When it comes to at-home skin lasers, it’s vital you know where the sell stops and science begins.
“We do not make unsubstantiated claims about the LYMA Laser and we work with some of the world’s most renowned doctors, dermatologists and experts, all who have reviewed the LYMA Laser and credit the device for its ground-breaking technology,” says LYMA founder Lucy Goff who is well accustomed to answering the most meticulous of questions about the LYMA Laser. After all, when you produce never-before-achieved technology, it comes with the new territory.
Which is better, NIRA or LYMA Laser?
These two lasers are often compared as to which is the best at-home skin laser and indeed, when searching for Nira laser alternatives, the LYMA Laser will often come up first. Both devices offer consumers choice based on what they are hoping to achieve and what they are trying to treat.
LYMA vs NIRA Laser: THE FUNDAMENTALS
LYMA LASER |
NIRA LASER |
|
TYPE OF LASER TECHNOLOGY |
Near-infrared cold laser |
Non-fractional, non-ablative laser |
HOW IT WORKS |
Rejuvenates the skin using photobiomodulation |
Heats the water content of the skin causing the release of stress proteins |
WAVELENGTH |
Operates comfortably within the therapeutic treatment window for deep cosmetic effect |
Operates outside the therapeutic treatment window for any cellular interaction |
FDA CLEARANCE STATUS |
FDA cleared for wrinkles and aging across the entire face |
FDA cleared only for periorbital wrinkles around the eye area |
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE |
Independent medical research papers published on low-level laser therapy |
1 clinical trial of 76 people carried out by the Nira brand |
LYMA vs NIRA Laser: the stats and technical specifications
Proof: There are now more than fifty medical papers written by scientists across the globe on the transformative aptitude of LLLT - the weight of scientific proof behind LLLT and the LYMA Laser dwarfs that of the one Nira clinical trial of 76 people.
Power: The scientifically proven necessary therapeutic dose for skin treatment is 4 Joules The LYMA laser emits 4 Joules in 60 seconds at an 8cm2 area. The Nira Laser uses pulses delivering between 2.2 and 3 joules per 1 cm2 of energy per pulse.
Performance: The Therapeutic Optical Window sits in the wavelength range of 600-1000 nm where you can reach the treatable human tissue and have the required stimulating effect.
LYMA Laser operates directly in the middle of that ideal range at 808 nm. In contrast, the wavelength of the NIRA Precision Laser is 1450 nm - considerably, outside of the therapeutic window. This means the minimal 3 to 4 Celsius increase of heat is absorbed mostly by water in the skin, rather than interacting with any skin cells.
“LYMA Lasers and the Nira Pro Laser work completely differently.”
NIRA PRECISION LASER | LYMA LASER | |
TRIGGERS HSP (HEAT SHOCK FORMATION) | ✔ | ✘ |
INFLICTS FOCUSED HEAT ON SKIN | ✔ | ✘ |
OPERATES WITHIN THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT WINDOW | ✘ | ✔ |
USES PHOTOBIOMODULATION | ✘ | ✔ |
FDA APPROVED FOR FULL FACE | ✘ | ✔ |
ZERO RISK OF POST-INFLAMMATORY HYPERPIGMENTATION | ✘ | ✔ |
ZERO DAMAGE TO SKIN | ✘ | ✔ |
SUITABLE FOR HIGHLY SENSITIVE SKIN | ✘ | ✔ |
EASE OF USE ANYWHERE, ANYTIME | ✘ | ✔ |
INCREASES SKIN STRENGTH & HEALTH | ✘ | ✔ |
INDEPENDENT EVIDENCE | ✘ | ✔ |
2 YEAR FULL WARRANTY | ✘ | ✔ |
How the NIRA Laser works, courtesy of globally renowned facial and limb reconstructive surgeon, Dr Graeme Glass, LYMA Aesthetic Director.
“Specifically, the Nira diode laser operates at a wavelength of 1450nm to heat the water content of the dermis. The cells of the dermis recognise this localised rise in temperature as a threat and respond in the same way as when exposed to toxins such as alcohol or lack of oxygen. They release heat shock proteins (HSP, otherwise known as stress proteins). However, while they are implicated in tissue repair and regeneration by virtue of being induced by tissue injury (or threat thereof), this primordial system has long since been improved and replaced by the adaptive immune systems. So, while heating the water content of the dermis causes the release of stress proteins, it is disingenuous to infer that this is a state-of-the-art means of inducing tissue regeneration. Rather, it is a phenomenon that serves to demonstrate the complexity and redundancy built within the human genome by the long, slow climb of evolution spanning the entire story of life on earth.”
LYMA: the cold Laser using LLLT that can be used at home
The LYMA Laser is a cold laser device that empowers skin into renewal. Rather than heat the skin, the near infrared low-level laser therapy (LLLT) of the LYMA Laser operates at exactly the power and wavelength to produce a documented process called Photobiomodulation.
The LYMA Laser has been engineered to diffuse the central laser beam so the heat from the light is removed by the time it enters the skin. Cold laser light is the only light which causes laser speckle which has a cosmetic effect on the body. Powerful light energy is transferred directly into the skin to target the production of ATP by supporting the mitochondria, encouraging a healthy balance of cell activity and skin repairing. Collagen production increases naturally, skin is made stronger, more resilient and operates optimally once more. Zero heat, zero damage.
FDA cleared Lasers and why they matter
The LYMA Laser has FDA-clearance for wrinkles and aging across the entire face, the NIRA Laser is FDA cleared for periorbital wrinkles around the eye area. A 510K clearance is granted on the basis of “substantial equivalence” to products that are already on the market.
Our legal advisors used a current LED-based device on which to base the application as both they and the FDA acknowledged that there was nothing more similar to the LYMA Laser on the market. The use of the term “substantially equivalent” is legal parlance and was never intended to be misrepresented as a measure of the relative efficacy of the LYMA Laser.
The science behind the LYMA Laser is decades long
Tens of thousands of doctors have treated millions of patients with LLLT (Low-level Laser Light Therapy) for over six decades. What originated as a medical laser used to treat injuries in rehabilitation centers, led to the creation of the Laser Research Centre and LLLT being harnessed for cosmetic purposes, as with the LYMA Laser.
The LYMA Laser is laser therapy, not light therapy
There are clear distinctions between laser therapy and light therapy and yet, so much confusion remains. Low-level Laser Therapy uses the exact same medical abbreviation as Low-Level Light Therapy. Both are LLLT, only one is referring to powerful, straight-line laser beams and the other, a much weaker and differently formed light source.
“When you're in an immature research environment like skin laser technology, lots of different terms are bandied about because no one quite knows what to call everything yet,” says leading Craniofacial, Aesthetic and Plastic Surgeon, Dr Graeme Glass.
“The earlier papers talk about LLLT but some results were using laser, others low-level light therapy and others, LED. Hence, scientific literature has moved away from the term LLLT because it’s confusing and now uses the term Photobiomodulation (PBM) or Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT)”.
To be abundantly clear, the LYMA Laser harnesses the power of low-level Laser technology - it is ‘laser’ therapy, not ‘light’ therapy. The LYMA Laser is a Laser device with LEDs in its lens but these are merely indicator lights to display that the device is switched on.
LYMA Laser penetration explained
The groundbreaking innovation of the LYMA’s Laser is designed to offer ultimate skin rejuvenation. This cutting-edge device is optimized for all skin types and penetrates the skin in an inimitable way. Unlike any other laser, LYMA’s non-invasive design ensures safe, pain-free use at home with professional-grade results. Engineered to reduce wrinkles, pigmentation, and scarring while firming skin, this advanced technology works seamlessly in your daily routine, delivering visible, lasting improvements from the first use.
Your questions about NIRA Versus LYMA
What is the significance of the wavelength used in low-level laser therapy (LLLT) compared to the wavelength emitted by non-fractional technology, such as that from the NIRA Laser?
The NIRA Laser uses non-fractional laser technology and a wavelength of 1450 nanometers however it lacks coherence and polarization. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) light is monochromatic, coherent, and polarized, it’s this difference in coherence and polarization which gives the LYMA Laser superior performance on anti-aging and wrinkles.
How does the LYMA Laser's treatment time compare to NIRA's, and why is LYMA more efficient?
The LYMA Laser generally requires less treatment time compared to the NIRA Laser with a treatment time of 3 minutes per treatment area per day, and results in just 3 months.
Which laser device offers the best long-term results for skin rejuvenation, and how do the LYMA Laser and NIRA Laser compare in terms of safety and effectiveness?
The LYMA Laser offers superior anti-aging results by utilizing near-infrared laser technology, promoting deep cosmetic results without heat damage. The LYMA laser is pain-free and damage-free and is safe for daily use, even on darker skin tones. In contrast, NIRA's laser focuses on heating the water in skin tissues to stimulate collagen production through a damage response.
How does the LYMA Laser provide better long-term value compared to the NIRA laser, despite its higher upfront cost?
While the NIRA laser may have a lower upfront cost, the LYMA Laser offers greater long-term value. The LYMA Laser provides clinic-grade results at home, with no damage, absolutely pain-free and no downtime. The LYMA Laser has been built with robust components, has an estimated ten year lifespan and has a two year warranty.
Medical research papers published on the science behind the LYMA Laser and Photobiomodulation:
de Freitas, Lucas Freitas, and Michael R. Hamblin. ‘Proposed mechanisms of photobiomodulation or low-level light therapy’, IEEE Journal of selected topics in quantum electronics 22.3 (2016): 348-364.
Glass, G. E. (2021). ‘Photobiomodulation: the clinical applications of low-level light therapy’ Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 41(6), 723-738.
Keshri, Gaurav K., et al. ‘Photobiomodulation with pulsed and continuous wave near-infrared laser (810 nm, Al-Ga-As) augments dermal wound healing in immunosuppressed rats’ PloS one 11.11 (2016): e0166705.
Topaloglu, Nermin, Merve Özdemir, and Ziyşan Buse Yaralı Çevik. ‘Comparative analysis of the light parameters of red and near‐infrared diode lasers to induce photobiomodulation on fibroblasts and keratinocytes: An in vitro study’ Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine 37.3 (2021): 253-262.
ÖZDEMİR, Merve, Ziyşan Buse YARALI ÇEVİK, and Nermin TOPALOĞLU ‘The effect of
photobiomodulation with red and near-infrared wavelengths on keratinocyte cells’ 2020 Medical Technologies Congress (TIPTEKNO). IEEE, 2020.
Güngörmüş, Metin, and Utkan Akyol. ‘The effect of gallium-aluminum-arsenide 808-nm low-level laser therapy on healing of skin incisions made using a diode laser’ Photomedicine and laser surgery 27.6 (2009): 895-899.
Zare, Fatemeh, et al. ‘Photobiomodulation with 630 plus 810 nm wavelengths induce more in vitro cell viability of human adipose stem cells than human bone marrow-derived stem cells’ Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology 201 (2019): 111658.
Kim, Hongbin, et al. ‘Photobiomodulation-based Skin-care Effect of Organic Light-emitting Diodes’ Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics 32.5 (2021): 235-243.
Lee YS, Park K, Choi J, et al. A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, and split-face clinical study on LED phototherapy for skin rejuvenation: clinical, profilometric, histologic, ultrastructural, and bio- chemical evaluations and comparison of three different. J Photochem Photobiol. 2007;88:51-67.
Russell BA, Kellett N, Reilly LR. A study to determine the efficacy of combination LED light therapy (633 nm and 830 nm) in facial skin rejuvenation. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2005;7(3-4):196-200.