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Insulated microneedle: what the term means
Medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · Last reviewed · 4 min read
Published 10 October 2026 · Reviewed by Dr Sin Yong
An insulated microneedle is an RF microneedling needle whose shaft is coated with an insulating layer, so the radiofrequency energy is released only from the uncoated tip. The surface of the skin is largely spared while heat is placed at the chosen depth. A non-insulated needle releases energy along its whole length, including at the surface.
Key facts
What is coated
The needle shaft; the tip is left bare
Effect
Heat at the tip depth, with less heating of the epidermis
Non-insulated
Energy along the whole shaft, including the surface layers
Examples in FDA filings
Potenza insulated and semi-insulated tips (K231216); Scarlet Pro insulated and non-insulated tips (K253859)
Insulated needles release energy at the tip; non-insulated needles along the whole shaft. Schematic, not to scale.
Why the needle type is worth asking about
In skin of colour, heat in the epidermis is one of the factors linked to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. A review of 35 studies of RF microneedling in skin of colour discussed needle insulation alongside energy, depth and passes as settings that shape that risk (Syder, Dermatol Surg 2023). Non-insulated needles are not wrong: some protocols use them on purpose to treat the upper layers as well.
Many devices now offer both types. Which one is right depends on the problem being treated and the skin, so it is a question for the consultation rather than a feature to choose from a brochure. Related: post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and bipolar radiofrequency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not in every case. They spare the skin surface, which can matter in darker skin types; non-insulated needles are sometimes chosen deliberately to treat the surface too.
Ask about the specific cartridge. Needle type varies by tip on most platforms, so it is set per treatment.
References
Syder NC, Chen A, Elbuluk N. Radiofrequency microneedling in skin of colour: a review of 35 studies. Dermatol Surg. 2023;49:489. doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000003733 (PMID 36826381). source
Chandra S, et al. Physics of fractional microneedle radiofrequency. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2024;17:177. doi:10.25259/jcas_98_23 (PMID 39483649). source
US FDA 510(k) summary K231216 — Potenza tips (Jeisys Medical Inc.), 2024: insulated and semi-insulated tips; depth 0.5–4.0 mm in 0.25 mm steps. source
US FDA 510(k) summary K253859 — Scarlet Pro (Viol Co., Ltd.), 2026: insulated and non-insulated 25- and 49-pin tips; depth 0.5–3.5 mm in 0.1 mm steps. source
