Harvard scientists have developed an invisible paint on film which makes aged and agitated skin look and feel youthful
Scientists in Harvard and MIT reported in Nature Materials last week that they had developed a paint-on invisible synthetic skin that lasts more than a day and tightens underlying saggy skin to give it a youthful look
The new skin, described as a cross-linked polymer layer (XPL), can be engineered with specific elasticity, contractility, adhesion strength and occlusivity. It dries rapidly, doesn’t need heat to cure and has been tested at elasticity of over 250%.
Among many applications already tested, XPL resulted in a 2 grade decrease in herniated eyelid fat pads, or eyebags, in a 5 point severity scale.
But eyebags are just the start of a series of dermatological applications. According to the researchers, you can soak the second skin with sunscreen and protect yourself without worrying about sweat or water washing it away.
The researchers expect the second skin could be used to treat eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions by providing a cover to pruritic patches.
Another application of the second skin is to boost the effectiveness of topical drugs such as steroids by increasing absorption.
Dr. Barbara A. Gilchrest, a dermatology professor who is part of the research team, told the New York Times:
“We tell people to pat their skin with a damp washcloth and put on a heavy moisturizer, but that only lasts a short time.” “They end up with greasy goo all over the sheets, and they wake up in the middle of the night, terribly uncomfortable. We need something that was easier to use and didn’t make a mess and stays. Which is what this stuff does.”
