New Transparent Film Can Temporarily Tighten Sagging Skin

This Transparent Film Can Make Your Skin Look And Feel Younger

Scientists have developed a transparent film which can temporarily tighten sagging skin.

The material is a silicone-based polymer which when applied mimics the elastic properties of healthy, youthful skin.

As well as being able to temporarily 'reverse' the effects of bags under the eyes the new material also has medical applications as a protective barrier against UV light and as a way of keeping skin hydrated.

Scientists at MIT, Massachusetts General Hospital, Living Proof and Olivio Labs have developed the polymer as both a cosmetic product and as a medical tool.

Open Image Modal
Melanie Gonick/MIT

Daniel Anderson, an associate professor in MIT's Department of Chemical Engineering explains, "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. Those three things together could really make it ideal for use in humans,"

One of the biggest hurdles the team encountered was creating a material that's both visually pleasing and medically beneficial.

"Creating a material that behaves like skin is very difficult," says Barbara Gilchrest, a dermatologist at MGH and an author of the paper. "Many people have tried to do this, and the materials that have been available up until this have not had the properties of being flexible, comfortable, non-irritating."

What the team settled on was a cross-linked polymer layer (XPL) that has the ability to be stretched over 250 per cent its original size while still keeping a transparent appearance and being comfortable to wear.

During testing the team applied the XPL to the under-eye area - a region which is most notably affected through ageing through 'eye bags'.

Open Image Modal
Olivo Labs, LLC

What the team found was that the film tightened the skin under the eyes, restoring a youthful appearance for up to 24 hours.

Another test produced even more exciting results - the team applied XPL to the forearm of the skin. Once applied it was tested using a suction cup, the treated skin returned to its normal appearance at a much faster rate.

Anti-ageing products are big business, in fact last year the industry was valued at being worth just under $200 billion.

While this new material could provide a new range of healthy anti-ageing products, the medical opportunities are also exciting.

When applied XPL allows the skin to retain water at a much higher rate than normal. They found that while skin treated with a high-end commercial moisturiser was able to retain water for around 2 hours, the XPL was able to keep the skin hydrated for a full 24 hours.

Wellness And Mindfulness Apps:

1
3 Minute Mindfulness
It might sound silly but something as simple as breathing can make all the difference when works starts to get on top of you. You can use three different short breathing techniques both on your iPhone or through the Apple Watch app with gentle cues telling you when to inhale and exhale. It's not rocket science, but sometimes not-rocket-science is just what you need.
Download
2
Lark
Lark is for those of us that might need that gentle nudge along the road. Created by Harvard and Stanford health experts this AI-style app actually has a conversation with you about your fitness/health goals and objectives. The Apple Watch app lets you send pre-determined responses so you can still chat on the go. It'll even pipe up with a little bit of encouragement if you're feeling stuck in a rut.
Download
3
Pause
Pause is simplicity at its best. You simply set a time, connect some headphones and then follow the instructions. This audiovisual app asks you to follow your finger around the screen. Think of this as mental yoga and you'll get the idea!
Download
4
Pocket Yoga
Pocket Yoga is just that, it's quite literally every yoga technique you can think of crammed into your Apple Watch. This isn't just an encyclopaedia though, it's your teacher as well. Monitoring your heart rate via Apple Watch the app will take you through pre-loaded sessions and even show you the techniques as you're doing them.
Download
5
Streak
Ever wanted to start a habit but found that in the end it just fizzes out? Streak is here to help, you simply set the routine you'd like to lead and Streak will start getting you on the right track. Start sticking to them and you'll create 'streaks' which will eventually become second nature. The Apple Watch app gently buzzes with reminders and encouragement to keep you motivated as well.
Download
6
Waterminder
Being in an office can breed two rather disturbing habits: Sitting still for too long and not drinking enough water. Well thankfully your Apple Watch already has a reminder to get you standing and now Waterminder works to get you drinking enough fluids. Using your Apple Health data Waterminder simply gets you to log everytime you have a drink, helping visualise the amount you should be drinking and how far away you are from your recommended amount.
Download