Microneedling has become one of the most talked-about treatments in clinical skincare, and for good reason. It can be used as part of a considered treatment plan for a range of skin concerns, from acne scarring and uneven texture to certain pigmentation and visible signs of ageing.
If you've been curious about how it works, whether it may be right for your skin, and what to expect from the experience, here's a straightforward guide to Dermapen4™ Skin Needling at Purified Rituals.
What is Dermapen microneedling?
Dermapen4™ Skin Needling is an advanced skin treatment that uses fine, controlled micro-needles to create precise micro-channels within the skin.
These controlled micro-injuries encourage the skin's natural repair response, supporting the production of collagen and elastin, two proteins that play an important role in skin firmness, elasticity and structure.
At Purified Rituals, Dermapen4™ sits within the Repair phase of our skin health journey. Rather than treating every skin in the same way, treatment depth and intensity are prescribed according to your skin's condition, concerns and long-term goals.
Skin needling is a skin penetration procedure. In Victoria, businesses performing skin penetration are regulated under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and must be registered with their local council, with infection prevention and control standards to meet. Our Prahran flagship is a registered premises and every treatment uses a sterile, single-use Dermapen4™ cartridge.
How does Dermapen4™ Skin Needling work?
During treatment, the Dermapen4™ device delivers rapid, controlled micro-needles into the skin, creating micro-channels within the treatment area.
This process encourages the body's natural wound-healing response, which supports the production of new collagen and elastin. As the skin moves through its repair process, this can help improve the appearance of texture, scarring and other visible skin concerns over time.
The micro-channels created during treatment can also support the delivery of professionally selected skincare ingredients used as part of your treatment protocol.
Why we're particular about what goes on your skin afterwards. Those micro-channels stay open for a short period, so anything applied to the skin has a far more direct route in than usual. Products that are perfectly safe on intact skin can cause a reaction when they're introduced this way, including rare but documented granulomatous reactions to serum ingredients. Only sterile, treatment-appropriate products are used during your appointment, and this is why your therapist will ask you to pause your own actives and follow the aftercare you're given rather than reaching for a favourite serum at home.
The key word here is progressive. Dermapen4™ isn't about forcing an overnight transformation. Skin continues its natural repair and renewal process after your appointment, which is why results can continue to develop in the weeks following treatment.
What skin concerns can Dermapen4™ address?
Dermapen4™ may be prescribed as part of a treatment plan for a range of skin concerns, including:
- Acne scarring and post-acne marks: controlled skin needling may support the remodelling of scar tissue and improve the appearance of some acne scarring over time. It's best suited to atrophic scarring, the indented kind. Raised or keloid scarring is a different concern and needs a different approach.
- Certain types of pigmentation and uneven skin tone: Dermapen4™ may form part of a broader treatment plan for some pigmentation, depending on the type and the condition of the skin. Melasma is the exception, and we've explained why below.
- Fine lines and visible signs of ageing: supporting collagen and elastin production can help improve the appearance of skin firmness and fine lines.
- Enlarged pores: improving overall skin texture and structure may help refine the appearance of enlarged pores.
- Uneven skin texture: skin needling may support smoother, more refined-looking skin over a considered treatment course.
- Stretch marks: Dermapen4™ may also be used on selected areas of the body where stretch marks are present.
A note on melasma. Skin needling can be a strong option for post-acne marks, texture and scarring. Melasma behaves differently. Needling carries a genuine risk of the pigment returning or becoming more resistant to treatment, so it isn't our starting point for melasma and would only be considered selectively, in experienced hands, once the skin has been well prepared. If melasma is your main concern, we'd usually begin somewhere gentler. You can read more in our guide to pigmentation and melasma treatments.
One of the reasons Dermapen4™ is such a versatile treatment is that it can be adjusted according to the area being treated and the individual needs of your skin.
But versatility doesn't mean it's automatically the right treatment for everyone. At Purified Rituals, we begin with Skin Ritual Mapping so we can understand what your skin actually needs before deciding how, or if, Dermapen4™ fits into your treatment journey.
What to expect during and after Dermapen4™ Skin Needling
During your treatment
Your treatment begins with preparation of the skin before the Dermapen4™ device is carefully worked across the prescribed treatment areas.
Treatment depth and settings are adjusted according to the area being treated, your skin condition and your individual treatment plan.
Sensation varies from person to person and can also vary across different areas of the face or body.
Immediately after treatment
It's common for skin to appear red and feel warm or sensitive following Dermapen4™ Skin Needling, similar to mild sunburn. For most people this settles over roughly two to three days, sometimes with light flaking as the skin renews, and most clients are comfortable returning to normal activities the following day.
That's a general guide rather than a promise. The intensity and duration of the response varies with treatment depth, the area treated and your individual skin, and a deeper treatment for scarring will ask more of your skin than a lighter one. Your therapist will tell you what to expect for the treatment you've actually had, and give you personalised aftercare instructions.
Post-treatment care
Aftercare is an important part of supporting the skin following Dermapen4™. Your therapist will provide instructions specific to your treatment, which may include:
- Broad-spectrum SPF50+ daily and limiting unnecessary sun exposure, which matters more here than most places given the UV we get in Australia
- Avoiding makeup for the period recommended by your therapist
- Avoiding hot showers, baths, saunas and steam rooms immediately after treatment
- Avoiding intense exercise for the recommended period
- Avoiding alcohol immediately following treatment if advised
- Using only your recommended skincare and pausing active ingredients where directed
Following your prescribed aftercare helps support the skin's recovery and protects the work we've done during your treatment.
Your skin journey doesn't end when you leave the treatment room. What happens between appointments matters too.
How many Dermapen4™ sessions do you need?
This is one of the most common questions we hear, and the honest answer is that it depends on your skin. But you deserve a sense of it before you book.
As a general guide, concerns such as acne scarring and uneven texture are usually worked through as a course of around three to six treatments rather than a single appointment. Skin needs a minimum of a few weeks between sessions to complete its repair cycle, so treatments are typically spaced four to six weeks apart. A course of this kind often runs across several months.
Some clients notice changes after a single treatment. Deeper or longstanding concerns usually ask for the full course to show meaningful progress.
Your treatment frequency will be prescribed according to your skin's condition, goals, response and recovery, and those numbers may shift once we see how your skin behaves.
This is also why we don't view Dermapen4™ as a one-off treatment that simply gets repeated on autopilot. Your skin is continually changing, so your treatment plan should be able to change with it.
At Purified Rituals, we work through a connected journey of Reset, Repair and Maintain. Dermapen4™ may form part of the Repair phase, while the treatments prescribed before and after it help prepare the skin, support recovery and protect the progress you're making.
Who is Dermapen4™ Skin Needling suitable for?
Dermapen4™ may be considered for clients who want to support concerns such as:
- Atrophic acne scarring or post-acne marks
- Certain types of pigmentation or uneven skin tone
- Fine lines and visible changes in skin firmness
- Enlarged pores and uneven skin texture
- Stretch marks on selected areas of the body
When we'd wait, or recommend something else
Skin needling isn't right for every skin at every moment. We would postpone or recommend an alternative if any of the following apply:
- Active breakouts, particularly inflamed or cystic acne in the treatment area
- A cold sore, or any active skin infection. Needling can spread the herpes simplex virus across the treated area, so tell us if you get cold sores at all, even if you don't have one now. It's a manageable history, not a barrier, but we need to know
- Eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis that's moderate to severe or currently flaring
- A tendency to form keloid or raised scars
- A weakened immune system, including during chemotherapy
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding, where we'd generally suggest waiting
- Melasma as your primary concern, for the reasons explained above
Also tell us if you're taking or have recently finished isotretinoin, commonly known as Roaccutane, or if you're on blood-thinning medication. Neither automatically rules you out, and we simply plan around them.
Rather than asking you to work all of that out yourself, we recommend beginning with Skin Ritual Mapping. This allows us to assess your skin, understand your treatment history and determine the most appropriate pathway for where your skin is now.
Questions we're often asked about Dermapen microneedling
Does microneedling hurt?
Sensation varies between clients and across different areas of the skin. Dermapen4™ settings and treatment depth are selected according to your individual skin and the area being treated. Most people describe it as tolerable rather than painful, with bonier areas such as the forehead and jawline feeling sharper than the cheeks. Your therapist will talk you through what to expect before your treatment begins and will adjust as you go.
How much downtime is there after microneedling?
Expect redness and warmth like a mild sunburn on the day, generally settling over about two to three days, sometimes with light flaking. Most clients are back to normal activities the next day, though we'd suggest planning around anything where you'd rather not be visibly flushed. Deeper treatments for scarring ask more of the skin than lighter ones, so your therapist will give you a realistic picture for the treatment you're having.
How many microneedling sessions will I need?
For concerns such as acne scarring and uneven texture, a course of around three to six treatments is typical, spaced roughly four to six weeks apart so the skin can complete its repair cycle between sessions. Some people see change sooner. Longstanding or deeper concerns usually need the full course. Your therapist will prescribe the plan for your skin at Skin Ritual Mapping and adjust it based on how you respond.
How long does microneedling last?
The changes supported by Dermapen4™ develop progressively as the skin moves through its natural repair and renewal processes. How long results remain visible depends on factors including your skin, concern, treatment course, home care, sun protection and ongoing maintenance. Collagen naturally declines with age, so most clients keep results with periodic maintenance treatments rather than treating a course as a permanent fix.
Can microneedling be used on all skin tones?
It's generally considered one of the more suitable options for deeper skin tones, because it works mechanically rather than with heat or light targeting pigment, which is where much of the risk sits with laser resurfacing. That doesn't make it risk free. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is still possible, particularly if treatment is too deep or too frequent, so depth, spacing and preparation are adjusted rather than applied from a standard protocol. Your skin condition, pigmentation type and treatment history are all assessed before treatment is prescribed.
Is an at-home dermaroller the same thing?
No. Home rollers drag fixed needles across the skin rather than stamping vertically, which tears rather than channels, and they're difficult to keep sterile between uses. They also can't be adjusted for depth by area, and depth is most of what makes professional needling both effective and safe. In Victoria, skin penetration businesses are registered with their local council and work to infection control standards, which is a meaningful difference from a device kept in a bathroom drawer.
What is the difference between skin needling and microneedling?
The terms skin needling and microneedling are commonly used to describe the same general treatment approach. At Purified Rituals, we use Dermapen4™ technology for our professional Skin Needling treatment.
Why consistency matters for long-term skin health
Dermapen4™ is a powerful treatment, but it isn't the whole skin journey.
Skin health is influenced by what happens before your treatment, how your skin is supported afterwards, the products you use at home and how consistently your treatment plan evolves with your skin.
That's why Purified Rituals is built around Reset, Repair and Maintain.
Rather than waiting until your skin feels like it needs rescuing, ongoing professional care allows us to monitor its progress, adjust what we're doing and prescribe the next ritual according to what your skin needs at that point in time.
ONGOING SKIN HEALTH
Where ritual becomes routine
Our skin memberships are designed for clients who want consistency built into their skin journey. From creating the foundations in Reset, to targeted correction through Repair and protecting progress through Maintain, your treatments evolve alongside your skin.
Discover Skin MembershipsThis article is general information about the treatments we offer and isn't a substitute for personal advice. Treatment suitability, timeframes and results vary between individuals. If you have a diagnosed skin condition, take prescription medication for your skin or have a mole or mark that's changing, please speak with your doctor or dermatologist before booking.
PURIFIED RITUALS · PRAHRAN, MELBOURNE
Is Dermapen4™ right for your skin?
Begin with Skin Ritual Mapping. We'll assess your skin, understand your concerns and prescribe a treatment journey based on what your skin needs now and where you want it to go.
Start With Skin Ritual Mapping
