The Machine Age

By: Annet King

Posted: June 24, 2008, from the February 2006 issue of Skin Inc. magazine.

Although few can imagine a way of life before the invention of lasers, microchips, electricity and the internal combustion engine, most people always come back to a fundamental reality that human hands contain magic that cannot be replicated by machines. They possess the unique ability to create, communicate and heal.

With this in mind, examine with caution the current onslaught of gadgets and gizmos that is flooding the skin care industry. It is a sad fact that the profession is being crowded with high-tech hardware that barely has been tested for safety, much less efficacy.

Choosing wisely

As you contemplate making a major equipment purchase, ask yourself: “Do I need it?” And, more importantly: “Does it work?” Many therapists purchase expensive equipment for the wrong reasons.

Often, inexperienced or simply insecure skin care professionals will, in essence, hide behind their arsenal of devices. Sometimes they even point to the cost of these machines as a justification for their treatment rates—as if their own time, expertise and exquisitely sensitive human hands were of no value in the transaction.

Purchasing equipment will not make you more confident or more secure. The equivalent would be buying a bigger, more impressive car when you are not a skilled driver. If you don’t know your destination, the hardware alone will not help you find it.