TheraFace Depuffing Wand: Clinically Proven to Enhance Skin Health, According to New Study
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Clinical Study Partner: Media Lab Science, Los Angeles
Authors: Therabody Scientists: Tim Roberts, MSc; Rachelle Reed, PhD, MS, ACSM-EP; Kyle Silvey, PhD, CSCS; Michelle Darian, MS, MPH, RD, LDN
Therabody’s ® latest innovation, the TheraFaceTM Depuffing Wand, is making waves in the skincare industry. This ultra-portable, heat and cold treatment device is clinically proven to visibly improve puffiness around the eyes and enhance elasticity and radiance at home and on the go.
Media Lab Science, Therabody’s research partner for beauty and skincare devices, conducted a study to assess the Depuffing Wand device’s clinical efficacy. [1]
This article outlines clinical findings after a single use of the TheraFace Depuffing Wand and results after daily use of the device for four weeks.
Keep reading to learn more about how the Depuffing Wand is clinically shown to improve objective skin health measures like puffiness, dark circles, skin elasticity, radiance, and firmness. Plus, hear what study participants noticed following both a single treatment and after using the product daily for four weeks.
What Does TheraFace Depuffing Wand Do?
The TheraFace Depuffing Wand is a single skincare device with two powerful, science-backed modalities — heat and cold therapy.
Each modality has three temperature settings: low, medium, and high. Unlike ice, which can be too cold and damage your face’s delicate skin, TheraFace Depuffing Wand uses safe, science-backed temperatures. This skincare device reaches desired temperatures in seconds and actively works to maintain the temperature for the entire treatment.
So, why were these two modalities included? Let’s dive into the science-backed benefits of heat and cold therapy on the skin.
Heat Therapy
Heat therapy, also known as thermotherapy, exposes a treatment area to high temperatures for therapeutic purposes. A rise in skin temperature leads to the widening of blood vessels (vasodilation), increasing blood flow and boosting circulation to the treatment area. This allows heat to help relieve facial tension. [2]
When heat is applied to the face, blood flow and increased circulation can improve measures of facial health like fine lines. It also stimulates fibroblasts to enhance collagen production and target skin tightness and fine lines further. [3, 4]
A recent systematic review also suggests that heat may positively benefit lymphatic circulation (the movement of fluids that contribute to puffiness) in those with lymphedema. [5]
Cold Therapy
Cold therapy, or cryotherapy, exposes a treatment area to low temperatures for therapeutic purposes. Cold therapy is traditionally used to decrease inflammation and swelling, like when you roll an ankle. When used on the face, it can help to reduce the appearance puffiness and undereye bags. In fact, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends using a cold compress to help reduce under-eye bags. [6]
When cold is applied locally to a treatment area, it decreases skin and tissue temperature, effectively limiting blood flow to the area. Reducing blood flow can decrease the formation of swelling. When cold is applied to the skin, it can limit blood flow, decreasing inflammation levels. [7, 8]
Study Purpose
Because heat and cold therapy have strong science-backed benefits, researchers wanted to understand how delivering these temperatures through an at-home device could affect the skin.
Using a 10-minute protocol that includes both heat and cold therapy, the study aimed to investigate the impact of TheraFace Depuffing Wand device for its ability to improve both objective clinical measurements and self-reported facial health outcomes.
The primary goal of the study was to measure the immediate, acute benefits of the Wand on outcomes related to depuffing, radiance, dark circles, and related measures – both objectively and subjectively.
To better understand the long-term benefits of using the TheraFace Depuffing Wand, the study also aimed to measure the chronic benefits of 4 weeks of daily use of the Wand on outcomes related to depuffing, radiance, dark circles, and related measures – both objectively and subjectively.
Study Hypothesis
After following a heat and cold protocol, participants who use the TheraFace Depuffing Wand will have immediate improvements and improvements after 4-weeks of use in objective and subjective skin health outcomes.
Study Methods
Study Participants
The study included 56-58 healthy adults depending on the outcome measured. The participants were 25-65 years old, with an average age of 44 and skewed female (88%). All Fitzpatrick Skin Types were represented in the sample. At baseline, the participants presented with either dark circles, puffiness, or both.
Research Design
A comprehensive clinical study on the efficacy of the TheraFace Depuffing Wand was conducted to understand both acute benefits (using the device once), as well as long-term benefits after using the device daily for four weeks. Clinical assessments were performed on study participants at three time periods: at baseline, after a single use of the device, and after using the device daily for four weeks.
Study Protocol
Participants followed a study protocol that included both heat and cold therapy. The 8-10 minute treatment was performed on clean, dry skin.