What skin needling is
Skin needling, also called microneedling or collagen induction therapy, is a minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure.1 Fine needles create controlled micro-channels in the skin, and the healing response that follows produces new collagen, elastin and capillaries.1
In the clinic it is done with a needling pen and a sterile, single-use needle cartridge, set to a depth that suits the area being treated.
What it treats
Skin needling is used for uneven texture, enlarged pores, fine lines and dullness. It also treats acne scars, surgical and burn scars and stretch marks.1 For acne scarring it sits alongside laser and chemical peels.3
Related guides: enlarged pores and skin texture and acne-prone skin.
What happens in the appointment
A session is booked as one hour. Your skin is cleansed and a topical numbing cream is usually applied. The needling pen is then passed over the skin, area by area, and the skin is soothed at the end.
Most people describe the feeling as a light scratching or vibration. Redness and pinpoint bleeding during treatment are expected.2
The first 72 hours
Expect redness that looks like mild sunburn and settles over the first one to three days. Dryness, scaling, redness and swelling can last several days, with a return to normal activities within days.1
- Keep skincare gentle. Pause retinol and acids for a few days.
- Wear SPF50+ every day.
- Skip heavy exercise, saunas and swimming for 24 to 48 hours.
- Leave flaking skin alone.
When results show
New collagen takes time to form. Improvements appear from as soon as two weeks and build for six to eight months. Three to four treatments may be needed for moderate acne scars.1
A course of three to four sessions, about six weeks apart, is typical.
Preparing for your appointment
- Avoid sunburn in the week before.
- Pause retinol and acids for a few days either side.
- Tell us about your medicines, and about cold sores if you get them.
- Come with clean skin if you can.
Skin needling and the Gold Coast sun
Photoprotection is commonly used to protect freshly treated skin.2 Use SPF50 or SPF50+, broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen whenever the UV level is 3 or above.4
Book around beach holidays and long days outdoors. A hat and shade count too.4
Skin needling in Robina
At Eila Aesthetics, skin needling in Robina is a one-hour session, and skin needling with exosomes is also offered. The clinic is at Shop 12/203 Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina, with free 2-hour parking on site.
A one-hour session at our Robina clinic. See skin needling details.
- DermNet. Skin needling. Updated June 2022.
- Gowda A, Healey B, Ezaldein H, Merati M. A systematic review examining the potential adverse effects of microneedling. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2021;14(1):45–54.
- DermNet. Acne scarring. Reviewed August 2023.
- Cancer Council Australia. All about sunscreen and sun safety. Accessed 2026.