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Microneedling Aftercare Instructions (Printable Handout)

Microneedling aftercare comes down to a few steps. Expect redness and a sunburn-like feeling that fades in a few days to a week, wait 24 hours before makeup, keep the skin clean, and protect it from the sun. This page gives you a printable microneedling aftercare instructions handout. Edit each line, add your practice name and phone, then print it.

Prepared by Prospyr · Reviewed October 3, 2026 · Free, no sign-up, runs in your browser

Template — review and edit with your medical director before giving to patients.

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Your practice

Printed at the bottom of the handout. Clear it to leave it off.

The first 24 hours

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The first week

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  • Fill in

What to avoid

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Call us if

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Notes and footer

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Your practice name

After your microneedling treatment

Redness and a sunburn-like feeling are normal after microneedling. These steps help your skin heal and lower the chance of infection.

The first 24 hours

  • Expect redness (darker shades on deeper skin tones) and a feeling like sunburn, with minor discomfort, burning or swelling.
  • Wait 24 hours before you put on makeup.
  • A cool compress can ease swelling and discomfort.
  • Keep the treated skin clean. Do not touch it with unwashed hands.
  • Use the aftercare product we recommended: ______________________
  • Keep your skin out of direct sun.

The first week

  • Redness, swelling and discomfort usually fade in a few days to a week.
  • In the FDA clinical study, dryness lasted 1 to 6 days. Redness, itching, peeling and tenderness lasted 1 to 3 days. Burning lasted 1 to 3 days.
  • Once we say your skin is ready, wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day.
  • Darker spots can appear on deeper skin tones. They usually fade in a few weeks, and daily sun protection helps.
  • Skin care products to pause, and for how many days: ______________________

What to avoid

  • Direct sun on the treated area.
  • At-home microneedling rollers or pens on this skin. The AAD notes they can irritate skin and spread viruses.
  • Touching the area with unwashed hands.

Call us if

  • Redness that is spreading, warmth, increasing swelling or pus. These can be signs of infection.
  • A rash, itching or hives.
  • Redness, swelling or discomfort that is not getting better after a week.
  • Any other symptom that worries you.

In an emergency, call 911.

Guidance based on: AAD: Microneedling (reviewed 7/17/2023); FDA De Novo decision summary DEN160029 (SkinPen); Jaiswal and Jawade, Cureus 2024.

Template from prospyrmed.com/tools/microneedling-aftercare

Template — review and edit with your medical director before giving to patients. General patient information only. It does not replace your provider's instructions or medical advice.

Microneedling aftercare instructions: what to expect, day by day

The table shows what published sources say to expect, and where each line comes from. The editor above uses the same lines. Your own protocol, device and product come first.

WhenWhat to expectSource
Right afterRedness (darker shades on deeper skin tones), a sunburn-like feel, minor burning or swelling. Return to work or school the same day.AAD
First 24 hoursNo makeup for 24 hours. Cool compress for swelling. Clean skin, clean hands.AAD, Cureus review
Days 1 to 3Redness, itching, peeling, tenderness and burning lasted 1 to 3 days in the FDA study; dryness lasted 1 to 6 days.FDA De Novo summary
Up to 1 weekMost reactions disappear in a few days to a week. An aftercare cream can soothe skin in the meantime.AAD
Weeks 1 to 4Darker spots, if they appear, usually resolve in a few weeks. Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen.Cureus review

What the FDA study says about sun after microneedling

The FDA decision summary for the SkinPen Precision System (DEN160029) reports one adverse event worth reading closely: skin striae on the forehead and both sides of the face in one of 41 subjects. The FDA summary says it was thought to be due to excess sunlight soon after treatment, against study instructions, and that it resolved without further complications.

That is one case, so do not read it as a rate. It is a good reason to put the sun line near the top of your handout and to say it plainly.

Microneedling with PRP, radiofrequency or serums

This template covers standard microneedling. The AAD describes microneedling with platelet-rich plasma and radiofrequency microneedling as variations, and your protocol may add steps for them. If you use either, edit the lines to match your protocol, or start from the PRP aftercare template.

If you apply a serum or topical during the procedure, the Cureus review notes that allergic reactions can occur with topical anesthetics or serums. That is why the call-us list includes a rash, itching and hives.

How to edit and print your microneedling handout

  1. Add your practice name and phone number. Both print at the top and bottom of the handout.
  2. Read each line. Uncheck what does not match your protocol, rewrite what needs your wording, and fill in the blanks marked "Fill in".
  3. Add your own lines for products, follow-up dates or anything specific to your devices.
  4. Show it to your medical director. Then print it, save it as a PDF, or copy it as plain text for your patient portal or a text message.

Your text stays in your browser. Only the practice name and phone are saved in the page address, so you can bookmark or share the link with your team.

Once the handout is final, it works best when it goes out automatically. Prospyr's digital intake and charting keep each patient's instructions with their visit, and the med spa software page shows how the rest of the practice fits around them. For related handouts, see the microneedling depth chart and the PRP aftercare template.

What this template leaves out

  • Needle depth, device settings and number of passes. Those are provider decisions and the template does not suggest any.
  • Product names and brands. The aftercare product line is a blank for you to fill in.
  • Pre-treatment instructions such as pausing retinoids. The AAD page mentions them, but timing is a protocol choice.

It is a template to review and edit with your medical director before giving it to patients. It is not medical advice, and it does not replace your provider's instructions for a specific patient.

Frequently asked questions

What are the aftercare instructions for microneedling?

Keep the skin clean and out of the sun, wait 24 hours before makeup, use the aftercare cream your provider recommends, and call the practice for signs of infection. The AAD says downtime is minimal and most reactions fade within a few days to a week. Your provider's own written instructions come first.

How long should I wait to wear makeup after microneedling?

The AAD says to wait 24 hours before applying makeup after microneedling. Put your own timing on the handout in place of the default.

How long does redness last after microneedling?

Most reactions disappear in a few days to a week, according to the AAD. In the FDA clinical study of the SkinPen, redness, itching, peeling and tenderness lasted 1 to 3 days. Redness that is not improving after a week is a reason to call.

Can I use sunscreen right after microneedling?

Sun protection matters from day one, but when a product can go on broken or very sensitive skin is a provider decision. The template says to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily once the practice clears it, and to stay out of direct sun until then. Edit that line to match your protocol.

What are signs of infection after microneedling?

Increasing redness, warmth, swelling and pus are the signs listed in the Cureus review of microneedling. A rash, itching or hives can point to an allergic reaction. The call-us section of the handout lists both so patients know when to phone.

Is this microneedling aftercare template medical advice?

No. It is a template to review and edit with your medical director before giving it to patients. The lines come from the AAD, an FDA decision summary and a peer-reviewed review, and your protocol, device and state rules may differ.

Sources and scope

Template — review and edit with your medical director before giving to patients. General patient education for microneedling; it does not replace a provider's instructions. Sources reviewed October 2026.

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