Your device is charged. Your face is numb. You are fifteen minutes away from creating thousands of microchannels in your skin and you still do not know which microneedling serums to use — because every article you found listed ten products without explaining which ones actually need those channels and which ones are wasting them. That confusion is about to cost you. Not money. Collagen. Every channel that closes without delivering a molecule too large to enter any other way is a seven-year collagen fiber that will never exist. A randomized controlled trial confirmed that growth factors applied post-microneedling produced significant improvements after one session — results the control group needed four sessions to approach (PMC7716740).
Choosing the right microneedling serums to use is not about brand preference or ingredient trends. It is about one biological fact: microchannels give large molecules their only access route to dermal fibroblasts. Growth factors activate the PI3K/AKT and ERK/MAPK pathways that command collagen synthesis (PMC10333026). Bradceuticals Gold Mesenchymal Stem Cell Growth Factor Serum delivers human mesenchymal stem cell conditioned media — applied to damp skin within the first few minutes after your final pass — the first of three microneedling serums to use in the correct biological sequence that turns a good session into a transformative one.
Category 1: Growth Factor Serum — First Through Channels
This is the non-negotiable among microneedling serums to use. Growth factor proteins exceed 15,000 daltons. The stratum corneum blocks them completely on intact skin. Microchannels are their only delivery route to fibroblast receptors in the dermis. Every other product you own can reach its target through normal skin. This one cannot.
Research shows channels remain highly permeable for two to six hours, with peak absorption in the first minutes after treatment (PMC3160154). The sooner growth factors flood those channels, the more collagen instruction your fibroblasts receive. A 2025 prospective RCT confirmed that even PDGF alone outperformed standard care on 6 of 7 parameters after microneedling (PMC12427151). One growth factor beats standard care. The complete secretome — EGF, FGF, TGF-beta, VEGF, PDGF, HGF plus exosomes carrying microRNA for genetic-level cell reprogramming (PMC12561650) — delivers the full biological conversation.
Among all microneedling serums to use, Bradceuticals goes first because it contains the only molecules that genuinely require the window your device just created. Applied to damp skin within minutes of the final pass — never as a gliding serum during the procedure.
Category 2: Hyaluronic Acid — Second to Hydrate and Seal
Five to ten minutes after your growth factor serum absorbs, layer a fragrance-free hyaluronic acid serum. HA at 500 daltons absorbs through intact skin daily — it does not need channels. But applied post-microneedling, it floods the treatment area with moisture that supports the hydrated extracellular matrix environment collagen synthesis requires.
A 60-patient randomized study confirmed that microneedling with hyaluronic acid applied post-procedure produced significantly faster healing and dramatically better improvement ratings than microneedling alone (PMC10833484). Among microneedling serums to use, HA earns its place as the hydration layer — not the primary active, but the essential support that creates optimal conditions for the collagen-building growth factors already delivered.
Choose a multi-weight formula — high molecular weight HA for surface barrier protection, low molecular weight HA for deeper dermal hydration.
Category 3: Fragrance-Free Moisturizer — Third to Protect
The final layer among microneedling serums to use is a barrier-protective moisturizer. Applied ten to fifteen minutes after your session, it seals the growth factors and hyaluronic acid against the skin, prevents transepidermal water loss through compromised barrier, and provides occlusive protection while channels close naturally over the following hours.
Look for ceramides, squalane, or dimethicone-based formulas. Avoid anything containing fragrance, retinol, AHAs, BHAs, or essential oils — these irritants pass through open channels and cause inflammatory damage to tissue that should be building collagen, not fighting irritation.
What NOT to Use Through Open Channels
Understanding which microneedling serums to use requires knowing what to avoid:
Vitamin C serum — At 176 daltons it absorbs through intact skin. Ascorbic acid at clinical concentrations (15-20%) can cause stinging and irritation through open channels. Use it on non-treatment mornings instead.
Retinol — Powerful for cell turnover on intact skin. Through open channels, it causes excessive inflammation that delays healing. Resume retinol 48-72 hours post-treatment.
Niacinamide — At 122 daltons it penetrates intact skin easily. Save it for your between-session routine where it complements growth factors without competing for channel access.
Any fragranced product — Fragrance compounds through microchannels cause unnecessary inflammatory response in tissue primed for collagen production.
The Complete Protocol With Your Microneedling Serums to Use
Before your first session: Perform a patch test with every product you plan to apply post-procedure. Apply each to a small area behind the ear after a single dermaroller pass. Wait 24-48 hours. This identifies contraindications before you treat your full face.
During needling: Use a sterile hyaluronic acid solution as your gliding medium. Never use growth factor serum as a gliding product.
Minutes 0-5 (peak permeability): Apply Bradceuticals Growth Factor Serum to damp skin once pinpoint bleeding stops. Pat gently.
Minutes 10-15: Layer fragrance-free hyaluronic acid serum.
Minutes 15-20: Apply barrier moisturizer to seal everything in.
First 48 hours: Continue twice-daily growth factor serum. Mineral sunscreen for any outdoor exposure. No makeup day one.
Between sessions: Continue all three microneedling serums to use morning and evening. The clinical trial maintained continuous daily application (PMC7716740). Schedule your next session in four to six weeks.
Results When You Get the Sequence Right
Days 1-3: Redness resolves faster. EGF inhibits inflammatory cytokines (PMC10333026).
Weeks 2-4: Texture smooths. Visible improvement confirmed at 4 weeks in clinical study (PMC6002314).
Months 3-6: Biopsy-confirmed collagen and elastin increases. Participants perceived themselves six years younger (PMC9823186). New collagen persists five to seven years (PMC11993440).
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best microneedling serums to use at home? The same three categories in the same order: growth factor serum first, hyaluronic acid second, moisturizer third. Home dermarollers under 0.5mm are validated for transdermal delivery.
Are there different microneedling serums to use for acne scars? The same growth factor protocol applies — TGF-beta and PDGF instruct organized collagen deposition that replaces disorganized scar tissue over cumulative sessions.
Which microneedling serums to use for sensitive skin? EGF actively inhibits inflammatory cytokines, making growth factor serums among the safest post-procedure options. Avoid fragranced HA or moisturizers — choose pure, simple formulations.
How many microneedling serums to use in one session? Three layers maximum: growth factor serum, hyaluronic acid, moisturizer. More products increase contamination risk through open channels without adding benefit.
References
- Merati M, et al. An Assessment of Microneedling with Topical Growth Factors. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2020;13(11):22-27. (PMC7716740)
- Shin SH, et al. The use of epidermal growth factor in dermatological practice. Int Wound J. 2023;20(6):2414-2423. (PMC10333026)
- Kalluri H, Banga AK. Characterization of microchannels created by metal microneedles. AAPS J. 2011;13(3):473-481. (PMC3160154)
- Lynch SE, et al. Recombinant Pure PDGF Improves Aesthetic Results Following RF Microneedling. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025;24(9):e70425. (PMC12427151)
- Ferraris C, et al. AT-MSC Exosomes: Isolation, Characterization, and Bioactivity. Cells. 2025;14(21):1537. (PMC12561650)
- Chauhan P, et al. Microneedling with Hyaluronic Acid for Acne Scars. Indian J Dermatol. 2024;69(1):30-36. (PMC10833484)
- Kim YJ, et al. Anti-aging Properties of EPC-CM. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2018;8(2):261-273. (PMC6002314)
- Naughton GK, et al. Targeting Multiple Hallmarks of Skin Aging. Dermatol Ther. 2023;13(1):169-186. (PMC9823186)
- Tehrani L, et al. Physiological Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications of Microneedling. Cureus. 2025;17(3):e80510. (PMC11993440)
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always perform a patch test before your first microneedling session with any new product. Individuals with active skin cancer, pre-cancerous lesions, or a history of skin malignancy should consult a board-certified dermatologist before using any growth factor product. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any microneedling protocol. Individual results may vary.
Last Reviewed: April 2026
About Bradceuticals : Thuy Myers is the founder of Bradceuticals which manufactures and distributes skin care and hair regrowth serums that use growth factors from human stem cells as the catalyst for regeneration. When she is not busy running the business and maintaining blogs, she is continuing her practice as a semiconductor engineer and occasionally teaches college engineering. In her free time, she enjoys visiting the beach with her MUCH better half, working out at the gym, and hanging out with her kiddo.