Microneedling is a skin-treatment technique in which fine needles create many small, controlled punctures in the skin; the clinical literature describes the technique as mechanical skin puncture and also calls it collagen induction therapy (CIT) or percutaneous collagen induction (PCI). This page defines the technique and the names used for it. It is a neutral definition page: it makes no product, safety, treatment-parameter, or outcome claims.
Key takeaways
- Microneedling is a skin-treatment technique performed with fine needles.
- The literature describes the technique as mechanical skin puncture and also names it CIT and PCI.
- This page is a neutral definition; the mechanism and the terminology detail live on separate pages.
What the technique is
The clinical literature describes the technique as mechanical skin puncture with fine needles, a description that traces back to early concept articles on percutaneous collagen induction. an early concept article. Those early articles are historical sources for the description of the technique, not current treatment recommendations. The technique creates many small, controlled punctures in the skin, and that is the whole of this page's definition.
The names used in the literature
In peer-reviewed writing, microneedling is referred to as "percutaneous collagen induction" (PCI) and "collagen induction therapy" (CIT). CIT and PCI are clinical names for the same technique as microneedling — not different treatments. This page uses the name microneedling throughout.
What the evidence supports
Peer-reviewed systematic reviews support microneedling as an evidence-based option for aesthetic indications, particularly facial rejuvenation and atrophic acne scars, with the strength and certainty of the evidence varying by indication. That scope matters: the evidence is not uniform across every skin concern, and a neutral definition page does not claim otherwise.
How to use this page
Use this page for a neutral definition of the technique and its names. For how the technique works, see the mechanism page; for terminology detail, see the terminology page. For safety and suitability, consult a qualified clinician and the device's instructions-for-use. This page is educational information, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is microneedling the same as collagen induction therapy? Yes — in peer-reviewed writing the technique is also referred to as collagen induction therapy (CIT) and percutaneous collagen induction (PCI). These are clinical names for the same technique.
What does the evidence support? Peer-reviewed systematic reviews support microneedling as an evidence-based option for aesthetic indications, particularly facial rejuvenation and atrophic acne scars, with the strength and certainty of the evidence varying by indication.
Is microneedling safe for me? This page is a definition page and does not cover safety or suitability. A qualified clinician and the device's instructions-for-use are the right sources for your situation.