Treatments · Treatment guide · Skin treatments
Microneedling in your clinic: records, protocol and aftercare
Everything a clinic needs to run microneedling well, in one place: the treatment record, the consent and screening, depth and spacing, and the aftercare sheet clients get afterwards.
- Needle depth
- 0.25–2.5 mm, by concern and area
- Typical course
- 3–6 sessions
- Spacing at 1.0 mm and deeper
- 4–6 weeks
- Downtime
- 24–48 h of redness at 0.5 mm; 3–5 days at 1.5 mm
What to record
Session two is planned from session one, so the record needs the numbers. Note the device and cartridge, the needle depth, the number of passes, the topical anaesthetic and how long it stayed on, the serum or product used, and the endpoint you stopped at. Depth is not one number per visit: forehead, cheeks and scar areas often call for different depths, so record it by area.
Take baseline photos before the first session and repeat them from the same angles and lighting. Progress is slow and gradual, and photos are what let you and the client see it.
Consent and contraindications
Microneedling causes controlled injury by design, so consent should describe what the client will see and for how long: redness like sunburn, tightness, and flaking. It should name the risks, including infection, pigment change, scarring, and reactivation of cold sores, and say that results build across a series rather than in one visit.
Record the screening answers, not just the signature, and note who explained the treatment and when.
Screen for these before you treat
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Isotretinoin in the past 12 months
- Active acne, eczema, infection, or a cold sore in the treatment area
- Bleeding or clotting disorder, or taking blood thinners
- History of keloid or hypertrophic scarring
- Previous microneedling, and how the skin responded
Microneedling protocol: needle depth by concern
Needle depth decides which layer of skin is treated, and so the benefit, the downtime, and the risk. The ranges below summarise the published depths our depth calculator uses. They are a reference, not a substitute for your device manufacturer's instructions, your medical director's protocol, or your provincial scope of practice.
- 0.25 mm reaches the stratum corneum only. It improves product absorption and mild texture but does not induce collagen.
- 0.5 mm reaches the papillary dermis, where collagen induction begins. Used for fine lines, enlarged pores, mild acne scars, and hyperpigmentation.
- 1.0 mm and deeper reaches the reticular dermis and produces meaningful collagen synthesis. It calls for clinic administration and topical anaesthetic.
- For scar treatment, the NIH literature the calculator cites recommends 1.5–2.0 mm every 4–6 weeks for 3–5 sessions, with topical anaesthetic in a clinic.
Course of treatment
Collagen remodelling takes 4–6 weeks after each session at 1.0 mm or deeper. Treating more often does not speed results. It stops the skin completing its healing cycle and can cause prolonged redness and poorer collagen formation.
- 0.5 mm: every 1–2 weeks
- 1.0–1.5 mm: every 4–6 weeks
- 2.0–2.5 mm (body areas): every 6–8 weeks
- Visible improvement usually shows after session 2–3, with full results 3–6 months after the last session.
Aftercare you send
Most after-hours messages ask whether something is normal. The aftercare sheet answers that up front: what to expect (redness, tightness, dryness and flaking), what to avoid (makeup, active skincare, strenuous exercise, sun) and when to call the clinic. Restart dates for retinoids and acids vary by clinic and depth, so the sheet leaves a line for yours.
Running this in Zdrovia
In Zdrovia, needle depth, passes, and device settings go on the treatment note by area, so session two starts from what you actually did. Write the aftercare sheet once under Patient Instructions, attach it to the microneedling service as its post-visit instruction, and every booking delivers it through the client's portal or by message.
See how Zdrovia is set up for aestheticians and med spas.
Frequently asked questions
What microneedling depth is best for acne scars?
Mild acne scars respond to 0.5–1.0 mm. Moderate rolling and box-car scars need 1.0–1.5 mm. The NIH literature cited in our depth calculator recommends 1.5–2.0 mm for scar treatment, every 4–6 weeks for 3–5 sessions, with topical anaesthetic in a clinic.
How many microneedling sessions make a course?
Most protocols run 4–6 sessions for superficial or moderate concerns and 3–5 for deep scars or stretch marks. Improvement usually appears after session 2–3, and full results 3–6 months after the last session.
How often can you microneedle?
By depth: 0.5 mm every 1–2 weeks, 1.0–1.5 mm every 4–6 weeks, and 2.0–2.5 mm every 6–8 weeks. At 1.0 mm and deeper, allow full collagen remodelling between sessions.
What should microneedling aftercare cover?
What is normal and for how long (redness, tightness, flaking), what to avoid (makeup, active skincare, exercise, sun), what to use (gentle cleanser, plain moisturiser, SPF), when to restart retinoids and acids, and clear signs that mean call the clinic.
Related
- Sequencing peels, microneedling, and retinoids
- PRP consent form (microneedling with PRP)
- Client intake form template
- All treatment guides
This guide summarises published figures and common documentation practice for clinics. It is not clinical or legal advice. Dosing, depth, and device settings are decisions for the treating practitioner, the manufacturer's instructions, and your medical director's protocol, and scope of practice varies by province and profession. Confirm anything you rely on with your regulatory college.