Are At-Home Skincare Devices Are Actually Worth it?

Today we’re breaking down which at-home skincare devices may actually be worth your money and which are not. As a dermatology nurse practitioner, I get this question fairly often and wanted to share my thoughts.

1. Cleansing devices – NO – I think cleansing devices are expensive and totally unnecessary. If you have sensitive skin, some of these devices may even be a little too rough for regular use. That being said – a lot of people love their cleansing device and look forward to it in their skincare routine. If that’s you, amazing – no need to stop if you genuinely enjoy it and it’s not causing irritation.
   1.   WHAT TO DO INSTEAD: You don’t need a special brush to adequately cleanse your face, your clean hands are more than fine to get the job done & they are FREE 🙂
2. Pore Vacuum/extracting devices – NO – These are one of those devices that I really think can do much more harm than good. I find these devices to be ineffective to actually extract blackheads. They can cause inflammation, irritation, infection, and hyperpigmentation. If you have rosacea or broken blood vessels, the suction may also worsen this or even cause more broken capillaries.
   1.   WHAT TO DO INSTEAD: Keep your pores clear and clean with a topical retinoid & chemical exfoliant, like salicylic acid. If you struggle with clogged pores and blackheads, I recommend in office chemical peels and professional extractions to safely remove.
3. Red light wand – NO – I don’t recommend the wand device specifically. When you’re moving around the wand, the treatment is less likely to remain consistent and even through the face. Plus, most of these devices should be used for at least 3-10 minutes (depends on the device) for optimal results, which, again, may be harder to achieve with the wand.
   1. WHAT TO USE INSTEAD: A mask! See below
4. Red light/blue light masks – YES – I think it’s easier to get consistent and even distribution of the light in a mask form vs. the wand. Quality LED masks are shown to be beneficial to the skin. Red light helps to support collagen production and decrease the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles. Blue light addresses P. acnes and reduces breakouts. A couple things to note: These devices are not inexpensive and do require consistent use to see any kind of result. Also, the over-the-counter devices are not going to be as strong as in office treatments with your provider, meaning the results may not be as impressive.
5. Low level light therapy – YES – We have about 15 studies that shows LLLT can help stimulate hair growth in both men and women with androgenetic alopecia (genetic hair thinning). It represents a non-invasive, safe, and potentially effective option for hair loss and is something you can do in the convenience of your own home. However, we do see best results with a multi-faceted approach – if you choose to try LLLT,  I recommend combining it with other treatment modalities such as topical solutions, oral medications, &/or PRP to optimize results.

Do any of these surprise you? Any devices I missed that you have questions about? Do you use at-home devices? I’d love to hear your feedback!