Skin patches have become a new wellness trend, with various benefits touted, including better absorption of ingredients compared to tablets.
“Wellness patches” have become increasingly popular in recent years, touted for their ability to be more easily and reliably absorbed into the body compared to oral supplements.
Long associated with anti-addiction medications such as nicotine patches, patches have evolved to provide a variety of touted health benefits, including skin care, sleep, relaxation, and general health. By some estimates, the transdermal patch market is expected to exceed $8 billion by 2027.
Wellness patch example
Transdermal wellness patches, which are applied directly to the skin, are infused with ingredients that enter the bloodstream to be effective. While tablets require drugs, vitamins and minerals to pass through the digestive system before they can have their full effect, proponents argue that patches allow substances to be absorbed more consistently.
Good Patch is one of the companies aiming to bring plant-based wearable wellness to users. The company manufactures over 15 of his patches, each offering different ingredients and benefits. For example, the iB12 Awake patch contains 15 mg of caffeine per patch in addition to green tea extract and vitamin B12. The patch releases these ingredients over 8 to 12 hours.
Sold at major retailers such as Kohl’s, Walgreens, and Publix, the patch brand offers a variety of patches for different health needs, in addition to “daily patches” containing vitamin C, zinc citrate, and vitamin D3. doing.
Skin care patches are said to be able to improve various problems such as acne, wrinkles, and dryness. A patch containing retinol, salicylic acid, and hyaluronic acid is going viral on TikTok. One of his most popular products is acne patches. This removes excess oil and bacteria from acne and quickly reduces acne breakouts. The other is the wrinkle patch. This is adhesive paper that you wear overnight to keep your muscles in place to reduce or prevent wrinkles.
What does the science show?
There are also patches that claim to be effective without containing any active ingredients. Superpatch claims that its technology has uniquely placed bumps that act like QR codes on the skin, sending unique signals that interact with the nervous system. Super Patch has services for sleep, concentration, pain, balance and mobility, and rehabilitation/recovery.
“Pain management is a neurological function,” Superpatch founder Jay Dhaliwal told Athlete Tech News. “We have spent nearly 15 years understanding the neural programs that control various physiological functions, including pain. It’s a combination of different parts of the brain that communicate through brain waves. If we can calm it down or reset it, we can help people better manage their pain. I realized that it would be like that.”
However, some questions remain regarding the medical effectiveness of wellness patches.
“There is no substantial scientific evidence to prove that these patches are effective for the purposes for which they are advertised. Additionally,[wellness patches]have not been confirmed to be effective by the FDA. , meaning there is no regulatory basis to distinguish these products as truly effective,” said Dr. Dr. Thomas Pontinen told ATN.
Dr. Pontinen pointed out that such products can be driven by a strong placebo effect, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
“Pain is not only a physical response, but also an emotional response, so people who get help from products usually do so, even if the products lack a solid scientific basis. “It’s best to continue using the product,” he said.
As the supplement industry continues to explode, Wellness Patch Marker hopes to change consumers who are dissatisfied with inadequate treatments. However, it remains to be seen whether the patch is here to stay or is just a short-term trend.