SkinPen
Microneedling in Dubai

Acne scars on the cheeks, temples and jaw

Acne leaves three kinds of atrophic scar. Rolling scars are wide, shallow dips tethered by fibrous bands under the skin. Boxcar scars are sharp-edged craters, usually on the cheeks and temples. Ice-pick scars are narrow pits deeper than they are wide. SkinPen works on the first two: the needles break the tethering bands and the new collagen lifts the floor of the scar. Ice-pick scars are too narrow and deep for needling to reach; we tell you at the consultation if most of your scars are ice-pick, because a course of SkinPen would disappoint you.

The FDA clearance study treated moderate to severe acne scars three times, 30 days apart, at up to 1.5 mm. Six months after the last session, two blinded dermatologists graded 55% of the SkinPen patients as improved and none as worse; 90% of patients said their scars looked better. That is the honest scale of change: smoother, shallower, easier to cover, not gone.

Enlarged pores and skin texture

Pores look large when the collagen around them slackens. Needling at 0.5 to 1.0 mm on the nose, cheeks and chin tightens that collagen, so the pore openings shrink and the skin reflects light more evenly. Most patients notice smoother makeup application after the second session. Because the improvement comes from your own collagen, it holds for a year or more with one maintenance session.

Fine lines and neck creases

SkinPen Precision holds a second FDA clearance, K202243, for wrinkles on the neck. Horizontal neck lines respond well because the skin there is thin and rarely treated with anything else. Our before-and-after gallery shows the neck after one and after three sessions. On the face, we treat fine lines around the mouth and on the forehead at 0.25 to 1.0 mm; around the eyes we stay at 0.25 to 0.5 mm and never inside the orbital rim, as the device labelling requires.

When the change shows

Collagen is slow. Expect the first visible difference 4 to 6 weeks after session one, clearer change after session three, and the final result 6 months after your last visit. Your skin looks fresher within a week of each session because the surface is renewed, but that is not the scar result; do not judge the course by it. We photograph you under the same light at every visit and compare side by side.

The SkinPen Precision device

SkinPen Precision is made by Crown Aesthetics in the United States. It was the first microneedling device to receive FDA clearance, through De Novo DEN160029 for facial acne scars in adults aged 22 and over, and it holds a second clearance, K202243, for neck wrinkles. The cartridge carries 14 stainless-steel needles, the motor runs at 7 000 rpm, and the depth adjusts in 0.25 mm steps from 0 to 2.5 mm. The clinical study evaluated depths up to 1.5 mm, so that is our ceiling. Every cartridge is sterilised with ethylene oxide, sealed against fluid, and locks out after one use so it cannot be fitted a second time. The handpiece is covered by a fresh disposable sleeve for each patient.

Our SkinPen is an original device bought from the official UAE distributor, with cartridges from the same source. We can show you the paperwork.

SkinPen or Morpheus8

Both use needles; the difference is heat. Morpheus8 sends radiofrequency energy through insulated needles up to 4 mm deep, heating the fat and deep dermis. That heat tightens loose skin, which SkinPen cannot do, and reaches deeper scars.

A 2022 meta-analysis of 12 randomised trials with 414 patients found that microneedling without radiofrequency gave a larger scar improvement than the treatments it was compared with, while fractional RF microneedling did not reach significance, and that no form of microneedling caused post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. So for acne scars, pores and texture on any skin tone, SkinPen is our first choice. For jowls, a soft jawline or laxity under the chin, Morpheus8 is the right tool. Our guide Morpheus8 or SkinPen goes through the decision.

SkinPen or a chemical peel

A double-blind randomised trial in 2021 split 120 patients between microneedling alone, a chemical peel alone and both, four sessions 20 days apart. Only the combined group improved significantly on blinded scar grading, although all three groups felt better about their skin. We do not peel and needle on the same day; if a chemical peel suits your scars, we space it at least 4 weeks from a SkinPen session.

PRP and exosomes

Searches for "microneedling with PRP" and "exosome microneedling" bring many visitors to this page. SkinPen's clearance excludes transdermal delivery of any product, and the FDA classification for aesthetic microneedling devices says the same, so we do not apply PRP, exosomes or serums over open SkinPen channels. PRP Facial and Xomage exosomes are separate treatments with their own protocols; if you want them alongside a SkinPen course, we schedule them on different days.

Gentler options for glow rather than scars

If your concern is dullness or dehydration rather than scars, needling is more than you need. HydraFacial cleans and hydrates with no downtime, Dermadrop delivers actives without needles, and a Restylane skin booster hydrates from within for months. LED therapy can be added in the week after SkinPen to calm redness.

Why the cartridge matters

The FDA advises asking any clinic whether a new needle cartridge is used for each patient and each session, because a reused cartridge can pass infection between patients. The SkinPen cartridge makes reuse impossible: it locks out once removed from the handpiece. At Evolution Clinic we open the sealed cartridge in front of you at every session.

Before your session

Bring your skincare product list before the appointment so we can confirm which products to pause. Do not have a peel, microdermabrasion, laser or IPL on the face in the 4 weeks before. Wait 4 weeks after filler in the same area. Come without makeup, and without a tan: sunburnt skin is not treated.

Tell us about blood thinners, diabetes, eczema, psoriasis, a weakened immune system, keloid scars or cold sores. Cold sores are the one we prescribe for: an antiviral started the day before prevents the flare that needling can trigger.

After your session

Day 1: the skin is red, tight and warm, like a moderate sunburn. Use only the moisturiser we give you and cool water; no makeup, no exercise, no sauna, no swimming. Day 2: makeup is fine, and the redness has usually faded to pink. Days 2 to 6: some dryness or fine flaking is normal; do not pick or exfoliate. Avoid active skincare for the first week and check your product list with us before restarting. Wear SPF 30 or higher every day for 2 weeks; sun on fresh channels is the main cause of dark marks after microneedling.

Our article on SkinPen aftercare and recovery lists every day in detail.

Side effects and how often they happen

In the FDA clearance study, 31% of patients recorded redness, itching, peeling or tenderness lasting 1 to 3 days, 12% dryness lasting 1 to 6 days, 9% burning for 1 to 3 days and 4% tightness for 1 to 2 days. No adverse event persisted at 6 months. One patient developed fine lines on the forehead after sunbathing against instructions; they resolved. The labelling also lists cold-sore reactivation, temporary lighter or darker patches, and infection if aftercare is ignored. Nine randomised trials reviewed in 2021 reported no serious adverse effects from microneedling.

Contact us on WhatsApp the same day if you have spreading redness, warmth, pus or pain that gets worse instead of better. A doctor reviews your photo and tells you whether to come in; the clinic is open every day from 9:00 to 21:00.

Who should not have SkinPen

• Active acne with more than five inflamed spots, an infection, cold sore or wart in the area; we treat the acne first. - A history of keloid or hypertrophic scars. - Bleeding disorders or blood thinners that cannot be paused, uncontrolled diabetes or a weakened immune system. - Pregnancy and breastfeeding; we postpone the course. - Skin cancer or a suspicious mole in the area; a doctor assesses it first. - Allergy to lidocaine numbing cream or to stainless steel.

Our care standards

Evolution Aesthetics Clinic holds DHA Polyclinic License 6000514. Our doctors and practitioners are DHA-licensed and work within their approved scope. The SkinPen Precision and its cartridges are original products from the official UAE distributor, and we open a new sterile cartridge in front of you at every session. Read how many SkinPen sessions you will need before you decide on a course.