Microneedling vs. Chemical Peels: Which is Best For You?
One of the best ways of maintaining beautiful, glowing skin is by shedding away the old layers of damaged and dead skin. It’s a straightforward idea and an attractive skincare option for many who shy away from more advanced, injectable treatments. Two of the most popular skin renewal treatments currently are microneedling and chemical peels. These treatments serve a similar purpose but are two very different procedures. While both treatments provide exceptional results, depending on the individual, one may be more appealing than the other. This article will explain everything you need to know about microneedling vs. chemical peels.
What is Microneedling?
Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, is a minimally invasive procedure that helps stimulate the production of collagen and promotes radiant and youthful skin. Using small, sterilized needles, this treatment creates micro-punctures, stimulating collagen and rejuvenating the skin, resulting in a smoother, firmer, and more toned complexion. Microneedling can be used to treat/correct a number of skin imperfections including:
To ensure the best possible outcomes, it is advisable to seek the expertise of a board-certified dermatologist, cosmetic surgeon, or aesthetician for your microneedling treatment. Each session lasts approximately 30 minutes, making it a convenient option for individuals with busy schedules. However, multiple treatments may be necessary to achieve optimal results.
How Safe is Microneedling?
Most individuals in good overall health can safely undergo this treatment. However, certain precautions should be taken into account. It is important to note that microneedling may not be suitable for individuals who use specific acne medications, have active acne, or suffer from moderate to severe psoriasis or eczema. Following the procedure, you may experience minor redness and irritation for a few days, which is a normal part of the healing process. Other than these minor side effects, microneedling is a safe, minimally invasive procedure with very little downtime.
How Much Does Microneedling Cost?
Investing in your skin’s health with microneedling comes with a price tag that varies depending on several factors. Each session can range from $200 to $800, depending on the size of the treated area, the number of sessions required, and the rates charged by the professional. However, if you’re only treating a small area or doing a light session, the cost can be as little as $150. In most cases, insurance does not cover microneedling unless it is deemed medically necessary by your doctor, which is rare. Therefore, it is essential to consider the financial aspect when planning for this transformative procedure.
How Effective is Microneedling?
Microneedling is renowned for its remarkable efficacy in addressing various skin concerns. It has proven effective in reducing the appearance of acne scars, dark spots, wrinkles, and large pores. Additionally, it aids in the treatment of stretch marks and maturing skin, leaving you with a brighter and firmer complexion. While ideal results are achieved through multiple sessions, it is important to note that maintaining the effects may require a long-term maintenance plan. And compared to at-home rollers, microneedling reigns supreme in terms of effectiveness, delivering transformative results that enhance your skincare routine.
Also, microneedling coupled with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can greatly enhance the body's natural collagen production, yielding remarkable results. During the procedure, a small quantity of your blood will be drawn and placed into a centrifuge machine, which separates it into distinct layers. Simultaneously, a dermatologist will utilize a microneedling device to create minuscule punctures in the skin. Once the blood is prepared, the dermatologist will apply the platelet-rich portion onto the treated area. This powerful combination is particularly effective for diminishing acne scars and is considered safe for individuals with darker skin tones.
What are Chemical Peels?
Chemical peels are a cosmetic procedure that uses a chemical solution on the face, neck, or hands to help shed damaged skin cells and reveal a healthier, more vibrant layer of skin. Once applied, the old layer of skin will exfoliate and eventually peel off producing a fresh, less wrinkled and damaged layer of skin. There are several different types of chemical peels including light, medium, and deep which all have different chemical compositions in order to address different skin concerns. There are several reasons people may get chemical peels. Many of the skin concerns they address are similar to microneedling, including:
How Safe Are Chemical Peels?
When performed by a board-certified dermatologist, cosmetic surgeon, or aesthetician, chemical peels are one of the safest cosmetic procedures out there. It’s completely non-invasive and can work for almost any individual. It is still crucial to follow your provider's post-procedure steps carefully in order to ensure safety and optimal results.
How Much Do Chemical Peels Cost?
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of chemical peels is about $519. However, prices can vary depending on multiple factors including the expertise/reputation of the provider and the type of chemical peel one is getting. It also depends on the geographic location of where you get the treatment. The cost of a chemical peel from a med spa in Orange County will be different from a med spa in Dallas, Texas.
How Effective Are Chemical Peels?
All chemical peel types ranging from light, medium, to deep, are effective in improving the skin’s tone and texture and removing any impurities such as damaged skin or fine lines and wrinkles. With a light chemical peel, the results will be more subtle, but you will still feel a difference in the quality of the new skin. With a medium chemical peel, the tone and texture of the new layer of skin will be noticeably smoother and fresher. And with a deep chemical peel, you will be sure to see a dramatic difference in the quality of your skin. Typically, deep chemical peels are used to address larger skin imperfections like scarring from injury or surgery.
It’s important to note that chemical peels, like microneedling, do not offer permanent results. They work to remove impurities and imperfections of the skin and provide a new, fresh layer to replace the old, damaged skin. After getting a treatment, it’s still possible to re-damage your skin whether it be from sun damage or over-exfoliation.
Which Treatment is Better?
While both of these treatments provide exceptional results, microneedling slightly tops chemical peels as the superior treatment for a few reasons. The process of microneedling stimulates collagen production and works to trigger growth factors into healing the micro-punctured skin. Chemical peels on the other hand just remove the top layer of skin and replace it with the newer, fresher layer underneath. The healing factor of microneedling provides better and longer-lasting results than chemical peels. Also, chemical peels typically work better with fairer, lighter skin, with darker skin individuals risking some discoloration. On the other hand, microneedling works the same for all types of skin and is, therefore, a better universal treatment. And microneedling requires much less downtime and aftercare than chemical peels.
This isn’t to say that individuals should opt for microneedling 100% of the time over chemical peels. Chemical peels can be a very good treatment for specific conditions. Typically, when dealing with superficial imperfections on the top layer of your skin, you won’t need a full microneedling session to treat it. A light chemical peel will do the job much better. Conversely, when dealing with deeper, more troublesome skin issues, microneedling would be the better option. And while both of these treatments have their at-home, do-it-yourself counterparts, these versions are often much less effective than the actual procedures. To achieve optimal results, it’s best to have them performed by a board-certified dermatologist, cosmetic surgeon, or a qualified aesthetician. If you are considering either of these treatments, then make sure to choose M Health and Beauty for the best possible results.

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