Is the radio frequency (RF) beauty device reliable for anti-aging?

The force of the beauty device’s wind is getting stronger and stronger… Facing the overwhelming promotion, the consumers who are willing to try are mainly concerned about this: From a professional perspective, is the anti-aging effect of the radiofrequency beauty device reliable?

Firstly, it should be clarified that the most advanced mainstream beauty devices at present are generally of the radiofrequency (high-frequency alternating electromagnetic wave) type; To be realistic, the anti-aging effect of the radiofrequency beauty device is based on scientific evidence. This is related to the microscopic changes at the cellular level during human aging and the characteristics of radiofrequency.

1. The histological changes in the face during aging
   First, let’s talk about the topic of “aging”: After all, to understand how to “delay aging”, we must understand the process and mechanism of aging – as we age, our face undergoes a series of changes, from the skin to the bones, it can be said that no part is spared from the inside out.
   Skin:
   As the most external layer barrier of the human body, the skin faithfully fulfills its duty of isolating ultraviolet rays and resisting negative external stimuli. This largest organ of the body is also the first part to show signs of aging.
   First, the keratinocytes in the epidermis layer gradually lose balance, while the deeper dermis layer contains a large amount of collagen fibers, elastic fibers, and various skin appendages. Aging leads to a reduction in reticular fibers in the dermis, an increase in collagen protein cross-linking, and a decrease in the elasticity of the collagen fiber network; as one enters middle age and old age, sweat glands and sebaceous glands will begin to atrophy, and local melanocytes will proliferate, resulting in age spots.
   It is precisely because of these age-related histological changes that people generally experience a series of changes in skin appearance during aging, such as dull skin color, dry and thin skin, sagging and drooping, wrinkles and pigmentation spots. Coupled with the effect of gravity, the face will look very “collapsed”.
   Fat:
   Similar to muscle tissue, fat tissue also shrinks and thins with aging. Since facial fat is not evenly distributed but is divided into independent fat compartments by fibrous membranes, the order and degree of their atrophy during facial aging are not the same, and even some areas of fat tissue may become hypertrophic and sag – this is where the laugh lines and double chin come from. The ability of fat cells to regulate the synthesis of hyaluronic acid by fibroblasts also further leads to the thinning, sagging, and wrinkling of adjacent facial skin.
   Muscle:
   As we age, the weight of the muscle in relation to body weight will decrease, the number of muscle fibers will decrease, and the diameter will reduce. Macroscopically, the muscle as a whole begins to atrophy, the facial expression muscles become thinner as they age, and the support force on the skin will decrease, resulting in skin sagging.
   Bone:
   Similar to muscle tissue, the aging population will experience a decrease in bone mass and bone atrophy. The enlargement of the eye socket will lead to wrinkles at the corners of the eyes, bags under the eyes, and tear troughs; the atrophy of the nasal bone will cause a lower nasal bridge; an increase in the angle of the lower jaw will lead to a blunt or reduced clarity of the lower boundary of the face, and a more obvious double chin.
   So it is impossible not to sigh that aging is a process from the inside out, multi-faceted, and multi-angle, which is extremely frustrating…
2. “High-risk areas” and influencing factors of facial aging
   Due to loose tissues and frequent movement, the periorbital area can be considered one of the most obvious areas of facial aging. The periorbital skin can be divided into the upper eyelid, the end of the eye, and the lower eyelid, and the aging problems of each area’s periorbital skin are different. The aging of the upper eyelid skin usually has the phenomenon of swelling and relaxation, and if not paid attention to maintenance for a long time, it will lead to eyelid drooping and eyelid swelling at the corners of the eyes. The aging of the end of the eye skin is most prone to the appearance of divergent fine lines, which is what we commonly call crow’s feet. The lower eyelid is the area where dark circles, bags, and dry lines problems gather.
   So the periorbital area can be considered the most important position for anti-aging of the face. In addition, the nasolabial fold, the lower jaw, and the cheekbones are also areas that need to be particularly noted as “high-risk areas” of aging. In addition, research has found that many factors, such as smoking, ultraviolet rays, stress, weight, and many others, have a significant impact on appearance. Therefore, to maintain healthy skin, one must first eliminate some bad habits, such as smoking and excessive drinking. One should also pay attention to maintaining a good mood and cultivate good living habits – because aging occurs from the inside out, and health preservation naturally emphasizes an approach from the inside out.
   The main reasons for skin aging are: one is aging due to age, which is an internal factor; the other is photoaging, which is an external factor. A large part of both is based on the damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) to cellular DNA, proteins, etc. To deal with photoaging, the key lies in sun protection. Minimizing exposure to ultraviolet rays is sufficient. However, combating aging is an almost impossible task – most skin care products and masks only work on the epidermis and cannot reach the deep layers of the dermis; if one wants to achieve overall anti-aging, medical aesthetics is almost the only means to seek help.
   Three. What are “Thermage” and “Radio Frequency”?
   Thermage is a very popular medical beauty project in recent years. This name is a transliteration of Thermage. In 1996, the American Thermage Company invented the ThermaCool radio frequency treatment system and obtained approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002. Since then, radio frequency technology has been applied to the field of skin beauty.
   Radio Frequency (RF) is a short form for high-frequency alternating electromagnetic waves. It has now become the most widely used non-invasive method for alleviating skin wrinkles and relaxation. Its principle is to induce thermal damage through high-frequency alternating current (0.3 – 10 MHz), causing changes in the conformation of collagen and stimulating the deep layers of the skin and subcutaneous tissues to produce new collagen, thereby achieving anti-aging effects such as reducing wrinkles, improving skin laxity, and shrinking pores.
   Collagen regeneration takes time, so the effects of Thermage can be seen immediately at 20% – 30%, and the full effect will only be fully manifested after 3 – 6 months, giving a “reverse aging” experience that is very magical.
   The above preparations are complete! Understanding the principles of aging and anti-aging makes it easy to weigh the value of beauty devices – the use of home beauty devices is a very classic transformation of anti-aging research. With technological progress, radio frequency technology has also been applied to home beauty devices.
   Four. Classification and Principles of Beauty Devices
   This category of beauty devices has undergone several generations of technological changes:
   The first generation of beauty devices is vibration type: such as those that use inert metals to contact the epidermis layer, providing more than 6,000 vibrations per minute. High-frequency vibrations can partially alleviate edema and promote lymphatic return, but they are not helpful for wrinkles, relaxation, spots, and dark lines caused by melanin deposition, and pigmentation problems.
   The second generation is light therapy type: such as various light therapy masks. These beauty devices or related products use different wavelengths and frequencies of light waves to irradiate the skin, such as red and blue light, infrared light, etc., to stimulate the epidermis and dermis, achieving a slight improvement in skin texture and color.
   These devices are often large and complex fixed equipment that requires operation in a hospital. Although there are subsequent lightweight light therapy devices, compared with the next generation of current radio frequency products, they do not have outstanding advantages. Moreover, light therapy is not a pleasant experience; it requires continuous light exposure for more than a quarter of an hour, during which one cannot move or entertain, which is indeed not very humanized; this issue needs to be solved by lightweight light therapy masks.
   The third generation is microcurrent beauty devices, such as Refa, nuface, etc. Microcurrent stimulates muscles and relaxes muscle bundles, thereby reducing expression lines; microcurrent also has the effect of promoting collagen regeneration and improving local microcirculation in the dermis. Finally, there is the latest and most advanced type of beauty instrument, the radiofrequency beauty device. The radiofrequency beauty device is currently the most clinically verified and has the highest skin care and anti-aging efficiency among all beauty devices on the market. The technology it employs is the same as that of Thermage, which is mentioned above, and it uses radiofrequency.
   The average thickness of the epidermis of human skin is 0.2mm, and the dermis is approximately 2mm. Therefore, a qualified radiofrequency beauty device should have a penetration depth of more than 2mm, reaching the dermis and subcutaneous tissues. The depth of radiofrequency energy is inversely proportional to the frequency. Lower-frequency radiofrequency can penetrate deeper. Currently, the frequency range of devices on the market is 1MHZ – 46.8MHZ. Most home radiofrequency beauty devices use bipolar or multiple bipolar radiofrequency, with an effective penetration depth of 2-4mm.
   Compared with the radiofrequency devices in professional beauty institutions, the energy of home beauty devices is not set too high. This is also due to the consideration of product safety and to reduce the irritation to the skin caused by long-term use. Therefore, the effect of home beauty devices is definitely not as immediate as that of medical equipment in hospitals. However, as long as we continue to use them, there will definitely be an effect. Everyone’s skin condition and aging degree are different, and the effect also varies from person to person. But beauty devices that have been certified by the state and undergone regular clinical trials have safety guarantees and have nothing to do with the term “IQ scam”.
   Moreover, nowadays, going out is not very convenient. Buying a home beauty device can avoid the trouble of running to the hospital frequently. It is quite appealing.