What were the doctor’s orders?
Vitamin patches are designed to deliver nutrients through the skin and into the bloodstream. Vitamin patches are all the rage among people who: can’t swallow pills, forget to bring or have digestive system problems.
A market research company The global vitamin patch industry is projected to grow from $6.6 billion to $10.4 billion over the next 10 years, even though some medical experts offer mixed opinions on the effectiveness of vitamin patches.
“It’s not as effective as taking oral vitamins, but if you can’t take oral vitamins, the patch is better than nothing,” says Michael Russo, a California-based bariatric and cosmetic surgeon. Dr. said earlier this year. “Less of the vitamin actually reaches the bloodstream.”
brands like patch md, patch aid, nutri patch, barriere and good patch sells skin seals that are said to provide vitamin D, vitamin B12, multivitamins, and magnesium. Some are stylish and attention-grabbing.
“We wanted to create products that people would actually want to wear and that would bring a little joy into their daily health routines,” says Barriere co-founder Cleo Davis Urman. spoke to Marie Claire this week. “A glint of gold on the arm, a touch of lace on the wrist, a bold astrological sign on the neck…our designs [are meant to] Your skin looks beautiful. ”
Transdermal patches (adhesives placed on the skin to deliver medicine) have been around for decades, but they haven’t really caught on.
Nicotine patches can help you quit smoking, and estradiol patches can relieve symptoms of menopause. Scopolamine patch may control nausea and vomiting from Motion sickness, anesthesia and surgery, and birth control patches are intended to prevent pregnancy.
Research on vitamin patches created contradictory resultsand 2021 Scientific Review It has been noted that patches do not allow some micronutrients to penetrate the skin in sufficient amounts.
“To increase effectiveness, patches are often placed in critical areas with a high concentration of veins, such as the inside of the wrist, so they are absorbed faster.” Dr. Marisol Saavedra, explained the London-based beauty doctor and co-founder of IV therapy company Tonic to Marie Claire.
Some consumers are simply not convinced. Among some TikTok users She rated her B12 patch as “excellent.” A functional medicine expert described the patch experience as a “nightmare.”
“The micronutrient tests I did before and after trying the patch showed no changes.” Sam TejadaCEO and Founder of Liquivida Wellness Center, spoke to Verywell Health this month..
“This patch uses adhesives that can be very toxic to the skin, and it can absorb those toxins,” he continued, but did not know what type of patch he had tried. The brand was not disclosed. “I had such a severe reaction that I had to be treated by a local dermatologist and ended up with what is called contact dermatitis.”
The vitamin patch trend comes as many Americans report taking supplements in their diets, but aren’t getting enough of important nutrients like vitamins D and E. .
2023 survey According to the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), 74% of U.S. adults take supplements, and 55% of them describe themselves as “regular users.”
dietary supplements do not face Some critics say vitamin patches shouldn’t even be considered supplements, with the same intense government oversight as pharmaceuticals.
“Vitamin patches are illegal drugs and are not dietary supplements. Dietary supplements must be taken orally; they are not absorbed through the skin,” said Jeff Ventura, vice president of communications at CRN, Berrywell Health. told. “The FDA does have the authority to regulate drugs. There have been numerous warning letters related to products that are not taken orally being mislabeled as supplements.”
If you decide to try vitamin patches, consult your doctor, especially if you have had surgery, take medication, or have a medical condition.
