
Microneedling
Art of Acupuncture’s Microneedling in St. Petersburg, FL
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× Microneedling Microneedling Treatments Benefits of Microneedling Our Microneedling Practitioner Frequently Asked Questions Are there any contraindications for microneedling? Treatments to Use Caution with When Combining with Microneedling Treatments That Should Not Be Combined with Microneedling Business Information Featured Blog PostsMicroneedling
Microneedling is a minimally invasive skin treatment that has gained popularity for its ability to promote collagen production and improve skin appearance. Also known as collagen induction therapy, this procedure involves the use of a device with fine needles that create micro-injuries, known as micro-channels, in the skin. These tiny punctures stimulate the body’s natural healing process, leading to increased collagen and elastin production, which helps smooth fine lines, improve skin elasticity, and restore a youthful glow.
The roots of microneedling can be traced back to ancient acupuncture techniques used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Acupuncture has long been used to enhance circulation and promote skin health by addressing imbalances in the body’s energy, or Qi. Microneedling aligns with these principles by stimulating the skin’s regenerative processes while promoting optimal qi and blood flow to the face.
Beyond its aesthetic benefits, microneedling also improves product absorption, allowing topicals to penetrate deeper for enhanced effectiveness. This makes it an excellent complement to natural skincare treatments that support skin hydration, clarity, and resilience. Whether addressing fine lines, acne scars, or overall skin tone, microneedling provides a safe and effective method for achieving a vibrant, healthy complexion.
Microneedling Treatments
Microneedling treatments offer a versatile approach to skin rejuvenation by stimulating collagen production and enhancing skin renewal. These treatments may help to minimize wrinkles, smooth fine lines, reduce pore size, and improve skin elasticity. Microneedling may also be effective in reducing signs of sun damage, lightening acne scars, and evening out skin tone. By triggering the skin’s natural healing process, it encourages firmer, more youthful-looking skin. When combined with specific topicals, results are amplified, making it an excellent choice for overall skin health and radiance.
Benefits of Microneedling
Microneedling is a natural, minimally invasive solution for skin rejuvenation, offering long-term benefits without the need for toxins or fillers. By stimulating cellular regeneration, it can improve skin texture, reduce scars, sun damage, and signs of aging, while enhancing product absorption and minimizing pores. This treatment restores a healthier, more balanced complexion Microneedling may help improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, sun spots, dark spots, rosacea (vascular type, non pustular or nodular), melasma, scarring (atrophic type, non keloid or hypertrophic), sagging skin, stretch marks, and cellulite.
Improves Appearance of Lines & Wrinkles
Microneedling stimulates collagen and elastin production, naturally plumping the skin and reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Unlike fillers, which provide temporary volume, microneedling may help to improve skin texture over time through the process of cellular regeneration, making it a long-lasting option for smoother, firmer skin.


Scar Treatment
By creating micro-injuries, microneedling triggers the skin’s healing response, breaking down old scar tissue and encouraging new cellular growth. This can make it particularly effective for acne scars, surgical scars, and other color or textural irregularities. Microneedling is specifically used in the treatment of atrophic scarring, but is not suitable in cases of hypertrophic or keloid scarring.
Reduces Sun Damage
Microneedling may help fade hyperpigmentation, sunspots, and uneven skin tone by accelerating cellular turnover. As fresh, healthy skin replaces damaged areas, the complexion becomes brighter and more even.


Anti-Aging Treatment
As we age, collagen production slows, leading to sagging and dull skin. Microneedling can help to combat this by revitalizing collagen and elastin, restoring skin’s firmness and youthful elasticity.
Minimizing Appearance of Pores
Although microneedling creates tiny punctures, the increased collagen production tightens and firms the surrounding skin, which can assist in reducing the appearance of enlarged pores, and give the skin a smoother, more refined look.


Improves Topical Product Effectiveness
The micro-channels created by microneedling allow topicals to penetrate deeper into the skin. This enhances hydration, nutrient absorption, and overall treatment effectiveness.
Improves Appearance of Stretch Marks
Stretch marks form when the skin stretches rapidly, damaging collagen fibers. Microneedling can help to rebuild collagen in these areas, softening the appearance of marks and improving skin texture over time.


Helps with Rosacea
By strengthening capillaries and promoting better circulation, microneedling can reduce redness and inflammation associated with rosacea. Microneedling is specifically used in the treatment of vascular rosacea, but is not suitable in cases of pustular or nodular rosacea. It also may thicken the skin, making it less reactive to environmental triggers.
Minimally Invasive
Microneedling provides powerful skin rejuvenation with little to no downtime. Unlike more invasive treatments, it encourages natural healing without the need for harsh chemicals or surgery.

Our Microneedling Practitioner

Katie Gibran
DOM, AP
Specialties: Fertility- Natural & IVF, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Chronic Illness and Pain, Microneedling
Frequently Asked Questions
We offer microneedling using a stamping method. This is different from using a traditional “gliding” microneedling device that moves across the skin while needles are also moving up and down linearly creating perforations, or micro-channels. A “stamping” microneedling device utilizes the same linear needle movement but the practitioner fully lifts the device away from the skin before moving on to another area. This method still produces the micro injuries necessary to stimulate the skin’s healing response, but does not cause the same amount of tearing or damage because there is no gliding or dragging motion while the needles are moving through the skin. A linear stamping approach creates clean and consistent microchannels with less discomfort, inflammation, and downtime.
Some people notice a slight improvement in skin texture and glow within a few days, but the skin is expected to fluctuate looking both better and temporarily worse as collagen production and cellular renewal continues for weeks. More noticeable changes, such as reduced appearance of fine lines and scars, typically appear after four to six sessions spaced four to six weeks apart.
Yes! Microneedling naturally boosts collagen and elastin production, improving skin firmness, texture, and overall health. It can help with wrinkles, scars, and sun damage without the use of chemicals or invasive procedures.
Microneedling creates micro-injuries in the skin, known as micro-channels, triggering the body’s natural healing process. This stimulates cellular regeneration which encompasses collagen and elastin production, along with overall tissue repair. This healing process may help to improve skin texture, reduce scars, fine lines, and discoloration, and enhance overall skin health.
Most people experience mild discomfort, similar to a slight prickling sensation. A numbing cream is typically applied beforehand to minimize any pain, making the procedure very tolerable.
Temporary redness, mild swelling, and skin sensitivity (similar to a sunburn) are common for the first few days following a microneedling treatment. . Some people may experience minor flaking, peeling, scabbing, or bruising over the next week, but these effects typically quickly subside as the skin heals. While a thorough intake is done to avoid any known allergies or sensitivities in topical products used during or after the microneedling process, allergic reactions are unlikely but still possible. In the case of skin irritation or any concerning symptoms beyond the above mentioned, consult with your practitioner and doctor for followup care.
For optimal results, sessions are usually spaced four to six weeks apart. Most people benefit from four to six treatments at a minimum, depending on their skin concerns and goals. With this method of microneedling, you may continue to have microneedling treatments done at this interval until you are satisfied with your results and would like to move to a maintenance schedule. For maintenance treatments, it is recommended to have 3-4 treatments per year (about once a season) to maintain lasting results. While the results achieved through your microneedling treatments will remain, the body will continue to age naturally and may show signs of environmental exposure. After a few years some patients choose to begin another concentrated series of treatments to address any new concerns.
For the first five to seven days after your microneedling treatment, refrain from using your regular cosmetic products. Once any flaking or peeling is resolved and your skin no longer feels sensitive, you may return to your usual cosmetics routine. Using non-comedogenic, gentle products after this period can help prevent irritation.
Are there any contraindications for microneedling?
Microneedling is a natural, minimally invasive solution for skin rejuvenation, offering long-term benefits without the need for toxins or fillers. By stimulating cellular regeneration , it can improve skin texture, reduce scars, sun damage, and signs of aging, while enhancing product absorption and minimizing pores. This treatment restores a healthier, more balanced complexion Microneedling may help improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, sun spots, dark spots, rosacea (vascular type, non pustular or nodular), melasma, scarring (atrophic type, non keloid or hypertrophic), sagging skin, stretch marks, and cellulite.
- Pregnancy
- Allergies or sensitivities to numbing cream or skincare ingredients used before, during, or after microneedling treatment
- Active inflammatory skin conditions that are open and weeping such as pustular/ nodular rosacea or weeping eczema
- Hypertrophic or keloid scarring
- Uncontrolled immune disorders or histamine intolerance
- Diabetes, hemophilia, or active herpes simplex
- Patients taking anticoagulant medications and supplements, accutane or any related acne medication.
- Avoid using serums or creams with Vitamin C or A, and products containing strong, synthetic ingredients for one week following treatment.
- Caution should be used if you are predisposed to dry skin. Microneedling temporarily releases moisture from the skin as micro-channels are opened. This can temporarily worsen dry skin during the healing process. It is recommended to begin exfoliating and moisturizing the skin prior to beginning your microneedling treatments to ensure dry skin is well managed beforehand.
- Caution should also be used if the desired treatment area contains tattoos. Microneedling can lighten tattoos noticeably but not fully remove them.
Treatments to use caution with when combining with microneedling:
- Dermaplaning or Microdermabrasion (professional microdermabrasion and dermaplaning can be acceptable if performed approximately two weeks before a microneedling treatment)
- Microneedling Patches
Treatments that should not be combined with microneedling:
- IPL (Intense Pulse Light): wait two weeks after IPL before receiving microneedling
- CO2 Fractional Laser (ablative) & Fraxel Laser (non-ablative): wait three weeks post treatment before receiving microneedling
- Peels: Because these treatments require the use of chemicals (although some organic), there is a higher risk of allergic skin reaction if combined with microneedling. It is best to wait at least two weeks after microneedling, depending on the intensity of the peel.
- Laser hair removal: wait two weeks after laser hair removal to receive microneedling
- BOTOX / DYSPORT / Injectable Neuromodulators / Fillers: wait a full 2 weeks following injections of both botox and fillers before beginning the microneedling process.
- In general, it is ideal for patients to discontinue other cosmetic interventions while going through the microneedling process.
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2941 5th Avenue North St. Petersburg, FL 33713
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Monday – Thursday: 8:30am – 6:30pm
Friday – Saturday: 9:00am – 5:00pm