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Microneedling: SkinPen & Dermapen | My Beauty Protocol

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Microneedling: SkinPen & Dermapen

Percutaneous Collagen Induction (PCI)

Plain-English name: Clinical Collagen Induction

Also known asSkinPen by Crown AestheticsDermaRoller (Generic)SkinPen Precision

Educational info only, not medical advice. Ask a qualified provider. Disclaimer · Terms

A medical-grade device creates thousands of precise, vertical micro-injuries in the dermis.

Downtime: 1 week
Sessions: 3–6
Pain: Low to medium
Cost per visit: Price level 3 of 5
Full course: 3–6 sessions over 3–6 monthsAsk the total price for all of them.
Results start: In 4–6 weeks
Results last: Several months, with upkeep

Fine needles make tiny channels in the skin to help scars and texture.

Check first: Active skin infections (e.g., herpes, warts).

Pick an area

Face: quick facts

Price for this area

Will it work for me?

Skin tone

Often used on tones I–VI.

IVery Light

IILight

IIIMedium

IVTan

VBrown

VIDeep

Often usedAsk first

General info, not a check of your own skin.

What people use it for

Tap one to see how it helps.

Skin types

Often a fit for all of these. Tap one for details.

Skin types to ask about first

Sensitive or Redness-proneAsk first

Needs a gentle, barrier-safe plan and careful screening.

Breakout-proneAsk first

Active breakouts in the area may need to calm down first. Ask your provider.

How do the devices differ?

In no special order. Ask which one they use, and why.

2 devices

Ask your provider

Which device and settings will you use for my skin, and why?
Can we do a test spot first?
What result is realistic for me, and after how many sessions?

Before and after your visit

Plan it around your lifeMakeup, sun, workouts — see what fits around your treatment.

The visit

Duration: 30–60 minutes
Total course: 3–6 months
Session interval: 4–6 weeks

What to expect, and what to avoid

Recovery

2–5 days of redness, up to a week

May look swollen

1 week

Avoid sun

1 week

No makeup

24 hours

No sweat or heat

24-48 hours

Other aftercare

No swimming or baths for a few days
No retinoids, acids or scrubs for a few days

Your provider may give you different timing.

Day by day

Before your visit: ask when to start
Come with clean skin: no makeup or lotion
1–2 weeks before
No tanning or strong sun for 1–2 weeks before
1 week before
Stop aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil and vitamin E for 1 week before, if your doctor agrees
3–5 days before
Stop retinoids, acids and scrubs for 3–5 days before
Right after your visit
- Avoid hard exercise, heat and heavy sweating for 24–48 hours
- No makeup on the area for 24 hours
- No swimming or baths for 24–48 hours
After your visit
- Apply only gentle, hydrating, and medical-grade serums (e.g., hyaluronic acid, growth factors)
- No direct sun for 1 week
- Wear sunscreen every day
- No retinoids, acids or scrubs for 3–5 days
- Immediate redness and mild swelling, similar to a sunburn, usually lasting 2-5 days and sometimes up to a week. Skin may feel tight or sensitive. Mild flaking or dryness can occur. Aftercare involves gentle cleansing, hydration, and strict sun protection. Results start to show in 4–6 weeks.

Side effects, and who should wait

Who may want to think twice

Active skin infections (e.g., herpes, warts)
Active acne (severe cystic)
History of keloid or hypertrophic scarring
Immunosuppression
Use of blood thinners (consult physician)
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Recent use of isotretinoin (Accutane)

Possible side effects

Common

Erythema (redness)
Mild edema (swelling)
Pain
Transient dryness or flaking

Less common

Allergic reactions to topical products
Foreign body granulomas (from immunogenic particles in topicals)
Infection (if sterile technique is compromised)
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (rare, especially if heat is avoided)

Your own risks may differ. Ask a qualified provider.

How it works, and common myths

The treatment induces controlled micro-trauma, initiating a natural wound-healing cascade that significantly boosts collagen and elastin synthesis.

A little more technical

Professional mechanical microneedling creates controlled micro-injuries in the skin using fine needles, stimulating the body's natural wound-healing response to produce more collagen and elastin.

Percutaneous Collagen Induction (PCI) therapy involves creating controlled micro-injuries to trigger a wound-healing cascade, leading to the release of growth factors and stimulation of fibroblasts for new collagen (Type I, III, VII) and elastin synthesis, improving skin structure and appearance.

Target: 0.5mm - 2.5mm (Dermal); Adjustable medical depth allows the practitioner to reach the dermal layer where collagen production actually occurs.
Energy type: Non-Thermal (Zero Heat); Uses pure mechanical motion, which protects the skin from heat-induced hyperpigmentation or burns.
Common device / product names: SkinPen by Crown Aesthetics · DermaRoller (Generic) · SkinPen Precision
Clinical descriptor: Percutaneous Collagen Induction (PCI)

Common myths

Your next step

Take it to your consult

Your questions, cost and timing on one page.

Open Consult Kit

Compare with similar treatments

Side by side. The choice is yours.

Often explored alongside this treatment

Deep Phenol Peel

A strong phenol peel for deep lines and sun damage, with a long recovery

Downtime: 3 weeks
Pain: High
Cost: Price level 5 of 5

Light Chemical Peel

A light peel that can leave skin looking smoother and brighter, with little downtime

Downtime: 2 days
Pain: Low
Cost: Price level 2 of 5

Medium Depth Chemical Peel (TCA)

A stronger TCA peel for sun damage and lines

Downtime: 2 weeks
Pain: Medium
Cost: Price level 4 of 5

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