The home aesthetic device market is either extremely large or quite small, depending on how it is defined. A large number of manufacturers have long offered a variety of relatively low-technology products intended to improve skin condition, remove unwanted hair, and address cellulite. Most of these products, however, were not based on medical technology, so the benefit they could provide was limited, and their acceptance has been slow. Table 25.1 shows some of these devices; many have been available for several years, while others are relatively new. Quite a few of the home hair-removal devices have been sold for more than
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Table 25.1 Low Tech Home Aesthetic Devices
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Type of Device
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Application
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Selected Manufacturers
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Details
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Electric clippers
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Hair removal
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Braun, Emjoi, Panasonic, Philips/Norelco, Wahl, others
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Available for many years, widely used
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Electric razor
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Hair removal
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Braun, Panasonic, Philips/ Norelco, Remington, others
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Available for many years, widely used
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Home electrolysis
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Hair removal
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Emjoi, Tactica
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Newer, limited
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(RF)
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International, others
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acceptance
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Rotating coils
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Hair removal
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Braun, Emjoi, Epilady, Tactica International, others
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Newer, limited acceptance
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Ionic blemish
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Acne
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Tactica International,
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Newer, limited
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remover
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others
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acceptance
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Massager
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Cellulite
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Guitay*, Tactica International, others
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Newer, gaining some acceptance
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Ionic facial toner
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Skin rejuvenation
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Tactica International, Ya-Man, others
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Newer, limited acceptance
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Microcurrent facial toner
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Skin rejuvenation
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Skin Star, SLC, others
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Newer, limited acceptance but
growing
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Microdermabrasion
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Skin rejuvenation
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Guthy Renker, Johnson & Johnson, Mary Kay, L’Oreal, Procter & Gamble, Zia, others
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Relatively new but gaining some acceptance; many new products entering the market
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Ultrasonic facial
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Skin rejuvenation
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Tactica International,
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Newer, limited
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toner
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Ya-Man, others
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acceptance
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Source: Medical Insight, Inc.
*Device is FDA-cleared for muscular pain relief.
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a decade with a few changes. Most are not subject to Food & Drug Administration (FDA), approval and therefore are not required to submit clinical studies demonstrating safety and efficacy. It can be reasonably assumed that such devices provide little significant benefit and in fact, most of the home hair-removal systems offer only temporary hair removal.
