Every week there seems to be a new celebrity, makeup artist or industry influencer touting the benefits of at-home laser skincare devices — a booming beauty sector since the pandemic — and a formidable alternative to expensive, in-office procedures.
According to the Beauty Tech Group and Price Waterhouse Cooper, at-home beauty devices are growing at four times the rate of the overall skin-care category, with sales predicted to reach $92.55 billion by 2028.
And aside from the rejuvenating and corrective benefits these technologies claim to offer, there are now reports that anti-aging lasers could even help fight skin cancer.
But what’s really behind all the buzz when it comes to these fountain-of-youth devices? If you’re not a dermatologist, separating fact from fiction might prove difficult.
That’s where Know Your Value caught up with founder and laser expert, David Bean.
After spending years developing laser technologies for the telecommunications industry, Bean — a mechanical engineer by training — decided to pivot and explore laser applications in the medical industry.
“I had developed skin-care laser, semi-conductor chips … the chip inside a lot of the professional medical systems,” he told Know Your Value. “Although they worked great, I saw that they were super expensive, and they caused a lot of pain, redness, and downtime — I thought there had to be a better way.”
As a solution, Bean launched his second company — NIRA Skin in 2018 — with the goal of providing professional-grade, non-fractional laser technology that stimulates collagen production and improves skin texture in a single hand-held device.
“It took eight years to develop this and extensive clinical studies, and then FDA clearances for safety, but we achieved our goals of getting professional and clinical-grade efficacy at home and avoid all the side effects.”
And since its launch, demand for the company’s industry-disrupting devices has surged, due to its non-ablative and non-fractional laser technology. The NIRA Precision laser sold out for eight months straight in 2022, while the company's new NIRA Pro+ laser sold out in just two weeks.
Know Your Value recently chatted with Bean and Cindy Austin — the company’s vice president of marketing — about the truth behind some common anti-aging misconceptions that could hold women back from better skin health.
Below is the conversation, which has been edited for brevity and clarity.
ANTI-AGING MYTH: You Can’t Defy Your Genetics
Austin: That is absolutely not true. You are predisposed to certain DNA traits, but there are things that you can do to work against that.
No. 1: Your sleep and your lifestyle totally affects how you feel, how you look, your confidence in general. Making healthy, nutritious choices is very important as well — having a balanced diet.
But there’s general habits that you can do as well, for example, taking care of your skin, wearing SPF, incorporating a skincare device into your routine.
Bean: In addition, on the genetics there’s what’s called biohacking, where you can get in tune with your natural, immune and skin-health responses. And that’s where good exercise, good nutrition and sleep really turn on and activate cells in your genetics that normally wouldn’t be activated. So it’s important to make the most of your genetics by triggering those healthy bio-responses.
ANTI-AGING MYTH: You need to take supplements to meaningfully boost your collagen
Bean: That’s not true. It’s been shown that there’s a limited correlation between oral collagen and actual collagen out to the dermis, and we know that you can much better and much more clearly boost collagen in your dermis through devices, including the both in-office and at-home devices.
In addition to that, to get really healthy skin, you need exercise, you need good nutrition — good, clean eating — and you need your sleep.
ANTI-AGING MYTH: At-home lasers are dangerous to long-term skin health
Bean: At-home lasers are now both easy to use and designed to be safe for long-term skin health. Most anti-aging or skin renewing devices work by gently heating the deeper layers of skin to stimulate collagen production without damaging the surface. This process is much less invasive than clinical ablative lasers, which remove skin layers. They are also designed with built-in safety features like skin contact sensors, automatic shut-off, and intensity controls to minimize the risk of misuse or skin damage.
Long-term safety is supported by dermatological studies showing no scarring, pigmentation issues or skin thinning for long-wavelength devices of 1400 nm and above. These devices have been fully cleared by the FDA for safety and efficacy on all skin types.
That said, certain devices — like hair removal lasers that use short wavelengths (under 1400 nm) and target melanin — may not be safe for darker skin tones. If not used properly, they can cause pain or skin damage. It’s important to ensure any hair removal laser is compatible with your skin type to avoid long-term skin health issues.
ANTI-AGING MYTH: At-home lasers don’t really improve anti-aging concerns or overall skin health
Bean: Clinical research supports the efficacy of many at-home lasers for reducing signs of aging and improving skin texture.
Studies have shown that non-ablative lasers, like those found in many consumer devices, can significantly reduce fine lines, improve skin elasticity and enhance skin tone with consistent use over several weeks or a few months.
These lasers stimulate collagen and elastin production, the two key proteins responsible for youthful, firm skin. While the near-term effects may be less dramatic than in-office treatments, cumulative use of home devices can show equivalent results over time. Many board-certified dermatologists acknowledge that at-home lasers are a valuable supplement to a regular skincare routine, particularly for those with mild to moderate signs of aging.