Scientists
at Harvard and M.I.T. have conducted pilot studies where they made a
'second skin' for their 170 subjects to use and test out. The chemicals
used to make up this skin were FDA approved (safe chemicals) and so far,
there is yet to be a complaint of skin irritation or allergic
reactions. The researchers stated that the film (the thin piece second
skin) can be soaked with either sweat or water without washing away. It
can last for over a day. The aim of this study is to treat eczema,
psoriasis, and many other skin conditions by covering dry itchy patches
with a film that moistens and soothes. (A)
Have scientists done the unthinkable? Have they found the fountain of
youth? Researchers have made a large collection of siloxanes by
modifying
molecular features such as the chain length to get the ones with the
properties they wanted. Siloxanes, in their basic form is one atom of
oxygen linked to two atoms of silicon which form polymers (long chains
of repeating
units).
The researchers of the study conducted a two-step process whereby a polymer, clear liquid, is first applied to the skin. The chains are not that strong so the application of a product that links these chains together is needed. Through the modification of the chemistry and relationships between these chains. Researchers were able to vary the properties of the second skin depending on how it will be used, making it more or less
permeable. A more permeable second skin might be used for
under eye bags while a less permeable one might hold a medication in
place. It can be removed with a solution that dissolves the polymer.(A)
“I
think it is brilliant,” said Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, professor of
biomedical engineering at Columbia, who was not involved in the
research. “What they have done is design a clever biomaterial that
recapitulates the properties of young and healthy skin. They can use it
as sort of a Band-Aid over old and aging skin and get very significant
results.” (A)
The
concept of a 'second skin' was formed in the mind of Dr. Rox Anderson, a
dermatology professor at Harvard Medical School over 10 years ago.
Living Proof had been working on a polymer to be used as a hair product.
The union of these two could not have been more perfect since
dermatologists also know alot about hair. This is where the idea for
making a polymer for skin was born.
As people age, skin begins to lose its elasticity and beings to sag and wrinkle. (A)
Links:
(A)http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/10/health/second-skin-aging-wrinkles.html?_r=0
*Please note! These images are not mine. They were found on various tumblr sites! If any are yours please let me know so that I can give you credit for them! Also the people in the images have no relation to the diseases, illnesses, or cancers I write about. Thanks so much & enjoy~
http://kissthemgoodbye.net/horrors/thumbnails.php?album=32&page=9
