Late night beauty shoppers may be piqued by pervasive infomercials hawking a too-good-to-be-true gadget called the DermaWand. The DermaWand, which is marketed by International Commercial Television, Inc., along with other "Fountain of Youth" skin care products, hooks consumers through direct response television (infomercials), retail sales and persuasive Internet comments.
What You Do With It
The DermaWand is a hand-held electrical device that is applied to the desired area of the face that requires treatment. The DermaWand then delivers a low-level electrical pulse to the skin. DermaWand infomercials and the DermaWand website specify that the device should be used daily for three minutes to see noticeable results.
DermaWand Claims
The DermaWand is described as a type of "corrective technology" that "sends out a gentle stream of (electrical) impulses stimulating at 114,000 cycles per second." Allegedly, the device's "thermal energy" warms the skin tissues and delivers oxygen to the skin. DermaWand makers purport to reduce wrinkles and fine lines, eliminate acne, reduce puffy eyes, and tighten the skin on the face to give consumers the same effect as a face-lift.
Old-Fashioned Electropathy
The technology behind the DermaWand is perhaps best explained by the Museum of Quackery, an online version of the Museum of Questionable Devices at the Science Museum of Minnesota. When electricity was brand new, people had high hopes that it would heal whatever ailed them--patients who could actually feel electrical impulses and were instant believers in electropathy, which used various devices and electrodes to deliver currents of electricity to the afflicted area of the body. Electropathy had a heyday from 1850 to 1900, during which time practitioners claimed that it cured most illnesses and medical conditions--and even mental disorders.
Caveat Emptor
The cosmetic scientists behind The Beauty Brains website, which provides objective consumer reviews, note that the DermaWand, "sounds silly, and there is no proof that it works." They point to the product's disclaimer, which is also found on the DermaWand website: "DermaWand makes no claims to diagnose, mitigate, treat or correct specific skin disorders or diseases. DermaWand is for relaxation or cosmetic use only." The product's instructions notes that certain people can't use the DermaWand, including those with pacemakers or other metal implants, rosacea, serious medical illnesses, seizures, recent cosmetic surgery, or numerous broken capillaries. Also, pregnant women shouldn't use the DermaWand.
Purchasing a DermaWand
The DermaWand costs around $120, excluding shipping and handling charges, and includes additional accouterments, such as a carrying case, instructional DVD and 1 oz.skin products made by DermaVitál, also marketed by ICTI. Consumers can call the toll-free number on the DermaWand infomercial to order, or it can be ordered through the DermaWand website or purchased through the Home Shopping Network website or Amazon.
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