Skin needling has been having a moment for years now, and honestly, it deserves it.

When it’s done properly it can be one of the most versatile, results-led treatments in an advanced therapist’s toolkit.

When it’s done badly … it’s basically glorified scratching with a side order of “please don’t”.

So let’s cut through the noise and talk about what skin needling actually is, the difference between a roller and a pen and then the two ways you can train with us at Jane Bryan Beauty Training (JBBT): CPD microneedling or the Level 4 Focus Awards qualification.

What is skin needling, really?

Skin needling (also called microneedling or collagen induction therapy) uses fine sterile needles to create controlled micro-channels in the skin. This does three big things:

1. Triggers a repair response
The skin interprets the micro-injury as “we need to rebuild”, which stimulates collagen and elastin production.

2. Improves texture and function
With a correct protocol and good aftercare, you can support smoother texture, improved firmness, refined pores and a healthier-looking surface.

3. Enhances topical absorption (carefully!)
Those micro-channels temporarily increase the skin’s permeability. That’s powerful, but it’s also where people get sloppy. What you apply matters. A lot.

Microneedling is often used for concerns like:

• Fine lines and crepey texture
• Acne scarring (especially atrophic scars)
• Enlarged pores and roughness
• Loss of firmness and early ageing
• Uneven tone and some types of pigmentation (case-by-case and with caution)
• Stretch marks and certain body concerns (again, case-by-case)

And the big grown-up truth: microneedling is not a one-and-done.

The best results come from a course, a smart homecare plan and a therapist who understands skin, healing, inflammation and contraindications like it’s their job. Because it is.

Roller vs pen: what’s the difference?

This is where things get interesting, because the tool changes the control you have, the consistency of results and the risk profile.

Microneedling roller (dermaroller)

A roller is a cylindrical device covered in needles that you roll across the skin in different directions.

Pros

• Often cheaper to purchase
• Simple to use at a basic level
• Can be useful for certain body areas in some settings

Cons (the important bit)

• Less precision and control: You’re rolling, not placing. Pressure varies with angle and technique
• Potential for more trauma: As the roller moves, the needles enter and exit at an angle which can create more drag on the skin
• Harder around contours: Nose, under-eye and smaller areas can be awkward
• Needle depth consistency: Can be less consistent, especially with uneven pressure

Rollers are not automatically “bad”, but they’re often the device people choose when they want to do microneedling quickly and cheaply. And that’s rarely where excellence lives.

Microneedling pen (digital pen device)

A pen is a motorised device with a disposable sterile cartridge. The needles move vertically in and out at speed.

Pros

• Precision: You can work area-by-area with far more control
• Consistent depth: Especially when you understand technique and skin anatomy
• Better for contours: Easier around the nose, jawline, and smaller zones
• More customisation: Speed settings, needle depth adjustment and a more tailored approach.

Cons

• Higher device cost 
• Requires stronger training, protocols and hygiene standards
• If someone doesn’t understand skin and healing, a pen just helps them make bad decisions faster

In professional settings, a pen is usually the preferred method because it offers more accuracy and consistency. But the real key isn’t the tool. It’s the training and judgement behind it.

The two microneedling training options at JBBT

At Jane Bryan Beauty Training, we offer two clear routes depending on where you are in your career and what you want to do with microneedling.

Option 1: CPD Microneedling Training

Our CPD training is designed for qualified therapists who want to add microneedling to their treatment menu in a professional, safe, results-driven way - without committing to a full regulated qualification straight away.

Why someone chooses CPD

• You’re already an established therapist and want to expand your services
• You want practical training that’s focused on implementation
• You’re working within your current business model and just want to add a profitable, in-demand treatment
• You want to get confident with consultation, contraindications, protocols, and aftercare
• You want a solid training experience without the full assessment structure of a qualification

Who CPD is best for

• Therapists who want to add microneedling now
• Therapists working in salons/clinics where CPD training meets the requirements of their insurer and business setup (always check your insurer and local requirements)
• Professionals who value speed of implementation but still want high standards

CPD is often the right choice when you’re focused on adding a service efficiently and you already have a good foundation in skin, consultation, hygiene and professional practice.

Explore our CPD microneedling course

Option 2: Level 4 Focus Awards Qualification (Microneedling)

The Level 4 Focus Awards route is for therapists who want a deeper, more formal pathway - especially if they’re serious about positioning themselves as an advanced practitioner and building credibility.

Why someone chooses Level 4

• You want a nationally recognised qualification route (Focus Awards)
• You want a more in-depth understanding of the skin, treatment planning and advanced practice
• You’re thinking longer-term: clinic positioning, higher ticket services and being seen as the expert (because that’s where the money and the professional respect tends to sit)
• You want the structure of assessment, evidence and a qualification that supports progression into other Level 4/5 modalities

Who Level 4 is best for

• Therapists moving into advanced aesthetics and wanting robust foundations
• Those who want a qualification-backed route for credibility and professional progression
• Therapists who don’t just want to “offer microneedling”, but want to master it and build a clinic identity around advanced skin work

Explore our Level 4 Certificate in Skin Needling Treatments

If CPD is the “add this to your menu” route, Level 4 is the “become the advanced practitioner” route.

Both routes can be excellent - what matters is choosing the one that matches your goals, your current level and how you want to be perceived in the market.

Because your clients don’t care about the words “roller” or “pen”. They care about results, safety, professionalism and whether they trust you with their face.