Technology has improved the health, safety and general well-being of mankind in so many ways, and one of those ways, is in the beauty area. Both men and women over a certain age, or with skin/sun damage, no longer have to wear it like a brave badge. There are all sorts of lasers and pulsed light treatments available that do everything from resurface skin, to tighten it, to work on fine lines and wrinkles.
One such laser, FDA-cleared for home use, is the PaloVia® Skin Renewing Laser® that is supposed to reduce fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. As time and technology marches on, the same,patented laser technology proven by dermatologists for more than a decade, has been adapted for the at-home user.
Sometimes things sound just too good to be true, but this high tech laser may genuinely show visible results in terms of improving fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes (in about a month). The Palovia literature claims that in a clinical study, a panel of doctors specializing in dermatology and plastic surgery saw a noticeable reduction in fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes in 92% of participants (after just one month of daily treatments). That is pretty impressive. But it's not just the appearance of younger looking skin (around the eyes). PaloVia apparently will actually help to renew the skin with new collagen and elastin.
The idea is very enticing. The slim, PaloVia "wand" generates short pulses of micro-fine laser light that reach deeply into the skin’s sub-layers, where wrinkles form, treating the aging support structure (you can feel it working). Then the body’s natural healing process sweeps away older, damaged tissue and rebuilds it with fresh new collagen and elastin ( the crucial building blocks of younger skin). As you continue to use it, the benefits build on previous treatments.
The amazing thing about PaloVia is that this treatment is available for you at home, without the cost and inconvenience of going to a doctor's office, as in the past. It's easy to use. You charge it up, and then turn it on and hold the top of the wand against your skin in the various sectors where the wrinkles are near, your eyes. It makes a "dinging" sound for a few seconds while the laser is working. It stings a bit, and might cause some temporary redness, but there's very little discomfort on the lower settings. As someone who has had Fraxel laser treatments done by a qualified physician, the PaloVia was a walk in the park. You might consider it a literal "magic wand" to treat the skin around your eyes.
As with all skin care treatments, everyone's skin is different, and the results will differ. You'll like the results (or not) depending upon what your expectations are. It isn't going to make you look thirty years younger nor will it smooth out really deep lines and wrinkles on very damaged or mature skin, but it will smoother out some of the lines and wrinkles. And, while all of the above technology is fabulous, you still need to treat each sector of lines around the eye for a few minutes (3-4) once daily, and that can bite into the "me" time you already have, or need to find.
How to Use: Apply the PaloVia treatment gel. It's required to ensure proper light penetration and protect your eyes from damage, and your skin from irritation or discomfort. Then it's time to treat your face. You get 25 "stamps" (or laser treatment applications) and then you have to wait 8 more hours if you want to do more -- thank heavens for safety. If you don't make the proper contact with the machine to your skin, it won't fire--also a good thing (and that takes a little practice). There are three settings (low, medium and high). The low setting was mildly irritating for sensitive skin. Just keep in mind that what you can't see can harm you (this is a laser you're using, after all) and more isn't always better. Get used to it slowly if you must, and don't overdo it. Also it is only FDA-cleared for use around the eyes. Some people are using it all over their face, but that's really not such a hot idea. If you are unsure about how to use the PaloVia laser, you can get the instruction manual as a PDF.
The The PaloVia laser has also been safety-tested with hundreds of clinical study participants, performing more than 7,500 eye area treatments. Good points for safety are the “smart” sensors, audio and visual cues, and the automatic shut-off to help prevent overuse. This columnist's personal experience is that it smoothed out some of the wrinkles, but I didn't have a lot to begin with, and my crows feet are still there (although not as noticeable).
The Bottom Line: If you are thinking of getting the PaloVia laser remember that nothing is truly magic. You will still need to treat your skin daily for at least a month, and then at least twice a week for maintenance. And with a retail price of $499,00, you really need a leap of faith to try it. But there is a real potential for younger looking skin, so with a 60-day money back guarantee, it might be a bargain, given the cost of in-office doctor's visits. New technology can do great things, but you don't get it for free. This is either a luxury or an absolute must-have, depending upon your situation. The eyes are where age and stress really show, so if you want to look younger, and have a bit of disposable time and income, it's worth a try.
You can get PaloVia at www.palovia.com and select high end retailers, physician’s offices and spas nationwide. This would make a really special mother's day gift--mom deserves it (and of course, you can use it, too).
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