Researchers from National University of Singapore invent microneedle patches to deliver collagen
There might just be a quicker and more effective way to get ride of wrinkles and improve your skin’s elasticity.
We’re constantly on the hunt for the next big thing in this mammoth of a beauty industry. Innovations are aplenty here, whether it be finding the next ingredient to harvest as a skin-improving miracle or creating lightweight, non-greasy formulas that do not ‘melt’ in the heat.
This time round our beauty antennae picked up an ingenious contraption right from our home, Singapore. Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) developed adhesive patches lined with miniscule needles to deliver painkillers and collagen in a far more effective and yes, painless manner. The needle shafts are only 600 micro-meters in length, hence they do not cause any perceivable pain on the person.
Seeing how attaining or preserving youthful skin goes right to the top of our exhaustive list of skincare needs, we tend to invest in products formulated with collagen for its ability to fight wrinkles or loss of elasticity. However, most skincare products, with their topical application, only deliver collagen to the outermost layers of the skin and since the molecules are too big to penetrate deeper, the efficacy of these products are hardly visible.
With these microneedle patches though, the researchers found that collagen is able to reach deeper into the dermis layer of the skin. According to Dr Kang Lifeng from the Department of Pharmacy at the Faculty of Science, “when applied to the skin, the microneedles deliver the drug or collagen rapidly into the skin without any discomfort to the user.” The process will take about 5 minutes.
Fast, painless and potentially effective are the all the key words we need, especially when it means the journey to youthful skin is that much nearer. While there’s still no news as to when these will be available on the market, the researchers are definitely keen on making it a commercial product by working with industry partners.
In any case, we’ll be sure to keep you in the loop when this pops up at a store near you.
Tarandip Kaur
