The new Fraxel isn’t very painful for most people; a mild prickling can be felt. We apply a topical anesthetic cream before the treatment, and now the machine comes with a Zimmer device that blows cold air on the skin as the laser works, making nerve endings less likely to hurt. The procedure doesn’t hurt very much. There are ways to lessen the pain. It’s very common for people who get microneedling to have red, itchy skin. Microneedling takes a long time to work, but research has shown that it is a safe and effective way to improve the skin’s health.