DermaWand is a cosmetic device with an interesting premise: that radiofrequency waves applied near the skin can reduce wrinkles. The brand even goes so far as to claim their device is “anti-aging.”
But can radio waves actually reduce wrinkles? Has DermaWand published any clinical studies proving their device works? Is the DermaWand Pro more effective than the regular DermaWand? And how do real customers rate and describe the aesthetic effects of the DermaWand?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we review clinical studies on radiofrequency for wrinkles, to give our take on whether or not this technology is likely to be effective.
We'll also feature unsponsored customer reviews, compare DermaWand Pro to DermaWand, and share our concerns about the clinical trial funded by DermaWand.
Can Radio Waves Reduce Wrinkles?
There have been clinical studies published in peer-reviewed journals testing whether radiofrequency can reduce wrinkles.
A medical review published in a Brazilian dermatology journal analyzed 31 clinical trials on radiofrequency for dermatologic effects.
The researchers concluded that while there were some potential biological mechanisms by which radiofrequency could reduce wrinkles, there weren’t clear specifications on what power level was effective, as this varied greatly between studies. The researchers also noted that many of the trials were poorly designed.
The review ended with the following statement: “...it is clear that using radiofrequency for the treatment of skin laxity is still a myth to be clarified.”
A 2020 meta-study concluded similarly. The study authors reviewed 25 clinical trials on radiofrequency and skin aging, and concluded that “there was no consistency in the protocols used and in the description of procedures.”
The researchers from the this second study also noted that hyperpigmentation (skin discoloration) was a side effect experienced by some patients.
A clinical trial published in the Dermatology and Therapy journal found that a Chinese radiofrequency device improved both wrinkles and skin radiance to a statistically significant degree.
Based on the available research, we consider radiofrequency potentially effective for anti-aging, although many more clinical trials with positive results would need to emerge for us to recommend this type of device.
Real People Try DermaWand
A YouTube creator named "Cheap & Cheeky" reviewed DermaWand after three months of use and included before-and-after images:
A TikTok creator named "Jenniepinky" claims to have been using DermaWand for 20 years and suggests it's had an anti-aging effect:
@jenniepinky143 #skintightening #skincaretips #skincareroutine #glowingskin #gatekeeping #dermawand #dermawandpro ♬ Summer - Instrumental - Devinney
Is DermaWand Pro Better?
DermaWand sells a "Pro" version of their device, which the brand claims has "50% more power."
While we have no reason to doubt that this product is more powerful than the standard DermaWand, our issue is that DermaWand fails to prove on their product page that more power equals better results.
We already established that the scientific community questions whether radiofrequency improves skin quality or reduces wrinkles, so simply adding more power doesn't necessarily equate to improved skin.
We do not recommend DermaWand Pro because we cannot identify any clinical evidence that it's effective for improving skin.
For consumers intent on purchasing a DermaWand, buying the cheaper Original version instead of DermaWand Pro seems to make sense.
Questionable Clinical Research
DermaWand claims that their product is “clinically proven” and we find that statement to be highly questionable.
The clinical trial on DermaWand was sponsored by the manufacturer of DermaWand (a company named International Commercial Television Inc.) which adds potential bias to the research process, making the results useless to consumers in our opinion.
We recommend that consumers entirely disregard claims of clinical efficacy made by cosmetics brands based on manufacturer-funded clinical trials that are not published in peer-reviewed journals.
We consider clinical trials published in peer-reviewed journals to be the gold standard of product research due to the high bar of methodology and low threshold for bias, and this is the type of research we cite in Illuminate Health articles.
Lacking Technical Information
At the time of updating this article, there is no information on the DermaWand product page detailing the frequency or power of the device.
Without this information, it’s nearly impossible for consumers (or researchers like us) to determine whether the device is likely to work, and whether it's safe.
We can't even locate this crucial information on the FAQs section of DermaWand's website.
The frequency and power is what determines the safety and potential efficacy of the device. Cellphones release radio waves too, but no one claims they have skin-promoting effects.
We urge DermaWand to publish information about the frequency and power of their devices, and ideally to cite clinical studies showing that this frequency and power is safe and effective.
Our Clean Skincare Picks
There are skincare products containing ingredients shown in clinical trials to be effective for reducing wrinkles and improving skin quality.
Annie Mak Vitamin C Serum is our top anti-aging serum.
It contains hyaluronic acid which was described as a "skin-rejuvenating biomedicine" in a medical review due to its ability to reduce wrinkles and signs of facial aging.
Ritual HyaCera is our top skin supplement.
It contains wheat oil extract which is clinically shown to "improve skin damages induced by aging."
Both of the products recommended in this section are entirely free of ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.
Pros and Cons of DermaWand
Here are the pros and cons of DermaWand in our opinion:
Pros:
- Non-invasive
- Unlikely to cause serious side effects
- Very affordable on a per-use basis
- May have anti-aging effect
Cons:
- Company fails to clearly publish technical specs
- We disagree with the company's clinical claims
- Company fails to provide evidence that DermaWand Pro is superior to DermaWand in regard to any dermatological outcome
- Many clinical trials suggest radiofrequency is ineffective
