Dermarolling is a great way to improve skin texture, boost collagen, and help products absorb better. But one of the biggest mistakes people make is using it too often or with the wrong needle size.
Your skin needs time to heal and rebuild after each session, and that recovery period changes depending on how deep the needles go. The deeper the needle, the longer the healing time. Here’s exactly how often you should dermaroll based on needle size and why sticking to that schedule is so important.
What is the Recommended Usage?
0.25mm — Twice per week
These super tiny needles only reach the surface of your skin; they don’t cause much trauma, which means you can safely use them twice per week. Think of this as a maintenance size that preps your skin to drink up your serums more effectively.
0.5mm — Once per week
This size is confirmed in reviews and studies as the perfect size for collagen stimulation. Weekly use gives your skin enough time to recover and rebuild without irritation. Continued use will often result in younger, lifted, and glowy skin!
0.75mm — Once every 3 weeks
Now we’re getting into the collagen-inducing zone. These needles go deeper into the skin and trigger a real healing response, which means your skin needs rest between sessions. Three weeks is typically the perfect recovery window.
1.0mm — Once per month
A 1.0mm roller penetrates deeply enough to remodel collagen and elastin fibers. Your skin needs around 4 weeks to go through the full healing cycle, inflammation, repair, and regeneration, before you treat it again.
1.5mm — Once every 6 weeks
This is the most intense size meant for serious skin remodeling. Because it causes deeper micro-injuries, it needs a longer recovery period. Using it too soon can cause lasting irritation or even scarring. Less is definitely more here.
Why It’s So Important to Follow the Right Frequency?
Your skin is a living organ; it needs time to repair itself after each microneedling session. Microneedling works by creating tiny controlled injuries that trigger your skin’s healing response. Collagen production, however, takes time, usually several weeks. Rolling again before the skin has repaired can interrupt this process, leaving you with inflammation instead of regeneration.
Proper timing ensures your skin finishes healing and strengthens between sessions. Overdoing it keeps the skin in a constant state of damage, which can cause:
1. Irritation and Sensitivity
If you don’t give your skin time to rest, it can become red, flaky, and sore. You might even develop small bumps or rashes that take weeks to calm down.
2. Breakouts and Infections
Your skin barrier is temporarily open after dermarolling, that’s why hygiene is so important. If you roll too often, use a dirty tool, or apply harsh products afterward, bacteria can sneak in and cause breakouts or infections.
3. Hyperpigmentation
Too much trauma (especially on darker skin tones) can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, dark spots that take months to fade. It’s one of the most common mistakes seen with at-home dermarolling.
4. Scarring
If you roll too deep or too soon, you could actually create scars instead of healing them. Your skin needs time to build new, healthy tissue before you trigger more micro-injuries.
5. Reduced Results
When you rush the process, you don’t allow collagen to mature properly. You end up weakening your skin’s foundation, meaning less firmness, slower progress, and inconsistent texture over time.
Aside from knowing how often to use a dermaroller, you may have noticed that the table above also includes a guide to help you choose the right needle size for different skin concerns. If you’d like to learn more about which dermaroller size is best for you and get a deeper understanding of the treatment, watch the video below:
So be patient, consistent, and gentle. Your dermaroller will reward you with smoother, firmer, healthier skin over time. Thank you for reading, till next time, my Amber Babies! Please don't forget to subscribe and follow me on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok 🥳