And with a wave of the magic anti-aging wand…

California-based company Light Dimensions has launched Rejuvawand, claimed to be the world's first ever home-use anti-aging skin care system to rely on both red and infrared light in an effort to help reverse signs of aging.

The launch coincides with the publication of research carried out by the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS), which is said to validate the efficacy of the treatment and prove that it is more effective in diminishing wrinkles than many topical treatments.

Although this kind of treatment has been available in beauty parlors and through qualified dermatologists for some years, the launch of this product brings the treatment into the home, a move that could make it more widespread.

As well as treating seasonal depression, light therapy has also been increasingly used to treat skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis.

However, more controversially, it has also been used as a beauty treatment due to its supposed ability to help rejuvenate the skin on a temporary basis.

It is said that the visible red light used in such therapies helps to activate ATP in skin cells, which in turn activates the production of collagen, an essential part of the skin structure and something that has a direct effect on skin wrinkles.

Preliminary clinical tests carried out by ASLMS showed that, over a course of 30 days, the RejuvaWand light treatment helped to reduce fine lines and wrinkles by an average of 20 per cent.

The company says that further test results will be deduced using a state-of-the-art optical device that can measure skin wrinkles and roughness in the finest detail, in addition to the use of a photography station that replicated the exact same lighting and positioning over the treatment period.

The company says that the before and after photos, as well as study methodology, will be available in April.

However, it is already claiming that, by industry standards, the preliminary results look good, particularly in light of the fact that a recent Consumer Reports study pointed to the fact that on average anti-aging skin care treatments only reduced fine lines and wrinkles by 10 per cent, a difference that was barely perceivable to the human eye.

Light Dimensions markets a number of light-based personal care products for home use, including a vibrating massager, as well as a skin care line that includes a cleanser, moisturizer and toner.