In a sentence: SkinPen makes thousands of tiny, controlled micro-channels to nudge your skin into making fresh collagen—smoothing mild acne marks and texture with minimal downtime.
Who it’s best for
- 20s–30s: early texture/pores; shallow acne marks; prevention.
- 40s–50s: fine lines and mild texture.
- 60s: gentle maintenance for crepey texture (often part of a plan).
What it can do
- Smooth the look of shallow acne scars and refine texture/pores.
- Softly soften fine lines with a series.
What it can’t do
It won’t erase deep scars or give lift like tightening devices; those may need lasers, RF microneedling, or surgery depending on goals.
Treatment & sessions
- During: Numbing cream, then a pen glides over the skin creating micro-channels; ~20–45 minutes for the face.
- How many: Typically 3 sessions ~4–6 weeks apart; maintenance 1–2×/year.
Healing time & aftercare
- Downtime: Pinkness and mild swelling 24–48 hours; makeup usually next day unless told otherwise.
- Aftercare: Gentle cleanse/moisturiser, strict SPF; avoid hot workouts, actives (acids/retinoids) for a few days.
Safety in deeper complexions
Medical microneedling is generally suitable across skin tones; risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation (PIH) is lower than many lasers, but choose an experienced clinic.
Possible side effects
- Common: redness, swelling, tight/dry feeling, tiny flaking.
- Less common: acne flare, cold-sore reactivation (use antivirals if prone), temporary PIH.
- Rare: infection, prolonged inflammation; very rare granulomatous reactions (often linked to applying products too soon).
Who should avoid (or delay)
- Active skin infection, open wounds, or active cystic acne in the area.
- Recent isotretinoin, poorly controlled medical issues—discuss with your clinician.
- Pregnancy/breastfeeding: usually postponed.
Regulatory note (U.S.)
SkinPen is the first microneedling device with FDA De Novo authorization (2016) for facial acne scars in adults 22+; in 2024 it gained a 510(k) clearance for neck wrinkles in Fitzpatrick II–IV.
At-a-glance
- Best for: shallow acne scars, texture, pores, fine lines.
- Sessions: ~3 (4–6 weeks apart).
- Downtime: ~1–2 days of pinkness.