Hoyun at Popgadget.net asks: What do you think of home laser treatment devices? Do they work?
The Right Brain responds:
Thanks for the question, Hoyun. We’re big fans of your blog and we saw your recent post on the Vitalmed Softlaser Wand for do-it-yourself laser skin treatments. Here’s what we think:
What do lasers do for skin?
As we previously posted, lasers are effective tools for the treatment of wrinkles and for skin resurfacing and specific laser devices have been approved by the FDA for use by dermatologists. Derms use these “professional strength” lasers to abrade the upper layers of skin, revealing “fresh” skin below. This is a serious treatment: some patients report mild pain and slight reddening (which can last for months.) For more information, you can read these laser facts from the FDA’s website.
What is the Vitalmed Softlaser Wand?
The Vitalmed Softlaser Wand (also known as the Beurer Softlaser) is a hand-held 5 milliwatt Aluminium – Gallium laser that produces a light beam with a wavelength 635 to 670 nanometers. According to a website that sells this thing, here’s the laundry list of things it does:
- Help reverse the effects of aging
- Reduce wrinkles & fine lines
- Stimulate collagen & tone skin
- Clears acne & erase blemishes, bruises
- Diminishes scars, stretch marks, cuts & burns
- Treats herpes / cold sores
- Helps treat tennis elbow, tendonitis, arthritis, sinusitis / rhinitis
- Heals eczema, dermatitis, rosacea, burns, spider veins & more…
- We make no medical claims in the U.S. – yet.
It’s interesting that they say they don’t make medical claims in the US, yet here it is for sale.
Does it really work?
We can’t find any evidence that laser devices sold for home use are effective. In the US, the FDA does not legally sanction these devices. In Europe, according to the websites, Softlaser is a certified Medical Device that complies with the EU Directive 93/42/EEC. We’re not experts in interpreting EU legal directives, but we scanned the 46 page document and couldn’t find any indication that product performance is a criteria for certification. It appears to be more of a safety registration document.
It seems to us that any device strong enough to produce the side effects mentioned above (when used by a dermatologist!) is probably not safe for home use. And if the home version is weaker and doesn’t have potential side effects it seems like it would be less likely to work.
The Beauty Brains bottom line
Since it’s not approved by the FDA and since we couldn’t find any clear evidence that this device actually works, we’re really skeptical. If any of our community in Europe, where this device is supposedly approved, have any additional information please let us know and we’ll update this post. In the meantime, you see a picture and find out more about a similar product, the Nuphase Soft Touch Laser
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Hi – Great information on laser technology. After reading this article, I would definitely be skeptical of the “Vitaland Softlaser Wand.” I think in the future, if I need any work done, I’ll head to my local dermatologist. Nice, article!
Very good post. It is so tempting to buy something like this, especially if you can avoid the inconvenience of scheduling a visit and paying the hefty Dermatologist fee.
However, if it doesn’t work, or even worse, you end up damaging your skin with it, it would be infinitely worse to waste your money on something like the Nuphase Soft Touch Laser. I would be curious about anyone who has used this and what their experience was.
Thanks for your thoughtful article in response to my question. A slight error I’d like to point out, however. The name of our website is Popgadget, at http://www.popgadget.net.
Thank you for breaking the news that this item may or may not work, based on your being “unable to find evidence.” It is that thoroughness that keeps me reading this blog never, like getting the name of the blog you’re referencing wrong within the first four words. Perhaps you were unable to find evidence of their correct name as well.
Intelligent Person:
It’s clear from the tone of your comment that you’re not happy with this post. Maybe it would help if I explained a bit more about our perspective on what we do here.
We encourage our community to ask us ANY beauty question that’s on their mind. We can’t answer every question, but when do blog about a topic we try educate our community so they are smarter shoppers. And hopefully we can entertain people in the process.
Typically we receive questions that ask if a certain beauty product or treatment really does what it says it will do. For some of those questions, it’s easy to find very specific information that clearly supports, or contradicts, the premise of the product. In other cases, it’s not easy to track down exactly where the truth lies. Either way, we do our best to try to answer the question to the best of our knowledge. We don’t claim to be experts in EVERY aspect of EVERY product for EVERY beauty need. But we do have the advantage of working in this industry for many years, so we do understand much more than the average person. Our goal is to share as much our experience as possible with our readers.
In the case of this Softlaser product, we were intrigued because the product claims to be an inexpensive, easy to use, do it yourself replacement for a treatment that is normally done with very specialized, expensive equipment by trained dermatologists. For that kind of claim, we would expect to see some kind of corroborative proof and we couldn’t find it.
That doesn’t mean the proof doesn’t exist, it just means we couldn’t find it. We are not perfect and we can’t research every topic exhaustively. If anyone reading this, including the company that makes the Beurer device, can point us to some data, we will gladly revise our post with this new information. Until then, it’s our opinion that this is device is unproven and people should think twice before spending their money on it.
If you find our approach dissatisfying, you’re certainly not obligated to continue reading our blog. But we hope you’ll stick around; maybe you’ll learn something. Thanks.
Really, I’d rather have an article state that no information could be found on it one way or the other than have an article that had a clear opinion based on little to no supporting data. Thanks for being honest.
I have to agree with Klu: if you don’t have the information, how can you have an opinion?
“Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy.”
I am all for pointing out a mistake, asking for clarification, or making a constructive suggestion. It can be done without being insulting.
Keep up the great work Right Brain!
I found this site while searching to see if my Beurer SoftLaser can be repaired as it quit working after 3 or 4 years of use. When I used the laser I did notice some improvement. I would use it while watching television or listening to a radio program as this helped time the length I used it. I have a placed between my nose and upper lip that is a small circular-like place that is red that was helped to fade so long as I periodically used the laser on it. I think I had mild improvement to my overall face and noticed an improvement to the laugh line area. To maintain any improvement it was necessary to use the laser. At times I would use it consistently and then would fall away from using it all. But when I had something special to attend, I would use it to look my best. I paid around $249.00 for the laser so it cost me around $5.00 a month amortized. I ordered it as I wanted results without having to be tied to doctor appointments. Overall I must say that when I used it faithfully I would notice results, when I didn’t of course the aging process marched on.
I have this Vitalmed Softlaser by beurer and absolutely love it. I develop scar tissue easily due to a family trait. I had both knees replaced which left terrible scars on both knees. I used this laser faithfully for less than a month and the scars are now so faint that I am again comfortable wearing shorts. I have also used it on wrinkles around my eyes and upper lip and they smoothed right out. I would like to also point out two things: 1 the picture shown of the blue lighted wand does not even look like the product we are talking about. 2. The home model is a different type of laser than what the doctors use. Theirs is painful and extremely powerful. They are intended to work quickly with one pulse on a given area. This home model is not dangerous for home use but powerful enough to get results. I also just spoke to a man at their factory who told me the FDA is passing this laser for use in the US and will again be available sometime in March or April.
I found a great natural wrinkle treatment that I have been using…and its certified organic. Its called the MADE FROM EARTH product line and they have this great Vitamin Face Firming Serum.
I started using their vitamin face firming serum 3 months ago on a daily basis – but now I use it maybe once a week! I noticed a major change in my face and thus don’t need to use the product that often. My wrinkles have decreased and my skin just looks fresh….
Plus it has no chemicals – and since I am a smart educated and healthy women – that’s the only way I choose to go. Definitely recommend it for healthy women who want a way to prevent and reduce wrinkles …
I bought the Vitalmed (by beurer) SoftLaser to treat the excema on my hands. I already use special creams for my face as I have extremely sensative skin, so I dont feel the need to use it cosmetically.
I have had the SoftLaser for about 3 months and although it does not aid in the prevention of the excema, it has accellerated the healing process in my skin.
I have to say I am very happy with this product.
I get cold sores occasionally and it is the only thing that stops them at the sensitive tingly stage before they even get started. I haven’t had a full blown cold sore since I started using the softlaser 2 years ago except for once while I was on vacation and forgot to bring it with me. Mine just stopped working though, and I haven’t really used it much.
I am looking to see if anyone knows how this laser works. If it is using
LED red lighting, I already bought a device that has about 60 red LEDs
and I am seeing no results on my wrinkles or red marks from acne. I am
53 and still have acne plus the wrinkling around my mouth and jaw is
getting bad. I have been using the LED lighting for about 3 weeks religiously and at length so am wondering if this laser by Beuarer is
worth it. Also, is it better than the Nulase? Not much on the net as
far as real honest (non sales sites) reviews. My next option is the baby
quasar but that is costly and still leaves me a question on whether LED
lighting is for me. My bulbs equals about 13 watts of LED and has the
blue for acne as well. No help whatsoever on the sagging or wrinkles!
Plse let me know anyone who is in their fifties and has some news on it!
I own and operate a Medical Aesthetic & Wellness clinic.
The supervising physician ordered the Breuer Soft Lasers a while back and I never sold them as I didn’t understand the concept.
I thought I’d look it up again to understand the technology. To my surprise I learned that the Soft Laser is LLLT.
I can definitively say that LLLT and LEDs are very different from each other. Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT) is completely safe and highly effective. We use LLLT devices at our clinic for rejuvenation, wound healing, joint pain and hair loss control. Light Emmiting Devices (LEDs) do not offer the nearly the same results – they are much less effective so treatment will take longer. LEDs work, but LLLT works much much better.
Now that I know what they are I will definately be selling them and ordering more for sale. This will be a very useful tool for many of my clients, especially, but not limited to those with cystic acne – to prevent major scarring and speed up the healing process.
Cynthia Ann, I hope this was helpful.
I used the Breuer laser at my aunt’s wellness facility for a toothache after dental work. Worked amazingly fast. My husband a couple treatments for a back injury and it also helped him. My nephew’s friend had a sprained ankle from playing basketball and after 3 treatments he was ready for practice. I’m not a “new age” gal, but this honestly worked. Don’t know why it did, but I’m purchasing one because of these three events.
Well… I asked my dad to buy me the Beurer soft laser after I finished watching the Canadian Shopping channel. I’ve been using it for 3 months now. For the first couple weeks, I used it on my hyperpigmentation scars (brown spots) and my laugh lines for about 5 minutes a day. I didn’t see any noticeable results. It faded a little, but all my brown spots fade after a few weeks… It did absolutely nothing for my laugh lines, maybe it’s because I smile/laugh a lot
. Anyways… I’m going to continue using it, but no results yet.
Beauty Brains is a stupid site and this article about soft lasers is just retarded. Oh, the US government doesn’t authorize them so they must be worthless even though they’re authorized by other industrial nations’ governments and used by their citizenry.
lol! You made my day.