Can Anti Wrinkle Injections Improve Skin Texture, Pores and Oily Skin? The Truth About the “Glow”

Last updated: 12 November 2026

In short: The "glow" people describe after anti wrinkle treatment is partly real and partly a trick of the light. Standard treatment relaxes muscle, so skin creases less and reflects light more evenly, which reads as glow. But there is also a distinct technique, intradermal or "micro" treatment, in which very small, diluted amounts are placed superficially into the skin itself across a wide area rather than into muscle. Because the same nerve signal that drives muscle also drives the sebaceous glands and the tiny muscles around pores, this measurably reduces oil production and pore size and smooths texture. The evidence is encouraging but still small: a 2024 systematic review found consistent benefit across ten studies and 153 people, and said plainly that more research is needed. It suits oily, enlarged pore, acne prone or shiny skin; it does not replace a retinoid, sunscreen or microneedling, and it is a prescription only medicine, so suitability is decided at a face to face consultation.

Local to Hale, Altrincham or Cheshire? I am an NHS GP and aesthetic doctor and run a GP led skin clinic in Hale village, with evening appointments until 7pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and until 9pm on Fridays. You can book a consultation for skin texture and pores or see the price list.

Patients who have anti wrinkle treatment often say something I used to find hard to explain: not just that their lines have softened, but that their skin looks better. Brighter. Less shiny by lunchtime. Makeup sitting more smoothly. Friends asking what moisturiser they are using. The "glow" has become a social media cliché, and like most clichés it contains something true and something misleading.

This article separates the two. It explains why ordinary muscle treatment can make skin look better without touching the skin at all, what the quite different intradermal technique does and how it works on oil and pores, what the research actually shows and how much weight it can bear, who it suits and who it does not, how it compares with the other things I use for texture, and what to expect if we decide it is right for you.

In this article:

• Is the "glow" real? Two different things people mean
• What is intradermal treatment, and how does it differ from standard injections?
• Why does it work on oil and pores, not just muscle?
• What does the evidence actually show?
• How much weight can the evidence bear?
• Who is it suitable for, and who is it not?
• How it compares with the other texture treatments I use
• What to expect: appointment, results, duration, risks and cost
• Frequently asked questions

Is the "glow" real? Two different things people mean

When somebody says their skin glows after anti wrinkle treatment, one of two things is usually happening, and it is worth knowing which because they have different causes and different limits.

What people call "glow"	What is actually happening	Its limit
After standard muscle treatment	The skin over a relaxed muscle creases less, so its surface is flatter and reflects light more evenly. Fine dynamic lines that broke up the light are gone, and the face reads as smoother and brighter. The skin itself has not changed	Real, but optical. Pores, oil, texture and pigment are exactly as they were
After intradermal treatment	Diluted product placed in the skin reduces sebaceous gland activity and relaxes the tiny muscles around pores and hair follicles; oil falls, pores look smaller, the surface is smoother and less shiny	Real and measurable, but temporary, modest in scale, and evidenced by small studies
After either, in photographs	Clinic lighting, a fresh cleanse, and the fact that people stand straighter when they feel better	Not a treatment effect at all, and the reason before and after photographs should be taken in the same light

What is intradermal treatment, and how does it differ from standard injections?

Standard anti wrinkle treatment places a prescription only medicine, botulinum toxin, into specific muscles, in specific doses, to soften the movement that creates expression lines. Intradermal treatment uses the same class of medicine in a completely different way: it is diluted far more, placed very superficially into the dermis rather than the muscle, in dozens of tiny blebs spread across an area such as the cheeks, the T zone, the forehead or the lower face, with the aim of affecting the skin rather than expression.

	Standard anti wrinkle treatment	Intradermal treatment
Target	Specific expression muscles	The skin itself: sebaceous glands, pore muscles, superficial fibres
Depth	Into or onto the muscle	Very superficial, raising a small wheal in the skin
Dilution and dose per point	Concentrated, a few points per area	Highly diluted, dozens of tiny points about a centimetre apart
Effect on expression	Softens movement in the treated muscle	Minimal when done correctly; only the most superficial fibres are affected
Intended result	Fewer and softer lines	Less oil, smaller looking pores, smoother texture, a matte and even finish
Evidence base	Decades of large trials and a licence for the indication	A growing set of small studies; an unlicensed use of a licensed medicine, which must be explained and consented to

Why does it work on oil and pores, not just muscle?

The mechanism is plausible rather than mysterious. The medicine works by blocking the release of acetylcholine, the chemical messenger nerves use to tell muscles to contract. Acetylcholine is not only a muscle messenger. It is also part of the signalling around sebaceous glands, the oil producing glands attached to every pore, and around the tiny arrector pili muscles that make hair stand up and pores tighten or gape. Quieten that signalling superficially and three things follow: sebum output falls, so the skin is less shiny; pores that were held open by oil and congestion look smaller; and the very superficial muscle fibres that create a fine crinkle in the skin surface relax, so texture smooths.

Imaging studies using optical coherence tomography, which maps skin in cross section, have also reported increased dermal thickness and reduced surface roughness after intradermal treatment, and some studies measure reduced redness. In practice patients describe skin that takes makeup evenly, stays matte through the day and photographs more smoothly, without the change in expression that a standard muscle treatment produces.

What does the evidence actually show?

Study	Design	Key finding
Rahman et al, 2024	Systematic review and meta analysis following PRISMA guidance: ten studies (five randomised controlled trials, five prospective cohorts), 153 healthy adults	Improvement in sebum production, pore size, redness, wrinkles, texture and elasticity; no improvement in hydration. Trial sequential analysis showed the total evidence had not yet reached the size needed for firm conclusions
Sayed et al, 2021	Split face controlled study, one side treated and the other as control	Confirmed reduction in enlarged pores and seborrhoea on the treated side
Shah, 2008	Retrospective case series, 20 patients	17 of 20 reported less oil and smaller pores at one month, with no complications; the paper that started serious interest in the technique
Wu, 2015	Technique paper from the surgeon who popularised the method for the lower face and neck	Describes the dilution, depth and grid pattern that produce skin effects while preserving expression; the basis of how the treatment is performed

After the 2024 review was published, questions were raised about its statistics and the authors re ran the analysis. Their reply is worth quoting because it is unusual for a correction to go this way.

"...not only confirm the statistical significance of the original findings but, in fact, also strengthen the evidence supporting the efficacy of botulinum toxin A in significantly reducing sebum production, pore size, and wrinkles." Rahman E et al, reply, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, 2025.

How much weight can the evidence bear?

More than anecdote, less than a licence. Ten studies and 153 people is modest by the standards of the trials behind the licensed uses of the same medicine, where thousands of patients were studied. But it is a proper, PRISMA guided systematic review rather than a marketing claim, half of the included studies were randomised, the findings point consistently in the same direction, and a statistical re analysis strengthened rather than weakened them. The authors' own conclusion is the right level of confidence: "Findings suggest positive outcomes in multiple attributes of skin quality and facial rejuvenation", followed immediately by a call for more high quality research.

Two caveats matter for a patient. First, this is an unlicensed use of a licensed medicine, which is lawful and common in medicine but means the manufacturer has not sought approval for it, so a prescriber must explain that and you must consent to it knowingly. Second, the review found no improvement in hydration, which means if your skin is dry and dull rather than oily and uneven, this is the wrong treatment, and skin boosters or polynucleotides are the better answer.

Who is it suitable for, and who is it not?

Likely to benefit	Better served by something else
Oily skin that is shiny by midday despite good skincare	Dry, dehydrated or dull skin: hydration does not improve with this technique
Enlarged pores on the nose, cheeks and forehead	Active acne: that is a medical condition for your GP, not a cosmetic treatment; oil control may help once it is settled
A fine crinkled texture on the cheeks or around the eyes that is not a true wrinkle	Deep static lines or volume loss: those need collagen stimulation, structure or standard muscle treatment
People who want their skin to look better without their expression changing	Pigmentation and sun damage: retinoids, peels and sunscreen
An event in four to six weeks where a matte, even finish matters	Pregnancy, breastfeeding, certain neuromuscular conditions and some medications, as for any treatment with this medicine
Facial flushing and redness, where some studies show benefit, as part of a wider plan	Anyone who has not yet tried a retinoid and daily sunscreen; those come first and are cheaper

How it compares with the other texture treatments I use

Intradermal treatment is one tool among several for skin quality, and it is rarely the first one I reach for. This is how I think about the options for texture, pores and oil.

Option	Best for	How it differs
Prescription retinoid and daily SPF	Everyone; pores, oil, texture and pigment over months	Slow, permanent while used, the strongest evidence of anything here, and the foundation. Intradermal treatment on top of no skincare is a waste
Microneedling with exosomes	Texture, pores, scarring, fine lines; builds collagen	Structural and lasting, with a few days of redness; results build over months. The two combine well
Medical peels	Congestion, dullness, pigmentation, surface texture	Resurfaces from the top down; no effect on oil production at source
Polynucleotides and skin boosters	Dry, thin, crepey or dehydrated skin	The opposite problem to oily skin; where intradermal treatment does nothing for hydration, these do
Intradermal anti wrinkle treatment	Oil, shine, enlarged pores, fine surface crinkle, some redness	Fast (two to four weeks), temporary (three to four months), works on oil at source; a finishing tool rather than a foundation

What to expect: appointment, results, duration, risks and cost

Stage	What happens
Consultation	Medical history, skin assessment, your current skincare, and whether this or something else is the right tool. As a prescription only medicine it can only be prescribed after a face to face assessment, and I will explain that this is an unlicensed use before you consent. £75, redeemable against treatment
Treatment	Skin cleansed and prepped; a grid of very small superficial injections about a centimetre apart across the treated zone, each raising a tiny bleb that settles within an hour or two. Twenty to thirty minutes. Mild stinging; numbing is rarely needed
Afterwards	Small bumps and pinpoint redness for a few hours; occasional tiny bruises. No makeup for a few hours, no facials, saunas or vigorous exercise that day, and avoid rubbing the area
Results	Less shine from about a week; smoother texture and smaller looking pores by two weeks; full effect at four weeks, which is when I review
Duration	Around three to four months, similar to standard treatment, then it wears off completely. Repeated at that interval if you want to maintain it
Risks	Bruising, temporary bumps, headache. The specific risk is product reaching a muscle it was not meant for, most relevant in the lower face where the smile muscles are superficial; correct dilution and depth make this uncommon, and it is temporary. Rare allergic reaction, as for any injection
Cost	Priced at consultation according to the area treated and whether it is combined with standard treatment; standard anti wrinkle treatment for comparison is £170 for one upper face area, £240 for two and £295 for three

Most people who have this with me are already having standard treatment for their frown or crow's feet and add an intradermal pass over the cheeks or T zone at the same visit, or they are patients with oily skin who have done the skincare work and want a further step before an event. Very few people need it as a standalone, and I would not suggest it to anyone who has not first got a retinoid and sunscreen in place, because those will do more, for longer, for less.

Is there a psychological element too?

A smaller point, but a real one. People whose skin is shiny or uneven tend to touch it, check it, blot it and angle away from light, and when that stops they look more relaxed and open, which others read as "glowing" too. The dermatology literature calls this loosely the mind skin connection. It is a human observation rather than a measured outcome, softer evidence than the pore and sebum data, and I mention it because patients often describe it and are surprised that it has a name.

Takeaway: The glow after standard anti wrinkle treatment is optical: smoother skin over relaxed muscle reflects light better. Intradermal treatment is a different technique that acts on the skin itself, reducing oil, pore size and surface crinkle, with a small but consistent and recently strengthened evidence base and an honest need for larger trials. It suits oily, enlarged pore and shiny skin, does nothing for dryness, lasts three to four months, and is an unlicensed use of a prescription only medicine that must be assessed and consented face to face. Retinoid and sunscreen first, microneedling for lasting change, and this as the finishing step if your skin still shines.

Frequently asked questions about intradermal anti wrinkle treatment

Is the glow after anti wrinkle injections real?

Partly. Standard treatment makes skin look brighter because a relaxed muscle creases the skin less, so it reflects light evenly; the skin itself is unchanged. The intradermal technique does change the skin, reducing oil and pore size, and that is a measurable effect in small studies.

What is micro or intradermal anti wrinkle treatment?

The same prescription only medicine used in standard treatment, heavily diluted and placed in dozens of tiny superficial injections into the skin across an area, rather than into specific muscles. The aim is skin quality, not expression.

Does it shrink pores permanently?

No. Pores look smaller for three to four months because oil production falls and the tiny muscles around them relax; they return to normal as the effect wears off. Retinoids and microneedling produce the more lasting change in pore appearance.

Is it suitable for oily or acne prone skin?

Oily skin, yes; the studies specifically included people with enlarged pores and excess sebum. Active acne is a medical condition and should be treated through your GP first; once it is quiet, oil control can help keep skin matte.

Will it change my expression?

Done correctly, minimally. The product is placed too superficially and too dilute to reach the main expression muscles. Over the lower face, where the smile muscles are close to the surface, technique matters, which is one reason this is not a treatment for a beginner injector.

Is it licensed?

The medicine is licensed; this particular use is not, which is common in medicine and lawful when a prescriber judges it appropriate and explains it. You will be told this clearly and asked to consent to it.

How strong is the evidence?

Encouraging but small: a 2024 systematic review of ten studies and 153 people found consistent improvement in oil, pores, texture and redness, a re analysis strengthened the findings, and the authors called for larger trials. It is better evidence than most "glow" treatments have and weaker than the evidence for retinoids or microneedling.

How soon will I see results, and how long do they last?

Less shine within a week, smoother texture and smaller looking pores by two weeks, full effect at four weeks, lasting around three to four months.

Can it be combined with other treatments?

Yes, and usually should be. It pairs well with standard anti wrinkle treatment at the same visit, with microneedling for lasting collagen change (spaced a couple of weeks apart), and always with a retinoid and sunscreen at home.

Does it help with redness or rosacea type flushing?

Some studies in the review measured a reduction in redness, and some clinicians use it for flushing. Rosacea itself is a medical condition that your GP can treat; where cosmetic redness persists after that, this can be part of a plan, with realistic expectations.

Is it safe?

When prescribed and performed by a doctor or other qualified prescriber after a face to face assessment, the risks are those of any injection plus a small, temporary chance of affecting a nearby muscle. Serious complications are rare. It is not suitable in pregnancy, breastfeeding or with certain neuromuscular conditions.

How much does it cost?

It is priced at consultation according to the area and whether it is added to standard treatment. For comparison, standard anti wrinkle treatment is £170 for one upper face area, £240 for two and £295 for three. The consultation is £75 and redeemable against treatment.

Next steps

If your skin is oily, your pores bother you or your makeup never quite sits smoothly, book a consultation and we will work out whether the answer is skincare, microneedling, this technique or a combination. I will tell you plainly if I think it will not help. The consultation fee is redeemable against treatment.

Book a consultation for skin texture and pores

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Learn more about other treatments offered

Further reading

• Forehead Lines, Frown Lines and Crow's Feet: A Doctor's Guide
• Are All Anti Wrinkle Injections the Same?
• Why Collagen Declines and the Treatments That Actually Stimulate It
• The Real Reason Your Tretinoin Is Not Working
• Why I Believe Microneedling With Exosomes Is Better Than PRP
• Anti Wrinkle Injections at the Clinic
• Medical Microneedling at the Clinic, for Texture and Pores

Dr Caroline Warden (GMC 6157708) is an NHS GP with over 19 years of clinical experience, an independent prescriber, and holds a Level 7 postgraduate diploma in cosmetic injectables. She has practised aesthetic medicine since 2017 and is the sole practitioner at Dr Caroline Warden Skin & Aesthetic Clinic, 2 Crown Passages, Hale, Cheshire, WA15 9GN, where every consultation, treatment and review is carried out by her personally. Patients travel from Hale, Altrincham, Bowdon, Hale Barns, Timperley, Sale, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Knutsford, Didsbury and across Cheshire. The clinic was named Best Doctor Led Aesthetic Clinic in Cheshire 2026 by GHP. Botulinum toxin is a prescription only medicine; intradermal use is an unlicensed application that can only be considered after a face to face consultation, with risks and alternatives discussed. The clinic does not diagnose or treat acne, rosacea or other medical conditions, which should be managed by your GP. Results vary between individuals. This article is for information only and does not constitute individual medical advice.

References

1. Rahman E, Rao P, Philipp-Dormston W, et al. Intradermal botulinum toxin A on skin quality and facial rejuvenation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2024;12(8):e6084. Read the abstract
2. Rahman E, et al. Reply: Intradermal botulinum toxin A on skin quality and facial rejuvenation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2025. Read the reply
3. Sayed KS, Hegazy R, Gawdat HI, et al. The efficacy of intradermal injections of botulinum toxin in the management of enlarged facial pores and seborrhea: a split face controlled study. J Dermatolog Treat 2021;32(7): pages 771 to 777. Read the abstract
4. Shah AR. Use of intradermal botulinum toxin to reduce sebum production and facial pore size. J Drugs Dermatol 2008;7(9): pages 847 to 850. Read the abstract
5. Wu WTL. Microbotox of the lower face and neck: evolution of a personal technique and its clinical effects. Plast Reconstr Surg 2015;136(5 Suppl): pages 92S to 100S. Read the abstract