Promising Uses of Electricity for Aging Skin

A press release from the American Academy of Dermatology featured discussion by dermatologist Patricia K. Farris, MD, on the use of electricity — including radiofrequency (RF) devices, electroporation pulses and bioelectricity in topical products — to improve aging skin. "As dermatologists, we use electrical devices daily in our practices when removing unwanted growths and stopping bleeding after surgery. Based on these proven medical capabilities, electricity has been studied in the cosmetic arena to further improve aging skin," said Dr. Farris, who is clinical assistant professor, Tulane University, New Orleans. Noting that skincare devices sold directly to the public – such as at-home electrical stimulation device – have been unproven or ineffective, she described uses of electricity by dermatologists that are promising or known to be effective. Radiofrequency Devices —"RF devices have not replaced traditional surgical face lifting, but significant improvement in neck sagging, jowl and cheek contour, and eyelid and brow drooping have been documented," said Dr. Farris. "The latest generation of RF devices delivers energy using the fractionated technology adapted from lasers, and studies show that fractionated radiofrequency (FRF) may be more effective than traditional radiofrequency at skin lifting because it induces both collagen and elastin formation." Electroporation — Another new technique using electricity to improve aging skin that is currently being evaluated, said Dr. Farris, is electoporation (EP) in which electricity is used to physically enhance skin penetration through high voltage, short duration pulses applied to the skin. "While research is preliminary, electoporation has been shown to effectively enhance skin penetration of molecules and water-based compounds. It is possible EP will enable us to deliver compounds such as skin nutrients and growth factors to the skin far more effectively in the future and ultimately help reduce the signs of aging," said Dr. Farris. Bioelectricity — Dr. Farris noted how the principles of electricity — via "bioelectricity" — can be used in cosmeceutical products to alter cellular activity of the skin, citing the example of how when a cream with metal is applied to the skin, followed by another cream containing a different metal, the metals have opposite charges, which act like a battery, similar to electric stimulation techniques to reduce muscle or nerve pain. "Much of what we know about bioelectricity comes from our study of wounds, which appear to generate a low level of electricity that starts the healing process," said Dr. Farris. "Interestingly, it also has been shown that aging skin has lower levels of bioelectricity, resulting in poor wound healing, and reduced collagen and elastin formation. This is an exciting area of research, and more studies on these electrically based cosmeceuticals will help us further understand their capabilities and the duration of aesthetic improvements that can be expected."