of the face. This can be hard to replicate when performing treatment on yourself, and aestheticians go through years of training to understand and perfect these techniques.
Another factor that’s often overlooked is that an experienced aesthetician will perform a skin consultation prior to your treatment. By understanding your skin history, type, ethnicity, and desired outcomes, they’ll be able to customize your treatment accordingly. Someone with deep ice pick scars would require a deeper treatment, for example, compared to someone who doesn’t have acne scars but just wants to improve their skin health.
Lastly, as we’ve outlined, there are significant risks when it comes to at-home microneedling. “I’ve seen crazy videos online of people damaging their skin with rollers,” Monique recalls. “The roller scrapes and digs... It’s not a clean puncture like professional microneedling. I saw one woman whose face was just covered in blood, and she was reusing that roller. That’s how you get infections.”
Bottom line: professional microneedling trumps at-home microneedling every day of the week. It uses a safer, more reliable device, ensures a skilled professional is delivering the service, and reduces the risk of infections, complications, and skin damage.
Hopefully, by now, you’re convinced that professional microneedling is the way to go. Is it as easy as typing “microneedling in Toronto” and choosing the most convenient location? Not quite.
Monique explains the best way to go about it: “Ask what kind of microneedling device they use, then Google it. See if it’s a medical-grade pen or something they ordered off Amazon. A lot of places are unregulated, unfortunately, and I’ve worked at places that used rollers and even reused them. No, thank you!”
At HealthOne Skin Clinic, we’re proud to use a revolutionary device called the Dermapen 4 microneedling pen. It’s been used in hundreds of clinics around the world to effectively treat fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, skin texture, and more. If you’re looking for a relaxing, modern clinic that uses medical-grade technology and products, you’ve found the right place!
“I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I really love what I do,” Monique concludes. “I also believe that when you look good, you feel good. Helping my clients feel confident is a feeling like no other.”
Take it from us: skip the microneedling at home and trust the professionals. If you’re interested in professional microneedling, we offer free consultations! Get started on your skin journey with Monique, our Senior Medical Aesthetician at HealthOne Skin Clinic, today.
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