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UTypically, if you are covered stickeryou’ve been hanging out with a lively four-year-old. It’s purple on one wrist, pink on the other, and has stars on its face and neck. But the colorful look is moving beyond the realm of pre-school teachers, with so-called “wellness patches” becoming increasingly popular, promising everything from boosting energy levels, treating period pain, curing hangovers, improving concentration, reducing stress and delaying baldness.
I have a hormonal imbalance, which means that about 10 days a month I feel noticeably more tired than usual. Although I usually try to combat this with diet and a fairly extensive list of Replenish Over the past month I’ve been trying Kind’s little ‘Period Relief’ and ‘Energy’ stickers (£12 a pack from drugstores), which claim to “provide hormonal balance and menstrual support” and “increase daily energy”.
The health patch market is estimated to be worth $9.95 billion (£7.45 billion) by 2024, with further explosive growth expected over the next five years. financial times. Kind is just one of many brands trying to get a piece of the pie, with The What Supp Co, Ross J Barr and What’s That Patch also offering similar products. Many companies also offer a label that claims to suppress appetite and cravings – known online as natural ozone.
According to the packaging, these patches work by delivering various vitamins and herbal compounds through the skin into the bloodstream, resulting in a variety of health benefits. Although the Kind brand’s website is filled with four- and five-star reviews of its products, I didn’t notice any real difference other than a sticky residue that left behind on the inside of my wrist every day. I definitely don’t feel worse, but I’m not sure I feel better.
“I’m not entirely convinced by what these patches are saying,” GP Dr. Nisa Aslam told me. “These are not considered medical products in the EU and UK, so they do not need to undergo the same rigorous testing as medicines, which means they do not necessarily need clinical studies or peer-reviewed trials to back them up, which makes me somewhat skeptical of their claims.”
Of course, doctors’ focus on holistic therapies is nothing new. But Dr. Aslam’s concerns go beyond a lack of trials. “Skin is a very effective barrier,” she says with conviction. “If you look at some of the molecules in these plaques, they are quite large in size. So the question we ask is: How likely is it that these molecules can effectively cross the skin and enter the bloodstream?
“Some of the smaller molecules may come through and bring some benefit. Of course, we know there’s an aspect of the placebo effect as well, so people may feel energized or more relaxed. That’s good because the risk is pretty low.” Low risk, low reward. Kind of like some herbal tea.
Potential side effects, such as skin irritation, are minimal. When mixing substances, things can go wrong. “Vitamin and minerals can interact with each other, so they can affect how they are absorbed or used in the body,” warns Aslam. “So if you use multiple patches, the molecules can get into your bloodstream and then interact with each other – and certain compounds can actually cancel out each other’s beneficial effects as well. So you might run the risk of adverse effects without any benefit.”
Although the market for patch-based treatments is taking shape, the invention is unlikely and not recommended to replace the pill. “We know there are studies now on drug versions,” Aslam said. “They’re regulated. So they’re more likely to get the ingredients into your bloodstream than transdermal delivery. So oral vitamins, whether they’re sprays or pills, are more likely to be effective.”
Plus, of course, there’s a quick-fix element to these stickers, just wear them like a badge of honor. It reminds me of a kid who broke his leg at school and had everyone sign the cast. These are healthy status symbols, a beaming self-care badge that not everyone can afford.
After repairing it at the end of the month, I went to the countryside and slept for 14 hours straight. So, it’s fair to say I’m still pretty tired. Whether you feel like these stickers are useful to you or not, it’s clear that the need to use them in the first place may just be to solve a larger problem. “You need to address the root cause of the problem,” Aslam said. “It’s not just about hoping to control symptoms.”