Transdermal vitamin patches are thin adhesives that deliver vitamins and minerals through the skin and into the bloodstream.
How does transdermal absorption work?
a complex barrier
The Skin
To understand how transdermal patches work, it's important to comprehend the structure of the skin that consists of three primary layers:
The epidermis - Outer layer which contain dead skin and lipids
The dermis - Middle layer that houses blood vessels and nerves
The hypodermis - Inner layer containing fat and connective tissues
A precise delivery system
The Patch
Structure of the patch:
Soft Foam - Gives you the fluffy feel
Nutrient Reservoir - Infused with lipophilic (fat soluble) vitamins and minerals
Porous Liner - Ensures the controlled and extended release of nutrients over a period of 8 hours
Adhesive - Skin-friendly layer that ensures the patch stays on your skin
The matrix of the patches are carefully infused with lipophilic vitamins and minerals, each with a molecular weight of less than 500 Daltons - the threshold for effective transdermal absorption according to the 500 Dalton rule. By leveraging this rule, we ensure that only nutrient molecules small enough to penetrate the skin barrier are included, optimizing superior absorption through skin.
Unlocking skin’s potential
The Absorption
Upon application, the patch adheres to the skin's surface, where body heat activates the adhesive layer. This activation initiates the transfer of lipophilic nutrients from the patch matrix into the skin's lipid-rich environment.
As our skin's outermost layer consists of dead skin cells and lipids (fats), the lipophilic (fat-soluble) nutrients within the patch dissolve into these lipids upon contact, ultimately reaching the underlying dermis layer. Here, a network of blood vessels awaits, ready to transport the absorbed nutrients throughout the body.
By bypassing the digestive system and entering directly into circulation, transdermal patches offer a streamlined delivery route, bypassing potential degradation or loss of potency that can occur with oral supplements.