Second Skin: What Is It and How Does it Work?
There are various ways to conceal skin imperfections – bags under the eyes, wrinkles, scars, and any sign of aging. But nothing is more intriguing than the idea of wearing a second skin. Well, at least that is what a group of scientists from M.I.T. and Harvard are claiming.
The report published in the journal Nature Materials says that they've created a "second skin," which is primarily made up of several common chemicals that are approved for use and labeled as safe by the Food and Drug Administration. So far, all the 170 subjects did not report any signs or presence of allergy or irritation, according to The New York Times.
The proponents of the study said that the skin can solve more than just under eye bags as they're hoping it could be used in the future to treat the most common skin problems including psoriasis and eczema. However, the team admitted that they still don't have enough data to hand out to the FDA for the purpose of marketing approval, while promising that they will have more information by the year's end.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Hiding signs of aging in humans is not as convenient and effective as would one hope for. Aside from using makeup, there are other expensive remedies out there, including Botox injections, cosmetic surgery, and even tattoos. However, all of them aren't as promising as this new discovery.
The study was financially backed by an upstart bio-tech company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts called "Living Proof." Once everything is ironed out, another company, Olivo Laboratories will be responsible in producing it for the consumer market. According to the same report from The New York Times, the authors of the paper have equity interest in both companies.
But how does it work? According to Geek, the skin is actually a polymer film that's about 70 thousands of a millimeter thick which is applied like that of a typical cream. It works by providing support to the natural tissue underneath it. Because of the particles present in the cream-like substance, light is naturally diffused, leading to the appearance of a younger skin.
