The California-based company developed the Fraxel laser system – a non-invasive skin restructuring system based on tiny laser beams.
According to the company, the lasers are small enough to penetrate the stratum corneum leaving it intact, but eliminate old epidermal pigmented cells. The skin then heals, replacing the old damaged tissue with new skin.
Reliant Technologies released the first Reliant Fraxel laser product in 2004 however the product has never been available outside of a clinical environment.
The agreement with Phillips will take advantage of the company’s experience in the design, marketing and distribution of appliances for home use.
“We are excited to team up with Phillips – a company with a globally recognized consumer brand and a commitment to offer consumers advances, easy-to-use products,” said Reliant’s CEO Eric Stang.
Not only is laser treatment one of the fastest growing segments of the beauty industry, according to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons laser skin resurfacing grew 230 per cent from 1997 to 2007, the home use category is also exploding in size.
A number of the industry’s biggest players have entered the market. Procter and Gamble signed an agreement with Israeli company Syneron early last year concerning its elos intense pulsed light technology.
The Cincinnati-based giant has also moved into the world of light-based home hair removal with a non exclusive distribution with Palomar Medical Technologies.
Not to be outdone, L’Oreal has also tapped into the fast expanding segment, penning a marketing and research agreement with Light BioScience that was announced late last year.
Earlier this year Light BioScience received the go ahead from the FDA for its latest offering GentleWaves which targets fine lines and wrinkles with amber coloured LEDs.
For Reliant Technologies, success in the home use sector is the recipe for success in the laser treatment market.
“Providing consumers with home use products that give them the desired skin rejuvenation results is the key to success in this market,” according to the company.