If you have your head in the skincare game, you’re no stranger to microneedling. This popular skincare treatment is celebrated for its ability to provide solutions to fine lines, wrinkles, acne scarring, and more. However, to maximize the results of this treatment, you need to use vitamin C serum after getting your microneedling done.
But how many days after your microneedling session should vitamin C serum be used? Read on to find out.
What Is Microneedling
You might associate this cosmetic procedure with pain as it involves pricking the skin with small needles. Interestingly though, the minor wounds in your skin will trigger your body to produce more elastin and collagen, which help rebuild your skin cells and make you look younger.
A professional often performs microneedling, but since microneedling kits have become available nowadays, you can perform micro-needling on your own.
Skin Benefits Of Microneedling
It’s hard to believe that injuring your skin on purpose can help fight aging, but that’s just how microneedling works. Below are some of the reasons why it is so beneficial for your skin.
Reduces the appearance of sun damage
The cosmetic procedure can reduce age spots and hyperpigmentation, which are results of sun damage. If you spend too much time in the sun, you’re likely to have a blotchy, brownish complexion. So it’s a relief that microneedling can even out your skin tone and rejuvenate your complexion.
Makes up for the natural decline of collagen production
Your body’s collagen production decreases with age. But the good news is, microneedling can make up for the natural decline of collagen production. The result is firm and wrinkle-free skin.
Promotes elastic production
Besides compensating for the natural decline of collagen production, microneedling also promotes elastin production. As you are aware, elastin refers to a protein that makes your skin strong and resilient.
Treats scars
And by promoting the cellular turnover of your skin, microneedling can treat acne scars. We all know that acne scars can affect your self-esteem and self-confidence, so it’s a plus that microneedling can treat scars and improve your skin’s texture.
In addition to scars from acne, the cosmetic procedure can also treat scars from surgery and trauma.
What Is Vitamin C Serum
If there’s one ingredient that effectively reverses signs of aging, it’s vitamin C. This vitamin is key to maintaining firm, youthful skin.
Although you can get vitamin C from your diet, there’s no guarantee that it goes straight to your skin. Thus, it would be best to use vitamin C serum as this is the most direct way to reap the vitamin’s skin benefits.
Skin Benefits of Vitamin C Serum
Supports the skin’s barrier function
Supporting the skin’s barrier function is one of the ways the vitamin benefits your skin. A vital part of the outer layer of the skin is called the lipid barrier, which holds your skin cells together. More often than not, this lipid barrier is likened to mortar. When healthy, the lipid barrier acts as a guard- helping the skin retain moisture and fighting free radicals.
Staves off signs of aging
Vitamin C, as an antioxidant, helps fight signs of aging caused by damaging free radicals. But, unfortunately, the skin’s proteins, elastin and collagen, frequently get weakened by these free radicals. And when this happens, these structural proteins struggle to provide structural support, resulting in the development of visible signs of aging.
Quenches dehydrated skin
The vitamin can decrease transepidermal water loss, thanks to its hydrating properties. Studies show that vitamin C can prevent loss of moisture from the skin’s surface, help lock in moisture, and strengthen the skin’s barrier. The result is healthy skin that looks supple and smooth.
Eases hyperpigmentation
Vitamin C exhibits brightening properties. Not only does it fade dark spots, but it also lightens hyperpigmentation due to melasma. The vitamin gets the job done by inhibiting the pathway of abnormal melanin production to lighten dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Moreover, it eases hyperpigmentation without altering the normal pigmentation of the skin.
Promotes collagen production
Vitamin C increases the production of collagen. Unfortunately, the production of collagen naturally depletes and degrades as you age. This results in signs of aging. What vitamin C does is that it activates the fibroblasts in the skin for new collagen production. It also balances the collagen you already have, helping the skin look supple and plump for longer.
Use of Vitamin C Serum After Microneedling
Vitamin C serums are among the best treatments for visible signs of aging. Because of their brightening and anti-aging properties, these serums leave the skin with a brighter, youthful-looking appearance. Even better, when used after microneedling, you will see desirable results in a matter of weeks. For these reasons, vitamin C serums are the best products to use after microneedling.
But because the cosmetic procedure works by injuring the skin on purpose, it makes the skin susceptible to irritation in the first few days afterwards. Also, your skin can appear swollen and red after a microneedling session. If you use vitamin C serum without waiting for the swelling to go down and the redness to fade, your skin can suffer from prolonged healing.
Dermatologists recommend waiting three days after a microneedling session to start using vitamin C serum again. Some dermatologists, though, will use the serum soon after the session. The reason for this is to benefit from the vitamin’s healing properties. However, some serums are often highly concentrated. While this would typically be beneficial for your skin, high concentrations of vitamin C after microneedling can result in more irritation. To be on the safe side, do not use vitamin C serum immediately after microneedling unless your dermatologist tells you to do so.
Final Thoughts
There’s no denying that microneedling and vitamin c serum are vital to keeping your skin glowing and in good condition. However, it pays to wait for at least three days to use vitamin C serum again. Doing this can help prevent irritation and can speed up the healing process. If you do not want to put your microneedling efforts and expenses to waste, learn how to use vitamin C serum safely after microneedling.
Remember, using vitamin C serum after getting your microneedling done is essential, but knowing when exactly to start using it is just as essential.