29
Apr
2026
29
Apr
2026
The rapid rise in microneedling treatments has prompted leading industry bodies to introduce new standards, unveiled at the Houses of Parliament. The event was hosted by Carolyn Harris MP and featured an expert panel including Candice Gardner, Lesley Blair MBE, Alice Hart-Davis founder of The Tweakments Guide, and professional skin therapists.
The Sharp Standards Guide to Microneedling, developed jointly by Dermalogica and the British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology (BABTAC), represents a significant step in strengthening safety and consistency across a rapidly expanding treatment category — particularly in the absence of formal UK legislation for non-surgical procedures.
From a clinic perspective, the data reflects just how mainstream microneedling has become:
• More than 35,000 treatments carried out in 2025 across Dermalogica retail, partner clinics, and treatment rooms in the UK
• Over 6 million social media mentions of “microneedling” in the past year
• A growing consumer expectation that “non-surgical” automatically equals “regulated”
At the same time, accessibility is increasing risk. At-home microneedling devices are widely available online with no qualification requirements, creating confusion around practitioner standards and safety expectations.
Lesley Blair MBE CEO BATAC & CIBTAC comments, “Both BABTAC and Dermalogica have always shared the common objective of raising levels of professionalism in our industry. Like Dermalogica, In the absence of legislation currently, we self-regulate our members to ensure they hold the correct qualifications to practice, and we enhance that learning with up-to-date best practice guidance. Dermalogica’s Microneedling Guide is an excellent and comprehensive resource to ensure qualified practitioners continue to pursue excellence in their treatments for consumers and Dermalogica should be applauded for providing such a valuable resource to the wider industry.”
“There are many different groups sharing information, and not all of it is accurate. This guide is an industry-wide initiative designed to create consistent best practice, regardless of location in the UK, and to ultimately protect consumer safety.”
For aesthetic clinics, the message is clear: differentiation is no longer just about offering microneedling — it’s about demonstrating standards, qualifications, and clinical governance.
Candice Gardner, Education Manager – Learning and Content, Dermalogica UK Comments “Microneedling is a treatment with a strong and well-evidenced track record, but it demands genuine competence from every practitioner who performs it. At Dermalogica, we have always believed that exceptional practice is built on knowledge, skills and a commitment to going beyond the minimum. That is why we have invested in ensuring our own staff hold regulated qualifications at Level 4 and 5, and it is why we partnered with BABTAC to produce this guide. Clear, practical and grounded in real-world experience, it gives every skin care and aesthetics business the foundation they need to deliver microneedling responsibly and to the very highest standard.”
BABTAC encourages consumers to shift their focus from asking “Does it hurt?” to more important questions such as “What qualifications do you hold?”
Make sure to always book in with a qualified professional, helping to avoid adverse reactions and costly complications in the long run. BABTAC’s T.I.M.E. consumer awareness campaign provides a simple yet effective framework, encouraging you to check Training, Insurance, Monitoring, and Evidence before booking any microneedling treatment.
For clinics, frameworks like this are increasingly important — not just for compliance, but for patient trust, marketing clarity, and long-term reputation in a rapidly expanding market.
Availability
A downloadable guide will be available from Dermalogica at pro.dermalogica.co.uk and BABTAC at www.babtac.com from 22nd April 2026.
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