At Home Skincare Devices: Radio Frequence (RD) vs Ultrasound vs Microcurrent
RADIO FREQUENCY vs. ULTRASOUND vs. MICROCURRENT
WHAT THEY ARE
WHAT THEY DO
PROS & CONS OF EACH
At Home Skincare Devices: Radio Frequence (RD) vs Ultrasound vs Microcurrent
One of the first places that our body shows signs of aging is the skin. As we age our skin gets looser, starts to get fine lines and wrinkles, and all of this just continues to escalate as we age. Even though this is a totally normal part of aging, it can really be a source of insecurity for people who would prefer to stay looking youthful for as long as possible. Who wouldn’t want to stay looking vibrant and young for as long as possible?
When looking into anti-aging treatments there are a lot of options to consider. Most people will start with the basics and use anti-aging moisturizer, serums, and other skincare products. However, while many of them can help a little bit, oftentimes these skincare products won’t give you the dramatic results that you’re hoping for. Or while they do help, your anti-aging skincare routine could be further enhanced by doing even more to encourage youthful skin.
If you’re looking to tighten skin on your face and around your neck without surgery, there are a lot of other options available from going to get professional treatments to at home skincare devices. Below we’ll compare some of the most popular types of non-invasive home skincare devices for anti-aging.
Why use an at-home skin care device?
Most people can’t, or don’t want to, spend a fortune on anti-aging treatments offered at spas and dermatologists offices. If you’re looking for a way to have tighter, younger looking skin without spending hundreds of dollars on a regular basis then an at home skin care device may be an ideal next step for you.
Of course, most of these can be used in conjunction with anti-aging skincare products to step up your results. Many times these machines use the same technology that is used in expensive salons and spas so purchasing one for home use can be a worthwhile investment if you plan to commit yourself anti-aging treatments long term.
Radio Frequency (RF)
Radio Frequency devices are one of the most effective and popular at home skincare devices out there because they’re relatively easy to use and can deliver the desired results. The way that RF devices work is they expose your skin to targeted heat in the form of radiofrequency. This accelerates the production of collagen which increases the plumpness and tightness of the skin making it appear more youthful. The added plumpness and tightness of the skin helps to remove or soften fine lines and wrinkles. It can also help tighten and contour sagging skin in the neck area that is a common insecurity for people. Additionally, it works well for thin and crepey skin around the eyelids and on fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth, eyes, and forehead.
Though this method does work well, it works best for those who don’t have much sagging or very loose skin. It’s ideal for those who have some fine lines and wrinkles or for younger people who are being proactive to prevent aged skin in the future. In addition, home skincare devices using radiofrequency aren’t good for those who are short on time and want dramatic results fast. In most cases several treatments are needed to achieve desired results.
Pros of Radio Frequency
● Tightens skin
● Effectively reduces wrinkles and fine lines
● Little to no recovery time
● Easy to use
Cons of Radio Frequency
● May need multiple treatments to get desired results
Can be very painful
● Not recommended for people with pacemakers or metal implants
Generally, at-home radio frequency devices are not effective for getting any significant tightening/toning when used on their own. They are best used in-between office RF procedures to help maintain results. RF can be quite painful and home devices do not provide enough deep heat (which is the basis of the treatment, to get superior results.
Ultrasound SKINCARE DEVICEs
At home skincare devices that rely on ultrasound are best for those who are looking for more dramatic results that show up instantly and last longer. As a non-invasive way to tighten skin, ultrasound devices use ultrasound waves to cause a vibration in the surrounding skin to generate a subtle heat in the tissue. The rise in temperature helps to increase the oxygen supply to cells which aids in waste removal. When using an ultrasound device your skin usually feels energized and firm instantly, something most people love about these devices.
Ultrasound devices work well for those who are looking for a dramatic reduction in signs of aging. These work well for skin tightening, improved jawline definition, neck contouring, and upper eyelid hooding.
Pros of Ultrasound
● Should be able to see results after just one treatment
● More dramatic results
● Results tend to last longer
● Little to no downtime
● Though you can feel it working, there is no pain
● Effective for wrinkles, acne
● Improves firmness of skin
● Easy to use
Cons of Ultrasound
● Possibility of redness and slight swelling after the procedure
● Not recommended to those with keloids, open wounds, dermal/mechanical/meta/electrical implants
● Not for use on pregnant women
Ultrasound can be quite effective as an at-home treatment. Be careful to purchase pro-level/vetted devices to get the best benefit vs. inferior knock-offs. These look the same but do not have the same efficacy of higher-end devices. Also, the treatment for ultrasound at home is short, but only done twice weekly. It is not recommended to exceed that.
Microcurrent
At-home skincare devices that use microcurrents send electricity to the skin to subtly lift and firm the skin. These are sometimes called “facial trainers” and can be said to increase lymphatic drainage, stimulate collagen production, and reduce fine lines over a period of time. These devices can result in skin that is toned, tighter, and looks more lifted. However, microcurrent devices are best used to maintain healthy and youthful skin rather than to dramatically reverse the signs of aging. Although these devices are completely painless, microcurrent devices do require consistency and long term commitment to see noticeable results.
Pros of Microcurrent
● Good to maintain healthy and youthful skin
● Can be good to use in combination with other treatment to keep skin tight/defined
● Most find it completely painless
Cons of Microcurrent
● Best used as a preventative measure, not for those who need dramatic results
● Must be used consistently for good results
While there are a lot of different types of at home skin care devices to choose from, they all have their own pros and cons. Depending on what you’re looking for, one of the three types of devices covered in this article should work for you and the results that you’re looking for. As with any skin care regiment, it’s important to do your research and figure out which is best for your lifestyle, your skin, and your budget.
Microcurrent is a safe, proven treatment and can be easily done at home. It’s one of the quickest ways to really lift, tighten and tone facial muscles. It does work on the skin; it is a device meant to work the underlying muscles.
To learn more about microcurrent, see my (Almost) Everything You Need to Know About Microcurrent post
LIFT - TIGHTEN - TONE - FIRM
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