There are some amazing advancements in the world of technology, but they aren’t all for your smartphone. Many advancements help us learn more about our skin and about good skin care. So many interesting reports have surfaced over the last year that we thought we’d pull together a couple of the most fascinating skin-related findings.
Interesting Innovations for Skin
Bionic Skin
This photo is from the Someya-Sekitani Group, who is currently working on the bionic skin.
One of the most interesting medical technologies to be announced in the last year came from a research group in Tokyo, who developed a flexible electronic mesh that could read vitals on a patient when applied to the skin. Originally intended as a “robot skin” in which a robot could interact with a human patient and collect vitals by shaking hands, it was later discovered that this material could be applied directly to human skin to monitor temperature and pressure. This could also have huge implications for creating a smart, sensitive prosthetic limb. Of course the technology is a ways off from being economically viable right now, but the material needs to be flexible to work with the softness of skin and mobility of joints, while containing enough sensors to act as a human skin–and all at a price a patient can afford. We may not be there yet, but it’s exciting to know it’s on the way!
Skin Replacements
Skin substitutes for scarring and burn victims are also in the works. Serious research on the topic has been going on since the 1980s, though an article published by National Center for Biotechnology Information noted that “the clinical use of human skin allograft was first described in the manuscript of Branca of Sicily in 1503.” But what has our attention is a a report from just last fall discussing the current status of skin replacements. Medscape published a report which pointed out, “skin substitutes represent artificial, off-the-shelf alternatives to skin grafts that avoid the pain and potential complications of harvesting, are always available in any quantity needed, and can be applied in an office setting.”
It sounds like a dream for those who are suffering from severe burn-related scarring, and some advocate the skin-substitutes is a more holistic approach to healing, claiming that the skin replacement puts the focus on long-term healing and function. Of course the ideal skin has not yet been achieved, but in the meantime some very good substitutes have been developed, and the momentum is in the right direction.
Need to update your skin care routine? Call the dedicated and professional Austin dermatologists at Four Points Dermatology to learn more about the innovative skin treatments available.
Sources:
Spectrum
National Center for Biotechnology Information
Medscape
