Microneedling vs Laser: How They Compare

Side by side

Microneedling vs laser, from the sources cited
	Microneedling	Ablative fractional laser
How it works	Needles make tiny punctures in the skin	Light energy removes tiny columns of skin; the review covered CO2 and erbium-YAG lasers
What the review compared	A 2023 systematic review of 10 articles compared needling (including RF and micro-needling) with ablative fractional lasers in scars. No statistically significant difference was found in 60% of the articles; both showed significant improvement in the studies where they were tested (1).
Evidence for acne scars	A 2020 review of 33 articles found all reported improvement after microneedling, and that evidence was inconsistent when comparing microneedling alone with fractional laser (2).
Risks	Bleeding, bruising, redness, itching, peeling, dark or light spots, infection (4). Active infection, darker skin and metal allergies raise the risk (5).	Ask the professional. We did not cite a source on laser risks here.

The studies are few and small. They do not say that one beats the other for everyone.

What really differs

The tools, the energy and the depth are different, and so are the people who use them. The right choice depends on the concern, your skin tone, your medicines, your schedule and the professional's experience with that tool. Read the acne scar page for the strongest evidence on microneedling, and the peel comparison for another option.

Questions to ask

Why this option for my concern?
What recovery should I plan for, and for how long?
What does my skin tone change?
What happens if I have a reaction?
What does the written quote include?

Common questions

Is microneedling better than laser for scars?

The studies do not show a consistent winner. A 2023 systematic review of 10 articles found no statistically significant difference between needling and ablative fractional lasers in 60% of them (1). A 2020 review found the evidence inconsistent when comparing microneedling alone with fractional laser (2).

Is radiofrequency microneedling the same thing?

No. Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling sends heat energy through the needles. The FDA says it has cleared some such devices for facial wrinkles and other treatments, and that the risks differ because they work differently (4). A 2022 meta-analysis analyzed microneedling with and without RF separately (3). This guide does not compare it.

What should I ask before choosing?

Ask which option the professional recommends for your concern and skin tone, why, what the recovery looks like, and what the quote includes in writing.