Precision Aesthetics
SkinPen Microneedling and PRX Plus
A Smarter Approach to Skin Rejuvenation
Can combining skin treatments give better results? Discover how SkinPen microneedling and PRX Plus may complement each other to improve skin texture, fine lines, acne scars and overall skin quality.
Healthy, radiant skin doesn’t come from a single treatment. As we age, collagen production slows, skin loses some of its firmness, and fine lines become more noticeable. Sun exposure, acne and changes in pigmentation can also leave the skin looking uneven or tired. While good skincare helps maintain healthy skin, some concerns need a more targeted approach. This is where combination treatments have a role. Rather than relying on one procedure to address every concern, different treatments can be used to improve specific aspects of skin health.
Two treatments attracting interest are SkinPen microneedling and PRX Plus. Both aim to improve skin quality, but they work in different ways. When incorporated into a carefully planned treatment programme, they may offer complementary benefits.
What Is PRX Plus?
PRX Plus is a skin biorevitalisation treatment designed to improve skin texture, firmness and brightness without the extensive visible peeling associated with traditional chemical peels. Its formulation includes ammonium trichloroacetate (ATCA), homocysteic acid and other ingredients intended to support skin renewal and improve skin appearance. Unlike conventional peels, which often rely on exfoliating the outer layers of skin, PRX Plus is designed to encourage changes within the skin while limiting surface peeling.
The treatment aims to:
- Encourage collagen production and skin renewal.
- Improve skin firmness and texture.
- Brighten dull, tired-looking skin.
- Soften the appearance of fine lines.
- Improve uneven skin tone and early signs of ageing.
One of its main attractions is the relatively short recovery period. For patients wanting to improve their skin without taking several days away from their usual activities, PRX Plus may be an appealing option.
What Is SkinPen Microneedling?
SkinPen is a medical microneedling device that uses fine, sterile needles to create thousands of tiny, controlled punctures in the skin. These microscopic injuries stimulate the skin’s natural healing response, encouraging the production and remodelling of collagen and elastin. Both play an important role in maintaining skin strength, firmness and elasticity. As the skin repairs itself, its texture gradually becomes smoother and more even. SkinPen is particularly useful for treating acne scars, enlarged pores, fine lines and uneven skin texture. It may also improve mild skin laxity. Unlike treatments that produce an immediate but temporary improvement in appearance, microneedling encourages gradual changes within the skin. Results develop over several weeks and may continue to improve for months as collagen remodelling takes place.
Why Combine SkinPen with PRX Plus?
Although both treatments aim to improve skin quality, they approach the process differently. SkinPen stimulates the skin’s natural repair mechanisms through controlled microneedling. PRX Plus uses a chemical formulation intended to encourage biorevitalisation and improve the skin’s overall appearance. Using them as part of the same treatment programme may help address several concerns rather than focusing on just one. For example, someone with acne scarring may benefit from SkinPen’s ability to remodel collagen beneath the skin’s surface, while PRX Plus may help improve overall skin texture and brightness.
Similarly, patients concerned about fine lines, dullness and early loss of firmness may benefit from a treatment plan that addresses both skin structure and surface appearance. There is also growing interest in combining microneedling with topical skin treatments. Microneedling creates temporary microchannels that can increase the penetration of certain substances. However, deeper penetration is not always desirable, particularly with chemically active products.
For this reason, SkinPen and PRX Plus should only be combined according to an appropriately assessed treatment protocol. This may involve performing the treatments at separate appointments rather than applying PRX Plus immediately after microneedling. Although both treatments have established applications in aesthetic practice, further clinical studies are needed to confirm whether combining them produces better results than either treatment alone.
What Skin Concerns Can Be Treated?
A carefully planned SkinPen and PRX Plus programme may be considered for several common skin concerns.
- Acne scarring: SkinPen encourages collagen remodelling, helping to soften the appearance of certain acne scars and improve uneven skin texture.
- Enlarged pores: Improvements in skin texture and firmness can make pores appear less noticeable.
- Fine lines and early wrinkles: Collagen stimulation may gradually improve fine lines and early signs of skin ageing.
- Dull or uneven skin tone: PRX Plus may help brighten tired-looking skin and improve its overall appearance.
- Pigmentation: PRX Plus may be suitable for certain pigmentation concerns. Patients with melasma or skin prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation require careful assessment, as irritation can sometimes worsen pigmentation.
- Loss of firmness: Treatments that encourage collagen renewal may help improve mild skin laxity and support a firmer-looking skin surface.
Not every patient will need both treatments. The choice depends on skin type, the severity of the concern and the results the patient hopes to achieve.
What Happens During Treatment?
SkinPen microneedling is usually performed after applying a topical anaesthetic to improve comfort. The device is passed over the skin at a needle depth selected according to the treatment area and skin condition. These controlled micro-injuries activate the skin’s natural repair process. PRX Plus is applied topically using a technique appropriate to the product. When both treatments are included in a skin rejuvenation programme, the timing and sequence should be carefully planned. Performing them at separate appointments may be appropriate to allow adequate skin recovery and minimise unnecessary irritation.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
Most patients benefit from a series of treatments rather than a single session. For SkinPen microneedling, a course of three to four sessions is commonly recommended, usually spaced approximately four weeks apart. The number of treatments and intervals may vary according to the skin condition being treated. PRX Plus treatment frequency depends on the patient’s skin and the recommended product protocol. Some improvements in brightness and texture may become noticeable relatively early, but collagen remodelling takes time. The skin can continue to improve over several months following microneedling. Patients with deeper acne scars or more established signs of ageing may need additional treatments.
Is There Any Downtime?
Both treatments generally involve less downtime than more aggressive skin resurfacing procedures. Following SkinPen microneedling, the skin may appear red and feel warm or slightly sensitive, similar to mild sunburn. This usually settles within 24 to 48 hours, although redness and dryness can occasionally last longer. PRX Plus generally causes little visible peeling, although temporary redness, sensitivity or irritation may occur. Recovery depends on skin sensitivity, treatment intensity and how the procedures are scheduled.
Looking After Your Skin
Good aftercare helps the skin recover and protects the results of treatment.
Following microneedling, patients are generally advised to avoid direct sun exposure, hot showers, saunas, strenuous exercise and makeup during the initial recovery period, according to their practitioner’s instructions.
Gentle skincare is important while the skin heals. A suitable moisturiser can help relieve dryness and support the skin barrier, while broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen provides essential protection once appropriate to apply.
Retinoids, exfoliating acids and other potentially irritating skincare products should only be restarted once the skin has recovered.
Choosing the Right Treatment for Your Skin
Skin rejuvenation isn’t about having as many treatments as possible. It’s about choosing the right treatment for the problem. Someone with acne scarring may need a different approach from someone concerned about pigmentation, fine lines or early skin laxity. Even patients of a similar age can have very different skin needs. SkinPen microneedling and PRX Plus each offer a way to improve skin quality. Used thoughtfully, they may complement one another, although the benefits and safety of specific combination protocols still require further clinical research.
At Precision Aesthetics, treatment begins with understanding the patient’s skin, identifying the concerns that matter most and developing a plan suited to their individual needs.
The aim is straightforward: smoother, healthier-looking skin, with improvements that develop naturally over time.
If you’re concerned about acne scars, pigmentation, fine lines or changes in skin firmness, a professional skin assessment can help determine whether SkinPen, PRX Plus or a combination treatment programme is right for you.
Purchase 2 Sessions (R7,770), receive the 3rd Session FREE (Value R3,338)
