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Can You Wash Your Face After Microneedling?

Written by Our Editorial Team
6 MIN

One of the most common questions we get from people trying our at-home Micro-Infusion System is can you wash your face after microneedling? It's a great question—and an important one. Knowing when and how to cleanse your face after microneedling plays a big role in how well your skin heals and how effective your results are.

In this article, we'll explain what microneedling does, how our Qure Skincare Micro-Infusion treatment works with minimal downtime, and exactly when it's safe to wash your face. We'll also go over what to avoid, what could happen if you cleanse too soon, why aftercare matters, and the best way to keep your skin clean and happy post-treatment.

What this article covers:

What Is Microneedling?
Can You Wash Your Face After Microneedling?
Best Practices For Washing Your Face After Microneedling
Why Should You Choose Micro Infusion?

What Is Microneedling?

Microneedling is a skin treatment that uses tiny needles to create micro-injuries in the skin. These tiny “wounds” jumpstart your body's natural healing process for firmer, smoother skin

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It's a technique often used to fade acne scars, soften fine lines, and even out texture. It's much more effective than traditional dermarolling. Why? Because microneedling penetrates deeper and delivers more consistent results with fewer risks.

Now here's the part we love most—at Qure Skincare, we've made microneedling easier and more effective than ever before. Our at-home Qure Micro Infusion System mimics the benefits of in-office microneedling but with zero stress.

Featuring 24K gold-plated, clinical-grade needles and a specially formulated serum, it delivers precise, targeted treatment—no harsh downtime required.

Can You Wash Your Face After Microneedling?

Technically, yes—but not right away. When you microneedle, you're creating controlled microchannels in your skin.

These are open doors into your skin's deeper layers, which is great for skincare absorption—but not so great if you apply tap water or harsh cleanser too soon. If you've had a professional microneedling session, especially one with deeper needle penetration, you'll usually need a solid 24 hours (sometimes more) before you reach for your cleanser.

However, our Qure Micro Infusion treatment is much gentler. Thanks to our carefully calibrated needle length and soothing serum, most users experience minimal to no downtime. That means your skin bounces back faster.

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That being said, we recommend using our Micro Infusion system in the evening. That's because even though it's safe to do so, you shouldn't wash your face right away. Using it in the evening and waiting to wash your face in the morning means that any remaining serum on your skin will be fully absorbed overnight, leading to the best possible results.

When Can You Wash Your Face After Microneedling?

From our research and dermatologist insights, the general rule of thumb is to wait at least 6–24 hours, depending on the intensity of the treatment.

For in-clinic treatments using longer needles (think 1.5mm or more), you'll want to wait a full 24 to even 48 hours. This allows the skin to start closing those microchannels and prevents introducing bacteria or irritating ingredients.

With Qure's Micro Infusion? After putting it to the test, we've found it best to wait until the morning after, so that you can maximize the effectiveness of the treatment.

What Happens If You Wash Your Face Too Soon After Microneedling?

Washing too soon can disrupt the healing process and reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. Immediately after microneedling, your skin absorbs everything like a sponge.

If you introduce water, cleanser, or any harsh ingredients too early, you risk flushing out the powerful ingredients from your serum, introducing bacteria into your open microchannels, or causing unnecessary irritation.

Think of it like this: your skin is in healing mode. You don't want to throw it off with anything that could cause inflammation, breakouts, or set back all the progress you just made. Waiting the right amount of time is a small price to pay for optimal glow.

Why Does Microneedling Aftercare Matter?

Microneedling isn't just about the needles—it's about the healing that happens afterward. That's when your skin starts to transform. But if you throw the wrong product or bacteria into the mix too early, your results could stall—or worse, your skin could react.

This makes taking good care of your skin afterward crucial. This includes everything from avoiding sun exposure after microneedling to taking extra care with exfoliation after microneedling.

From our experience, the first 24 hours after microneedling are prime time for transformation. That's why keeping things simple, sterile, and soothing is so crucial.

Best Practices For Washing Your Face After Microneedling

Start With Just Water

For your very first rinse, skip the cleanser entirely and stick to lukewarm water only. Use clean hands to gently splash your face—no scrubbing, no washcloths, and absolutely no facial tools. Your goal here isn't to “clean” in the traditional sense, but rather to gently remove any sweat or residual serum from the treatment.

Hot water can trigger redness or sensitivity, while cold water may tighten the skin uncomfortably. Lukewarm is your safe zone. This first rinse should feel calming, not like a deep clean. Think of it as giving your skin a moment to breathe and reset without adding any unnecessary friction or ingredients.

Choose A Gentle, Non-Foaming Cleanser

After a full day—once your skin is no longer feeling sensitive or flushed—you can begin to reintroduce a gentle cleanser. Look for a non-foaming formula that's free from fragrance, alcohol, exfoliating acids, or any active ingredients.

Cream or gel cleansers made specifically for sensitive or post-treatment skin are perfect, and they won't strip your skin of essential moisture.

The idea here is to support your skin's natural healing without disrupting the barrier you've just spent time encouraging. Foaming cleansers might feel satisfying, but they tend to be drying. Post-microneedling skin needs calm, comfort, and hydration—not bubbles.

Pat, Don't Rub

After washing your face, it's tempting to grab a towel and give your skin a quick rub. But don't. Your skin is still healing from micro-injuries, and friction can lead to irritation or even delay your results. Instead, pat your face dry using a clean, soft towel—preferably one you've set aside just for this purpose.

If you're not sure your towel is 100% clean or if your skin still feels a bit tender, it's okay to let your face air dry. Either way, the key is to avoid any unnecessary tugging or abrasion during this sensitive post-treatment period.

Skip The Extras

For the first 24 to 48 hours, hold off on anything with active ingredients—no exfoliants, toners, acids, or retinoids. Even vitamin C can be too much.

Your skin needs hydration, not stimulation. Stick with barrier-repair products and hydrating face serums like a hyaluronic acid serum after microneedling or a gentle moisturizer designed for post-treatment use.

These will also help with any itching after microneedling and do a better job than Aquaphor after microneedling.

We know it can be tempting to cover up redness with makeup—but trust us, it's worth the wait. Makeup can clog healing pores and introduce bacteria into those open microchannels, which could trigger breakouts or even infection. Give your skin a break and let it heal naturally.

Don't want to wait so long? Our Micro Infusion device allows you to get back to your regular skincare routine much quicker than in-clinic microneedling.

Keep Your Hands Off

Post-treatment skin can feel a bit strange—tight, tingly, or itchy. You might instinctively want to touch it, but this is one habit worth breaking. Your hands carry bacteria, even when you think they're clean, and touching your face can introduce germs into vulnerable skin, increasing the risk of irritation or breakouts.

If you need to apply skincare, make sure your hands are freshly washed and that you're using clean tools or applicators where possible. Be gentle and deliberate. Think of your skin like a healing wound—you wouldn't poke at a scraped knee, so treat your face with the same care.

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Change Your Pillowcase

Your pillowcase may seem harmless, but if it hasn't been washed recently, it could be holding onto oils, bacteria, and old product residue. After microneedling, that's not something you want your skin in contact with for eight hours a night. We recommend changing your pillowcase right after treatment.

Soft, breathable materials like cotton or silk are ideal. Silk is especially helpful post-treatment since it reduces friction and won't absorb your skincare products. Clean bedding helps keep your healing skin safe and breakout-free while you sleep, and it's a simple step that can make a noticeable difference in your results.

Why Should You Choose Micro Infusion?

Traditional microneedling often comes with 3 to 5 days of redness, peeling, and downtime. With Qure's Micro-Infusion System, you get the same skin-smoothing, glow-boosting benefits with just 24 hours of mild sensitivity. No flaking. No hiding at home.

Our Micro Infusion uses ultra-fine 24K gold-plated needles and a targeted serum to deliver ingredients deep into the skin, all while being gentle enough for regular use.

It fits easily into your routine and gives real results without the recovery time, meaning that you can get back to washing your face faster. If you want firmer, brighter, and more even skin—without pressing pause on your life—this is the smarter way to do it.

Conclusion

Washing your face after microneedling isn't complicated, but timing and technique matter. From understanding what microneedling does to your skin to knowing when it's safe to cleanse and how to do it properly, following the right aftercare steps is key to seeing the best results.

With Qure Skincare's at-home Micro Infusion system, you get all the skin-revitalizing benefits of microneedling with minimal downtime, which means you can return to your routine faster and more confidently.

Whether it's your first treatment or part of your regular skincare ritual, keeping your skin clean, calm, and cared for post-treatment makes a noticeable difference. Try the Qure Skincare Micro Infusion System today and take your skincare results to the next level.

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