"Second Skin" Polymer to Protect Skin and Deliver Drugs
Scientists at MIT, Massachusetts General Hospital, Living Proof, and Olivo Labs have developed a new material that can temporarily protect and tighten skin, and smooth wrinkles. With further development, it could also be used to deliver drugs to help treat skin conditions such as eczema and other types of dermatitis. The material, a silicone-based polymer that could be applied on the skin as a thin, imperceptible coating, mimics the mechanical and elastic properties of healthy, youthful skin. In tests with human subjects, the researchers found that the material was able to reshape 'eye bags' under the lower eyelids and also enhance skin hydration. This type of 'second skin' could also be adapted to provide long-lasting ultraviolet protection.