How to Choose a Dr.pen Cartridges?

Dr. Pen is an auto microneedling system device. Using Dr. Pen is inseparable from needle selection. Before choosing the microneedle cartridge, let us first explain the mechanism of electric microneedling on the human body, so that we can better choose the appropriate needle.

Auto microneedling is an advanced treatment method that uses small, electrically powered needles to stimulate the skin, creating micro-injuries that activate the skin’s self-repair mechanism. By generating tiny wounds on the skin’s surface, this therapy promotes the production of collagen and elastin fibers, thus triggering the skin’s regeneration process.

Why Choose Dr. Pen Cartridges?

The advantage of Dr. Pen auto microneedling lies in its precision and consistency. Compared to manual microneedling, it provides more precise and targeted stimulation, speeding up the skin regeneration and repair process.

Why Not Choose a Derma Roller?

The design of the manual derma roller is fundamentally flawed: it fails to reach many areas effectively, and can cause more harm by piercing normal skin rather than targeting acne lesions.

Because a derma roller moves forward, pushing it forward can tear the skin, resulting in more trauma and pain, with only some needles able to penetrate the skin. In contrast, electric microneedling involves vertical needle movement, causing less trauma and significantly reducing pain.

The needle speed and depth are controlled by a chip, ensuring consistent results. Particularly for concerns such as acne scars and stretch marks, electric microneedling yields superior outcomes.

Why Are Dr. Pen Cartridges Better?

The length of electric microneedling needles is adjustable, making them versatile for various treatments such as brightening, wrinkle reduction, and fading stretch marks.

Adjusting the needle length lets you address stubborn acne scars, wrinkles, and stretch marks with one device. Roller needles, in contrast, come in fixed sizes, potentially requiring multiple devices to treat different areas.

Electric microneedling is also suitable for areas a roller struggles to reach, such as the nose, nasal folds, and the eye area, as well as for small areas requiring localized, intensive treatment, such as scars and acne scars.

Adopting Dr. Pen auto microneedling in beauty salons can enhance their reputation and service quality.

How to Choose the Right Cartridges?

For optimal results in microneedling, we recommend considering three key aspects: the speed of needle movement, the number of pins, and the length of the microneedles.

Dr. Pen offers many models with different needle cartridges. There are 19 types in total, 12 of which are for microneedling: 9 pin, 11 pin, 12 pin, 16 pin, 18 pin, 24 pin, 36 pin, 42 pin, nano s, nano r, nano 3d, and nano 5d. The remaining ones are tattoo needles: L1, R3, F5, F7, and F9.

Factor	What it means for you
Length	Thicker skin needs longer needles; thinner skin requires shorter ones.
Pins	More pins reduce discomfort; fewer pins go deeper and work faster, but feel stronger.
Speed	A faster speed creates more microchannels per unit of time, enhancing absorption.

Cartridge Moving Speed

The speed of Dr. Pen’s cartridges is correlated with the length of the needles. Longer needles generally require higher speed settings.

A faster speed means more tiny channels are created per unit of time, which improves the absorption of the essential nutrients you apply to the skin. The speed settings corresponding to different areas are as follows:

Area	Speed level
Forehead	4–5
Nose	4–5
Around the eyes	2–3
Lips	1–2
Cheeks	4–5
Scar treatment	5–6
Stretch marks	6–7

Cartridge Pin Number

The number of pins influences how the treatment feels. This comes down to physical pressure: a larger contact area spreads the force out. More pins mean a larger contact area, and less sensation.

Fewer pins can feel stronger, but they also reach deeper, which tends to show results sooner.

Drawing on our own testing and customer feedback, certain cartridge types suit certain concerns better:

Cartridge	Best suited for
9 / 11 / 12 pin	Deep-seated concerns: stubborn acne scars, deep indentations, stretch marks, pronounced lines
16 / 18 pin	Deeper concerns: acne scars, indentations, stretch marks, lines, pore tightening
24 / 36 / 42 pin	Medium depth: superficial acne scars, pores, brightening, hydration, uneven tone, fine lines, firmness
Nano s / nano 3d / nano 5d	Non-invasive: brightening, hydration, uneven tone, closed comedones, lip lines
Nano r	Non-invasive daily care: brightening, hydration, fine-line improvement

Cartridge Length

Needle length isn’t about the ingredients you use — it’s about the purpose of the treatment and the depth you’re working at. As a general rule, lengths over 1.0 mm require professional operation, while lengths below 0.75 mm are suitable for home use. All nano cartridges are recommended for beginners.

The right length depends on your goal. Acne scars, for example, originate in the dermis, so they require deeper penetration before any change is visible; the appearance of pinpoint bleeding indicates the dermis has been reached.

Microneedling stimulates the skin’s repair response in the treated area, and multiple sessions are necessary for good results. The table below lists common goals and the corresponding recommended needle lengths.

Goal	Recommended length
Cell regeneration	Nano, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3 mm
Skin tone	Nano, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.5, 0.75 mm
Fine wrinkles	0.3, 0.5, 0.75 mm
Dark spots	0.3, 0.5, 0.75 mm
Acne pits	0.3, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 mm
Pores	0.3, 0.5, 0.75 mm
Stretch marks	1.0, 1.5 mm
Hair regrowth	Nano, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3 mm
Beard regrowth	Nano, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3 mm
Eye wrinkles	Nano, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3 mm
Dark circles	Nano, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3 mm
Eye bags	Nano, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3 mm
Pigmentation	Nano, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3 mm
Facial care	0.5, 0.75, 1.0 mm
Brightening & moisturizing	0.5, 0.75, 1.0 mm
Firming	0.5, 0.75, 1.0 mm
Deeper wrinkles	1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 mm
Cellulite	1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 mm
Body contouring	1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 mm
Tattoo fading	1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 mm
Scars	1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 mm

Needle Thickness

The last thing worth considering is how thick the needles in each cartridge are. For beginners, or for anyone more sensitive to discomfort, the upgraded cartridges are a better starting point: a smaller needle diameter means less sensation during treatment.