The ultimate guide to microneedling at home

  • By Dermaroller UK

Published: Tuesday, 25th March, 2025

Microneedling is one of the aesthetic success stories of recent years, and it’s no surprise as the treatment improves tone, texture and radiance whilst also boosting the absorption of your topical active ingredients by 1000%*
 

This non-surgical treatment, which was pioneered in Germany by Dermaroller more than 20 years ago, is more popular than ever, resulting in a surge of at-home microneedling devices coming to market. However, some of these use longer needle lengths than is safe in an unsupervised environment, leading consumers to believe they can target concerns that can only be addressed by a professional in-clinic.

Safe needle length

Needle lengths between 1.5mm to 2.5mm can be routinely used by aesthetic professionals to target the dermis and the skin’s deeper layers, causing controlled micro-trauma resulting in collagen stimulation. However, this approach is best left to qualified experts—any treatment that causes skin trauma and bleeding should only be undertaken in a clinical setting.

 

Stringent requirements for at home microneedling dictate that needles should be much shorter—no longer than .2mm. Designed to target the epidermis only, the bottom line is that no home use device should be claiming to promote collagen stimulation as it should not be able to penetrate the dermis.

Why use microneedling at home?

The Original Home Care Dermaroller is the only home microneedling device pending FDA approval, and is unsurpassed for its safety and efficacy. This Rolls Royce of microneedling devices even undergoes a triple quality control check to ensure perfection.

 

At home microneedlng should be your go-to for improved texture, tone and a healthy glow. The surgical grade stainless steel Dermaroller features 0.2mm atraumatic needles that meet the stringent requirements for a home use device, helping to refine pores, boost radiance and improve texture by making very small, superficial punctures in the skin with no risk of bleeding.

 

If you follow a simple at home protocol and the ‘less is more’ approach, you should reap the benefits from your Dermaroller. The device has 162 needles in the barrel (compared to 540 on some other devices that use disk needles)—this avoids snagging the skin, and they are far enough apart to be effective. However, avoid applying too much pressure: be gentle when rolling back and forth over the skin.

 

If skin is inflamed, very sensitive or you have breakouts, active acne, eczema or rosacea, do not attempt microneedling at home and consult a qualified practitioner for advice. Always sterilise your Dermaroller after each use, and replace after 50 uses.

Five benefits to at home microneedling 

1. Boost product absorption

0.3 per cent is the average amount of the active ingredients in a topical product that normally penetrates skin to the deeper layers—introduce microneedling into your regime and this increases 1000 per cent, with home rollering facilitating excellent transdermal delivery. After microneedling, choose a gentle serum containing peptides, hyaluronic acid or niacinamide. Opt for water-based products over oil based, to avoid clogging pores, and start enjoying the enhanced results from your skincare routine. Always finish with an effective SPF—it’s a non negotiable when microneedling at home.

2. Encourage circulation

Due to the quality of the needles, no pressure is needed when using the Dermaroller—you’ll be on your way to glowy radiance in no time at all! As it assists microcirculation, it’s normal for skin to be a bit pink afterwards, however it should never be irritated.

3. Exfoliate skin

Each pass of the Dermaroller works to exfoliate the skin, removing dead and dull skin cells and encouraging new cells to form. For this reason, it’s best to keep exfoliating acid-based skincare for when you’re not microneedling, to avoid over-stimulating skin. 

4. Refine texture and tone

While at home microneedling can’t boost collagen production, stimulating the skin helps with rejuvenation, and coupled with the increased absorption of active ingredients you’ll see a positive effect on texture and tone. There is no risk of pigmentation with home rollering—the 0.2mm depth carries no risk of disrupting melanocytes.

5. Elevate your regime

At home microneedling slots straight into your existing skincare routine to elevate results with just one to three uses per week. The best time to perform microneedling at home is in the evening, as skin is likely to feel warm and you’ll be a bit flushed afterwards. You’ll also want to avoid applying makeup for a few hours.