Living with Psoriasis/Hair, Nail, & Body Care

Microneedling and Psoriasis: Is It Safe?

Medically reviewed by Paul A. Regan, M.D., FAAD

Written by Emily Brown

Updated on October 16, 2026

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Key Takeaways

Microneedling is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that uses tiny needles to puncture the skin, which can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, acne scars, and stretch marks, but it may not be a safe option for people living with psoriasis.
For people with psoriasis, even minor skin injuries can trigger flares through a process called the Koebner phenomenon, where new lesions appear in areas where the skin has been harmed. Microneedling also carries general risks for anyone, including skin infections, scarring, redness, and changes in skin color or texture.
If you have psoriasis and are curious about microneedling, talking with a dermatologist before trying any new skin treatment is a good first step, as they can help you weigh the risks and find the safest options for your skin.

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Plenty of procedures claim to improve your skin. Microneedling is one of them. This minimally invasive cosmetic treatment can be done at the doctor’s office or at home.

Knowing which skin treatments are safe for psoriasis can be tricky. Microneedling is generally seen as safe for most people, but if you have psoriasis, it may not be worth the risk.

Read on to find out what microneedling is and the potential risks for people with and without psoriasis.

What Is Microneedling?

Microneedling uses a device with thin, tiny needles to puncture the skin. These small punctures prompt the skin to produce the proteins collagen and elastin. This is part of the natural healing process and helps keep the skin smooth and firm.

Because microneedling stimulates collagen, you may also hear it called collagen induction therapy.

Microneedling is mostly used for cosmetic reasons. It’s meant to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, acne scars, or stretch marks.

Yet microneedling also has medical purposes. For example, it can be used to help treat hair loss caused by a condition called androgenetic alopecia.

Microneedling can be done by a dermatologist, at home, or at a spa. The best results are usually seen from getting the procedure done at the dermatologist’s office since U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared devices are not available over the counter. It’s also the least risky option.

One session isn’t always enough to make a difference. People typically get microneedling in multiple sessions.

Microneedling and Psoriasis

Microneedling may be used to treat some medical conditions that involve the skin. These include androgenetic alopecia and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). However, microneedling isn’t appropriate for some conditions.

Microneedling is considered a skin rejuvenation technique. It can reduce the appearance of some skin issues, but it can’t treat skin affected by psoriasis.

Psoriasis may be a contraindication for microneedling. That means people with moderate to severe psoriasis are advised to avoid microneedling.

Why Microneedling and Psoriasis May Not Mix

Skin injuries — even minor ones — can trigger psoriasis flares. New lesions may appear in areas where previously healthy skin has been harmed. This is called the Koebner phenomenon.

Because microneedling causes punctures, it may pose a risk of psoriasis flares. Microneedling instruments are designed to cause minor skin injury to stimulate healing. For someone with psoriasis, whose skin is sensitive to even minor injury, it may backfire.

Some people wonder whether they can microneedle areas of skin far from psoriasis symptoms. For example, if you have psoriasis on your face, can you microneedle other, unaffected areas of the skin?

More research is needed on whether and how microneedling might affect areas of the skin without psoriasis symptoms. If you’re interested in getting microneedling on skin patches farther from psoriasis patches, talk to your dermatologist first.

Risks of Microneedling

Because minor skin injuries may trigger a psoriasis flare, microneedling carries a greater risk for those with psoriasis. In addition, microneedling — even for people without psoriasis — still poses a risk of skin damage. This includes:

Bleeding/bruising
Burning sensation
Crusting
Discomfort
Redness and other pigment (color) changes
Skin feeling tight
Itchy or peeling skin
Skin infections
Scarring

Microneedling also carries a minor risk of skin infection if the instrument isn’t clean. The device can also spread existing viruses or germs on the skin.

Infection and skin injury commonly trigger plaque psoriasis. As a result, the risks of microneedling for someone with plaque psoriasis, the most common type of psoriasis, may be too high.

Microneedling at Home

At-home microneedling kits, such as microneedle stamps or dermarollers, are gentler — though less effective — than what you would get at the dermatologist. Still, they carry risks, especially when done improperly. Microneedling too often or pressing too hard can damage the skin.

Risks of at-home microneedling include:

Infections from going too deep or using unclean instruments
Skin damage and scarring
Changes to skin tone, color, or texture
Spread of herpes or warts over the skin

Microneedling doesn’t directly cause an autoimmune disease like psoriasis. Instead, other environmental and genetic factors are likely to blame.

You might be prone to psoriasis without knowing it. In this case, the skin injuries and stress from microneedling could cause your first psoriasis flare-up.

Talk To Your Doctor About Microneedling With Psoriasis

Psoriasis can affect people differently and in different places. Although microneedling isn’t recommended for everyone with psoriasis, talk with a dermatologist to see whether it’s safe for you.

If you have a history of psoriasis, your dermatologist can assess your skin, disease activity, and the pros and cons of microneedling. If you plan to do microneedling at home, they may want to see your device and make sure you understand how to sanitize it properly. Given the risk of flares, you may feel most comfortable avoiding microneedling.

Always talk with your dermatology specialist before trying any new skin treatment or skin care and ask about ways to prevent psoriasis flares.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Microneedling Hurt?

Microneedling shouldn’t be painful, but it can be uncomfortable. It may feel like skin pricking, warmth, or scratching, especially on more sensitive areas.

If you’re having microneedling at the doctor’s office, they may use a longer needle to get the desired results. Before the procedure, they may apply lidocaine gel to numb the skin.

Is At-Home Microneedling Safe?

At-home microneedling can be safe for some people. It’s generally not recommended for people with certain skin conditions, like psoriasis. Safety also depends on how you use and clean the device and how well you prep your skin.

What’s the Recovery Like?

Microneedling is minimally invasive, so it doesn’t have much downtime. Your skin may look slightly inflamed (red, discolored, or puffy) for a few days, like you have sunburn.

Avoid sun exposure, harsh cleansers or skin care products, and makeup until your skin has recovered. If you have any signs of infection or your skin isn’t healing, follow up with your dermatologist.

References

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