With each passing year, more and more clinical-grade skincare and hair-growth treatments are becoming available for at-home use. Specifically, laser, LED, and IPL gadgets are clearing the rigorous FDA approval process at a high clip—and that’s great news for anyone who wants clearer, firmer, and brighter skin; a fuller head of hair; or smoother, hair-free skin. It’s also great news for anyone searching for a gift for a loved one.
For the curious consumer, it’s good to understand the various functions of these devices, as well as differentiate between your options. To help with this, we sought the expertise of board-certified dermatologist Heather Rogers, M.D., founder of Doctor Rogers Skincare as well as Seattle’s Modern Dermatology clinic. Below is Rogers’ framework for understanding the differences between LED, IPL, and other lasers, and how they can be applied to everything from wrinkles to acne scars and beyond.
Here are the key differences between the at-home devices that use lasers, LED, and IPL. However, Rogers says not to expect the same results from DIY devices that you would get from clinical treatments: “At-home devices will not work as well as [in-office treatments], but they are less expensive and easier to do. I find them complimentary,” she says. “I have patients use at-home IPL hair removal devices to improve and speed results from laser hair removal, and I love red light LED to maintain healthy beautiful skin as well as speed recovery after treatments.”
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“Laser” is in fact an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. And in skin or hair treatment devices, Rogers says the mechanism is to emit a single, concentrated wavelength of light. “The energy is focused on a specific target, such as pigmented lesions, blood vessels or hair follicles—or water, when the laser is for resurfacing skin.” She adds that lasers are the most powerful of the three types of light emission; accordingly, they can penetrate the deepest into the skin, too. “Lasers are primarily used in medical practices for hair removal, tattoo removal, [mimizing the appearance of] blood vessels, and skin resurfacing. Different types of lasers target different skin concerns,” she explains. They are the least likely to be found in at-home devices because they are the strongest and most effective (and come with the most risks). Nevertheless, there are a handful of true laser devices you can get on the market today.
Nira offers one of the most efficient and effective ways to enjoy laser-level anti-aging benefits at home. Just slide its ergonomically designed device around your face for 3 to 5 minutes each day, and within a few months you’ll have firmer, clearer skin. It has five different intensity levels, so you can adjust its intensity if you find your skin is sensitive to its higher levels.
Buy Now on Nira Skin: $599
Our test drive of the Lyma Laser proved that this device offers some seriously profound results in just a couple of months. A dedicated daily regimen can deliver brighter, glowing skin—as long as you have the patience to be consistent. While the company recommends treating your skin for up to an hour each day, I took a targeted approach for 10 to 15 minutes daily and still saw noticeable progress in my skin’s texture and appearance.
Buy Now on Lyma: $2,156+
This is arguably the best hair follicle laser cap on the market today, with 300 laser diodes to truly rival the experience of receiving low-level laser therapy in the hair clinic. A few minutes each day is all you need to fortify your follicles and ensure that hairs grow thicker and stay anchored better.
Devices that employ LEDs (light emitting diodes) use specific colors of light to stimulate different cellular responses, Rogers explains. “Each color penetrates the skin at different depths and has unique benefits.” For example, red light LEDs can stimulate collagen production, calm inflammation and improve uneven skin tone, while blue light LEDs can kill the bacteria that cause acne. (Though Rogers has warned me more than once that the blue LEDs can potentially miniaturize skin cells, so use those ones with caution, and consider alternate methods for acne mitigation.) “LEDs are the lowest energy and safest for all skin types,” Rogers adds.
We recently wrote a love letter to this mask, which offers anti-aging and anti-acne light modes while simultaneously massaging the tired skin around your eyes. It also allows you to choose what kind of light you want to use depending on your needs: red for collagen production, blue for acne, or infrared for textural improvements.
Buy Now on TheraBody: $599
A daily 10-minute session with this helmet will coach your scalp to produce thicker, fuller hairs, while also reviving dormant ones that were otherwise near extinction. As a bonus, there are Bluetooth headphones inside the cap, so you can listen to your favorite songs or podcast while it works.
Buy Now on CurrentBody: $859
This LED panel, designed for you to lay under, can trigger improvements in everything from collagen levels and eczema to aching joints and sore muscles, with three different wavelengths of light: Blue (for acne), red (for collagen), and near-infrared (for inflammation and cell regeneration). The last two modes can be combined to help improve your skin’s overall texture.
Buy Now on CurrentBody: $2,495
IPL stands for intense pulsed light, and IPL devices use a broad spectrum of light with multiple wavelengths, Rogers says. “Unlike lasers, which emit a single, focused beam, IPL devices release scattered wavelengths of light. It is versatile and can target a variety of skin issues, including pigmentation, vascular lesions, and hair removal.” Rogers says that IPL is less precise than lasers but can also cover larger areas. For people with darker skin tones, one big downside to IPL is that it is less effective and can cause complications (including burns), since the IPL targets pigment and can have a hard time discerning the difference between hair and skin.
If you’re sick of waxing, shaving, or just sporting more fuzz than you’d otherwise prefer, then consider doing some at-home IPL treatments with Braun’s bestselling device. You can adjust its intensity and swap in different heads to concentrate the light on more precise areas. Budget about 12 weeks for profound results, and always be sure to treat stubbled or shaved areas as opposed to longer hairs. (And remember: The more contrast there is between your skin and hair, the better your results will be.)
Buy Now on The Art of Shaving: $380
By Dr. TRACY MOUNTFORD, MBBS MBCAM
Its unique and highly advanced radiofrequency technology makes the Thermage the top treatment for many. This safe, non-invasive treatment heats the deep, collagen rich layers of your skin to tighten existing collagen and stimulate new collagen formation over time. Thermage is clinically proven to help smooth, re-contour and tighten the skin.
Best for treating:
Thermage treatment will leave you with:
Renewed contours thanks to the heat remodeling the collagen
Skin looking smoother and younger
Tightened skin
Improved jawline
Reduced lines
Brighter and lifted eyes
New collagen
Thermage has developed so much that it can be used on the face, eyes (Thermage Eyes), neck and stomach. Another highlight making Thermage worth it is that the results are long lasting with little to no downtime.
Thermage Before and After
Using non-surgical light-based therapy, Forever Young BBL is a renowned laser resurfacing treatment. With cutting-edge photorejuvenation technology, BBL restores the beauty and quality of your skin to be luminous and glowing.
Best for treating:
Signs of ageing
Sun damage
Rosacea
Hyperpigmentation
Age spots
Blemishes and fine lines and wrinkles
Areas on the face, neck, arms and hands
Forever Young BBL treatment benefits are:
Luminous and glowing skin
Healthy skin renewal
Firmer and more contoured skin
Reduced appearance of freckles , age spots and wrinkles
Reduced acne , hyperpigmentation, facial veins and overall sun damage
This revolutionary skin revitalising laser treatment treats a wide variety of skin conditions and a chosen favourite thanks to it no downtime requirement. As a quick and effective treatment that gives long-lasting results and can counteract the skin damage of 2021, Forever Young BBL is the perfect treatment for 2024. Explore our Forever Young BBL before and afters to see results from real patients!
Forever Young BBL Before and After
Before you say it, yes, we know Morpheus8 isn’t a laser treatment but trust us when we say the results are just too amazing to not include it in this list. With FDA approved fractional technology, your skin can be tight, smooth, and radiant again. Using advanced radiofrequency technology, Morpheus8 gives life changing revitalised results and can be used on the face and areas of the body.
Best for treating:
Fine lines and wrinkles
Skin laxity
Uneven skin tone
Uneven skin texture
Acne scars
Morpheus8 treatment benefits are:
Promotes collagen production
Can be used on darker skin tones (skin type VI)
Effective on loose skin as it contours, lifts and tightens the face
Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and appearance of stretch marks
Improves hyperpigmentation and smooths uneven skin texture
Reduces skin irregularities
Fades acne scars
Morpheus8 is a treatment that everyone wants and that includes celebrities who have tried it and fell in love with their results. Judy Murray turned back the clock on her advanced skin aging with the help of Morpheus8. With amazing results, this minimally invasive treatment option is the answer for those who want to avoid surgery or lengthy downtime. This 360° treatment does it all, from creating collagen to remodelling your tissue to give you a contoured and lifted look.
Morpheus8 Before and After
When we think of lasers, we can worry about how aggressive the treatment will be. The Clear + Brilliant is a gentle laser skin care treatment. It is the perfect treatment for those in their 20s and 30s who want to look after their skin now so it will continue to look good in later life. By treating the upper layers of your skin with a precise light laser, this treatment removes dead cells and stimulates collagen production. It replaces damaged skin i.e.. Sun damaged with healthy, younger looking tissue.
Best for:
Recovering glow and luminosity in your skin
Improving tone and texture
Sun damaged skin and melasma
Visible pores
Clear + Brilliant benefits are:
Renewed and smooth skin texture
Reduced appearance of pores
Treated sun damaged skin
Improved tone, texture and radiance
Illuminated skin tone
This FDA-approved, fractional laser gives your skin a radiant, youthful glow. Create the ultimate skin care regime that includes Clear + Brilliant which is clinically proven to combat the effects of ageing skin.
Not so much laser, but more ultrasound as a treatment and here’s why it deserves a spot in this list. Ultherapy is the ultimate Gold-Standard treatment when it comes to lifting and tightening skin. It is a market-leading collagen booster that uses precise micro-focused ultrasound technology. For patients who want fast results, then Ultherapy is the only FDA-cleared, non-invasive treatment that can lift the face in a single treatment. You’ll see results in less than an hour!
Best for:
Refreshing and lifting the faces appearance making it a great non-surgical facelift option
Taking the years off your brow area
Tightening and lifting your jowls
Removing drooping eyelids and replenishing skin under the eyes
Smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles across the decolletage
Reducing the appearances of a turkey neck
Lifting and bringing back strength to sagging skin
Ultherapy benefits are it:
Regenerates natural collagen and elastin stores
Tightens and firms skin texture
Rejuvenates appearance to look fresh and natural
Lifts sagging and drooping skin
No recovery or downtime
Completely non-invasive and non-surgical so no injections or scarring
Lifted, flawless and tightened skin that exudes rejuvenation and vitality is achievable with Ultherapy. The Cosmetic Skin Clinic have been voted No1 Ultherapy Clinic in the UK and Ireland for 10 consecutive years. So, get your award-winning Ultherapy treatment booked with the experts.
Ultherapy Before and After
We understand the importance of wanting to look and feel good about yourself but still looking like you. Our practitioners have years of experience and happy patients who enjoy their authentic results of being them but fresher.
Trained to a high level and focused on getting you the results you want; at The Cosmetic Skin Clinic our clinic team can recommend the perfect laser treatment for your 2024 concerns. From sunspots, skin laxity skin texture and overall appearance, our laser treatments can remedy those concerns.
We are with you every step of the way, from consultation, treatment day to after care and checkup. Start your laser treatment journey and book your consultation today via our enquiry form. Alternatively, why not give our London or Buckinghamshire clinic a call on 0343 252 8240.