SCHAUMBURG, Ill., MARCH 15, 2011/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — It
may seem as if new developments to combat aging
skin are being introduced faster than the speed of light. At
the forefront of the research, dermatologists
are underpinning these advancements, refining the basic
understanding of how the skin ages in order to develop more
effective non-invasive cosmetic procedures and products. Now, as an
alternative to laser light – used successfully for years to
make skin appear younger – dermatologists are investigating
electricity.
“Electrical devices are integral to medicine, as physicians use
low-level electricity to stimulate bone growth, reduce chronic
pain, pace the heart and even improve hearing,” said dermatologist
Patricia K. Farris, M.D., FAAD, clinical assistant professor,
Tulane University, New Orleans. “As dermatologists, we use
electrical devices daily in our practices when removing unwanted
growths and stopping bleeding after surgery. Based on these proven
medical capabilities, electricity has been studied in the cosmetic
arena to further improve aging skin.”
Electric Devices: The Good, the Bad, and the Future
Dr. Farris explained that the first attempts to use electricity
in
cosmetic procedures were aimed at stimulating facial muscles.
Low-level electrical stimulation has been shown to increase muscle
mass and muscle tone, and it was thought that electrical
stimulation of facial muscles might be useful to build up the
supporting structure of the skin, elevate soft tissue and improve
facial contour. While many of these early electrical devices were
designed to use at home to improve signs of aging and were sold
directly to consumers, Dr. Farris noted that the results from these
devices (known as galvanic sk
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