‘Second Skin’ Delivers Potential Fountain of Youth

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A “second skin” that can instantly erase wrinkles with application has been recently developed by scientists at MIT, Massachusetts General Hospital, Living Proof and Olivo Labs.

According to www.MITNews.edu, the silicone-based polymer temporarily protects, tightens and smooths skin. And with further development, the material could help deliver drugs to help treat skin conditions, such as eczema.

“It’s an invisible layer that can provide a barrier, provide cosmetic improvement, and potentially deliver a drug locally to the area that’s being treated,” said Daniel Anderson, an associate professor in MIT’s Department of Chemical Engineering and a member of MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES). “Those three things together could really make it ideal for use in humans.”

How It’s Applied

The two-step process begins with a clear cream or ointment placed on the skin. The second step is adding the catalyst cream or ointment which causes a cross-linking reaction that lasts 24 hours. It makes an adherent layer on top of your skin, and it’s soft, but yet mechanically strong and invisible. The “second skin” is resistant to washing and rubbing.

The Results

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, the researchers added.

For the complete story, visit www.MITNews.edu (source).

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