Microneedling & Resurfacing
Microneedling
Also known as: Microneedling (Dr. Pen)
Pain Level
Mild
Downtime
3-5 days
Sessions
Moxie repeats every 4 weeks at home
Cost Range (AED)
Moxie cost: AED 500 device + AED 150 serum (lasts ~4 sessions)
Results Timeline
Moxie sees improvement in under a week
Moxie Notes
From Moxie
This entry is based on my own hands-on expertise, not general instruction. I've been doing regular microneedling — not Morpheus8 — with a Dr.
Pen at home every four weeks for about a year to a year and a half, on my full face and neck, and it has drastically improved my skin quality: I see post-inflammatory marks, pigmentation and acne scars fade over time, usually noticing improvement in under a week. I do not recommend at-home microneedling for beginners.
I'm comfortable doing this myself specifically because I've built up years of trial and error, clinic experience watching professionals work, and strict aftercare discipline — not because it's inherently low-risk.
My routine: avoid sun, wear sunscreen, avoid harsh actives for about three days, and time it before a weekend at home so I'm not exposed. If you don't have that background, a professional treatment is the safer starting point.
Start Here
First, try this if
- Acne scars, texture, pores and PIH-prone skin. - People who can commit to aftercare and sun avoidance. - Fitzpatrick III-VI skin tones, often with lower PIH risk than aggressive lasers when done correctly. - Experienced users only if considering at-home devices.
Don't expect
Results build gradually, not overnight — realistic timeline is Moxie sees improvement in under a week.
See a dermatologist first if
- Active acne, infection or compromised barrier. - Poor hygiene or reused cartridges. - Deep home needling without training. - Strong actives immediately after treatment.
What It Is
Regular microneedling uses tiny needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin. This is different from RF microneedling because there is no radiofrequency heat. It is used for acne scars, texture, pores, fine lines and post-inflammatory marks.
Moxie covers it because it is her most loved treatment - but also because at-home use should not be normalized casually.
How It Works
Microneedling triggers a wound-healing response. The skin responds by forming new collagen and remodeling tissue over time. Channels may also increase penetration of products, which is why sterile, appropriate products matter. The result depends on depth, technique, spacing, hygiene and aftercare.
The same treatment can be helpful or damaging depending on how it is done.
The Evidence
Concerns Addressed
Acne scarring, rough texture, PIH, fine lines/wrinkles and enlarged pores.
Reviews support microneedling for atrophic acne scars, including as monotherapy or combined with other treatments. At-home safety is a separate issue; clinical evidence for professional microneedling does not automatically validate unsafe home technique.
Microneedling has a substantial published evidence base including multiple RCTs and systematic reviews for scarring, texture, and mild laxity, with generally consistent positive findings, though effect sizes vary by protocol (needle depth, session frequency) and are typically more modest than ablative resurfacing.
View source →Reviewed by Moxie — last checked July 2026
Am I a Good Candidate?
- Acne scars, texture, pores and PIH-prone skin. - People who can commit to aftercare and sun avoidance. - Fitzpatrick III-VI skin tones, often with lower PIH risk than aggressive lasers when done correctly. - Experienced users only if considering at-home devices.
Caution or Avoid
- Active acne, infection or compromised barrier. - Poor hygiene or reused cartridges. - Deep home needling without training. - Strong actives immediately after treatment.
What to Expect
Step 1 - Consultation: In clinic, scar type, skin tone and contraindications are checked. At home, this step should be replaced by prior education and professional experience. Step 2 - Numbing: Numbing may be used depending on depth. Step 3 - The procedure: Needles create controlled microchannels across the area.
Step 4 - Immediately after: Redness and sensitivity are expected. Avoid sun, makeup, harsh actives and contamination. Step 5 - Timeline and maintenance: Glow may appear within days; scar and pigment changes build over repeated sessions.
Cost Breakdown
Personal cost: Dr. Pen device about AED 500. The AED 150 serum lasts about 4–5 sessions, not the whole routine. Maintenance: Moxie repeats every 4 weeks.
Concerns Addressed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is at-home microneedling safe?
It can be, but only with experience — Moxie is clear she does not recommend at-home microneedling for beginners. She's comfortable doing it herself only after years of trial and error, clinic experience and strict aftercare (avoiding sun and harsh actives for about three days after each session).
How is regular microneedling different from RF microneedling (Morpheus8)?
Regular microneedling uses only needles to trigger a wound-healing and collagen response, with no radiofrequency heat — Morpheus8 adds RF energy that reaches deeper tissue, which carries a different and higher risk profile (including facial fat loss in Moxie's experience).
How often should you do microneedling?
Moxie repeats it every 4 weeks on her full face and neck, and has been doing so for about one to one-and-a-half years.
The Verdict
Love It
My biggest skin-quality game changer.
Moxie Ratings
Not medical advice. Content is based on personal experience and published research. Always consult a qualified dermatologist before starting any new treatment or regimen.
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