Microcurrent vs Microneedling, Which Is Better for Your Skin
Medically reviewed by
4 independent reviewers
Andrew Conrad Barile, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | Licensed Physical Therapist (PT) | CEO and Founder, Xtreem Pulse LLC
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Dr. Andrew Conrad Barile is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and the CEO and Founder of Xtreem Pulse LLC, the engineering company behind PureLift. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Daemen College and is a licensed physical therapist.
He brings over two decades of clinical and entrepreneurial experience across physical therapy, craniosacral therapy and medical device innovation, built on a working knowledge of human anatomy and muscle physiology.
For PureLift LAB he reviews how current is delivered across all ten levels, from sub-sensory nanocurrent and skin-level microcurrent to motor-level EMS, and how the Infuse pass fits into the same ten-minute routine.
Bertica M. Rubio, M.D.
Board-Certified Physician, Dartmouth Medical School | Medical Director, Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic
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Dr. Bertica M. Rubio is a board-certified physician and Medical Director of the Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic in Redlands, California. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School and completed her pediatrics residency at UC Irvine Medical Center.
With decades of clinical experience, she specialises in age management medicine, regenerative medicine, wound healing and growth factor therapies, and her practice integrates evidence-based medical science with advanced aesthetic treatment.
For PureLift LAB she reviews articles for medical accuracy across the whole dial, from the gentle nanocurrent and microcurrent settings through to muscle-level EMS and the Infuse pass.
Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Otolaryngologist | Head and Neck Surgeon | Fellow, American College of Surgeons | Mount Sinai
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Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS is a board-certified otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at ENT and Allergy Associates in West Nyack, New York. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He completed his otolaryngology residency at New York University Medical Center, serves as Assistant Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
For PureLift LAB he brings a wider clinical lens, connecting at-home facial stimulation from microcurrent to EMS to the anatomy underneath, with the same rigour we apply to every device specification.
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann
Chair of Angiology, Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg | Clinic Director, University Clinic for Angiology
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Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann is Chair of Angiology at the Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane and Clinic Director of the University Clinic for Angiology at the Brandenburg University Hospital.
He trained at the University of Hamburg, was a Max Planck Society Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, and held senior consultant posts at the Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin before his appointment as Chair in 2016.
One of Europe's leading authorities on arteriogenesis, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications and US and EU patents, he reviews for PureLift LAB how the evidence on electrical stimulation is read and where its limits lie.
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Microneedling is better for texture, acne scars, enlarged pores and fine lines because it works inside the skin, while microcurrent is better for a softer jawline and a lifted look because it works on the muscles, and many people use both on a schedule.
This comparison sets out what you need to choose, such as:
- how each treatment works
- what the research shows for each
- downtime, comfort and cost
- which concern each one suits
- how long to wait between them
and many more!
We make microcurrent devices, and we send readers to microneedling whenever the skin's texture is the main concern.
Key Points:
Microneedling makes tiny controlled punctures that prompt the skin to repair itself and build collagen.
Microcurrent passes a low current to the facial muscles for a firmer, more lifted look, without breaking the skin.
Microneedling suits scars, texture, pores and fine lines; microcurrent suits sagging contours.
Microneedling brings redness for one to a few days; microcurrent has no downtime.
Wait until the skin has fully healed after microneedling, often about a week, before restarting microcurrent.
Two treatments, two different layers
The simplest way to choose is to ask which layer of your face is causing the problem. Microneedling works in the skin, the surface you see and touch. Microcurrent works in the muscles beneath it, which hold up the contours of your cheeks, jaw and brows.
When the issue is the skin itself, such as rough texture or acne scars, microneedling is the stronger tool. When the issue is shape, such as a jawline that has softened or cheeks that sit lower than they did, microcurrent addresses the cause directly.
How microneedling works
A pen or roller with very fine needles makes thousands of tiny channels in the skin. The skin treats these as minor injuries and responds with a repair process that includes new collagen and elastin.
Aust and colleagues, writing in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 2008, reported on a large series of patients treated this way for scars, wrinkles and skin laxity, and described improvements in skin quality alongside increased collagen on tissue samples. Clinic treatments use deeper needles than home rollers, and results build over a series of sessions spaced weeks apart.
How microcurrent works
A microcurrent device glides over a layer of conductive gel and sends a very low current to the facial muscles. Nothing breaks the skin, and most people feel a light tingle or nothing at all.
A randomized controlled trial by Kavanagh and colleagues, published in 2012, measured the effect of facial electrical stimulation after twelve weeks of regular use. Results come from frequent sessions, four or five a week to start, which is why a home device makes it practical. What the research says about collagen specifically is in our microcurrent and collagen article.
Side by side
| Microneedling | Microcurrent | |
|---|---|---|
| Works on | Skin texture and collagen | Facial muscle tone |
| Best for | Scars, pores, fine lines, texture | Jawline, cheeks, brows, a lifted look |
| Breaks the skin | Yes | No |
| Downtime | Redness for one to a few days | None |
| Schedule | A clinic series weeks apart | Frequent short sessions, often at home |
Which one suits your concern
Acne scars, enlarged pores or crepey, uneven texture point to microneedling with a trained provider.
A heavier lower face, softer jaw or tired-looking brows point to microcurrent, explained in our microcurrent for jowls article and our jawline device guide.
If you want both smoother skin and firmer contours, the two treatments complement each other well, because they work on different layers.
How to combine them safely
Never use a microcurrent device on skin that is still red, raw or tender after microneedling, because the channels are open and the skin is healing.
Wait until the skin has fully settled, often around a week after a clinic session, and check with your provider. Then restart on a low level with plenty of gel.
Avoid using microcurrent and a home needling roller in the same session. Our detailed timing guide is in our microneedling timing article, and recovery after other treatments is in our article on microcurrent after other treatments.
Our devices run nanocurrent at level 1, microcurrent at level 2 and EMS from level 3 to 10, plus an Infuse pass, on one dial, with a ten minute session and no more than three minutes per side of the face, and they work with any water-based conductive serum.
Do not use any facial current device if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, if you are pregnant or if you have epilepsy, and skip broken or irritated skin. The full list is in our safety article.
Frequently asked questions
Is microcurrent better than microneedling
Neither is better overall. Microneedling suits texture, scars and fine lines; microcurrent suits sagging contours and a lifted look.
Can I do microcurrent and microneedling together
Yes, but not on the same day. Wait until the skin has fully healed after microneedling before using microcurrent.
How long after microneedling can I use microcurrent
Often about a week after a clinic session, once redness and tenderness have gone and your provider agrees.
Does microcurrent build collagen like microneedling
Microneedling has the more direct collagen evidence. Microcurrent is mainly used for muscle tone.
Which has more downtime
Microneedling, with redness for one to a few days. Microcurrent has none.
This article sits inside our full map of the category, where we set out all 33 devices we track, what each one carries and what each brand publishes: Nine Technologies on One Dial, What the Rest of the Market Actually Carries.