Microneedling for Active Acne? Let’s Talk About It.

A recent study published in Skin Health and Disease explored the effects of microneedling on active acne. And the results?

Actually pretty amazing.

Participants were split into two treatment groups:

• One received 3 microneedling sessions spaced 4 weeks apart
• The other received 4 sessions spaced every 2 weeks

Both groups showed a significant reduction in inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions.

Microneedling wasn’t just improving texture or scarring — it was improving active acne.

The Big Deal? No Disruption to the Skin Microbiome

Unlike antibiotics (hi, doxycycline 👋 or topical clinda), microneedling didn’t wipe out the skin’s natural flora.

Instead, it worked with the skin’s natural healing process.

That means:

• No gut or skin microbiome disruption
• No resistance concerns
• Just collagen induction and skin regeneration doing its thing

As a provider, I’ve already seen how microneedling helps with scarring and texture — but this adds a whole new level.

But Wait — Who Funded the Study?

Important note:

The authors of the study are employees of Crown Laboratories — the company behind SkinPen microneedling devices — and they also funded the research.

So yes, there may be some bias baked in.

But regardless, this is a peer-reviewed study looking specifically at microneedling on active acne — something that was previously off-limits.

What Does This Mean for Us?

If you’ve been told, “Sorry, we can’t microneedle over active acne,”
...it might be time to revisit that.

If you're a provider, you can bring this data into your clinical decision-making.

If you're a patient struggling with acne, this might be a gentler, drug-free treatment worth asking about.

Microneedling might just be more versatile than we thought.

Feel free to share this with someone who needs to hear it — or check out the study for yourself.

Let’s keep questioning the rules — especially when it leads to better outcomes.