What Microneedling Needles to Use on Face

There is no single microneedling needle size that is right for every part of every face. The correct choice depends on what is being treated, the anatomy of the area, the condition and thickness of the skin, the device and cartridge, and how the skin responds. Clinics and home users face the same decision: depth and cartridge must match the concern, the area of the face, and the individual’s skin response.

It also helps to separate two decisions people confuse. Needle count is the cartridge configuration — a 12-pin or 36-pin, for example. Needle depth is the setting that controls how far the needles are meant to protrude. Neither can be chosen safely from a universal internet chart. Deeper settings create more injury and more risk; they do not automatically create better results, and the number on a pen is a device setting, not a guarantee of exact penetration.

What should actually determine the choice

This article concerns mechanical microneedling — not RF microneedling, which adds heat and has a different risk profile.

Cartridges are single-use sharps

Use a new, compatible cartridge in sealed sterile packaging for every person and every session, including repeat sessions on the same person. Never wash, disinfect or reuse a cartridge. Dispose of it immediately in a sharps container, and clean reusable device parts exactly as the manufacturer instructs.

The products that fit

For repeat use, our compatible single-use replacement cartridges are the exact next step; the Dr Pen A1-C device is the hardware. If a glide is used, choose one made for the procedure — see the serum guide and our Hydrating Glide Serum. Precision matters more than intensity: careful selection reduces avoidable injury, but outcomes still vary.