Lets Talk about Anti-Aging!

 There are a lot of misconceptions out there about anti-aging do's and don'ts. Some people seem to "not" age, and I am out to discover their secrets. So I was doing some googling and came across a product that just may rock our world! Not only is this item expensive (that means it must be good right?), but it also has 4 1/2 star reviews. Drum roll please! 

With the average face lift costing thousands of dollars, this seems like a steal. Reviews claim "wrinkles on my forehead are almost gone" and "better results than with a beauty salon." This product can also be used on other parts of the body, that way, we can age symmetrically, because, who wants to have a 30 year old face and 60 year old hands?! Today, we are going to look at the science behind the machine and really get an idea if this apparatus will leave our skin feeling lighter, or just our wallets. 

This is the science that the RF Machine uses to promote its product. 

Now lets look at what scientific evidence tells us about Radio Frequency and wrinkle reduction. In the study done by Verner et al. (2017), patients who were treated with bipolar radiofrequency and optical energies as opposed to just optical energy, experienced improved appearance of the skin, minimal downtime, minimal adverse reactions and increased satisfaction with outcome. The bipolar radiofrequency can treat skin complaints such as wrinkles, fine lines, and sun damage. The frequency used in the study was up to 25 J/cm2. The radiofrequency produced by the MLAY RF machine is not advertised. Overall, it appears some of the science behind the MLAYs claims are true, but it is yet to be determined if the machine is capable of producing the RF needed to get results in the home setting. Also, keep in mind, the study used patients that getting RF treatment with optical energey vs optical energy alone, and this machine is using RF alone. 

I do have a few problems with the validity of this product and I will tell you why, and how you can look at products and discern whether or not they may be falsely advertising. First of all, when looking at the website, there are many grammatical errors. Keep in mind that a reputable product/website, will pay attention to detail and have very few to none! Second, when looking at reviews, consider this. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There is not one review with less than 4 stars. Some companies pay consumers to review products for free items or compensation. If a company offered to give you a $300, would your review be biased? Lastly, keep in mind that a medical grade appliance will not be available without a medical license. This product will not provide similar results to what you would get if you received the service at a medical spa or dermatology office. 

If bad skin, wrinkles, age spots, or sun damage has you feeling down, make an appointment with a dermatologist to get the best advice in skin care and recommendations that can suit both your skin type and budget. Alternatively, you can embrace your wisdom lines, and be free from the multi-billion dollar industry that is "anti-aging." Whatever you decide, remember, aging is an opportunity that many do not get, so do not take it for granted!

Thanks for visiting, and tune in next time for another great discussion:)

Reference:

Verner, I., Kutscher, T., & Kutscher, T. D. (2017). Clinical evaluation of the efficacy and safety of combined bipolar radiofrequency and optical energies vs. optical energy alone for the treatment of aging hands. Lasers in Medical Science, 32(6), 1387–1392. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-017-2257-z