Healthcare as we know it is looking more and more like Guardians of the Galaxy — minus the aliens, the epic space fights and the talking raccoon. But like the characters in Guardians of the Galaxy, our world is filled with fascinating and innovative new technology, new space-age treatment method and new modes of life.
For example, robotic surgery is being used across many hospitals, AI algorithms are diagnosing malignant tumors better than radiologists, and telehealth is allowing remote monitoring and virtual appointments.
However, one highly unusual and utterly fascinating area of innovation we rarely hear about is in the arena of skin. Skin is the protective layer that provides a physical barrier between our internal organs and our external environment. However, with new technology and innovation, our skin can now do so much more than provide that physical barrier.
‘Skin’ That Monitors Your Health
In 2018, scientists from the University of Tokyo developed a new technology best known as "electronic skin." The electronic skin is a very thin, incredibly elastic technology with micro LEDs and stretchable wiring, all of which are embedded on a rubber sheet to imitate the feel and look of skin. This new skin is 10 times thinner than your skin cells and lighter than a single dove's feather. It uses electrode sensors that are tucked into the rubber sheet to wirelessly transmit data to both the cloud and select devices such as your smartphone.
The skin can monitor your vital health statistics such as heart rate, oxygen level and temperature and take an electrocardiogram (ECG) in real time.
The electronic skin has excellent potential. It is noninvasive, which means patients will be more likely to use this product and use it for a longer time. It can significantly enhance the patient experience and change the way we care for our patients.
In the future, we could even expect to see TV images or holographics coming from the hands of the patients, providing visual representation of our vital health.
‘Skin’ That Can Save Burn Victims
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that approximately 1.1 million people suffer from mild to severe burn injuries in the United States. Around 20,000 of the burn victims suffer severe burns, which means that they could have up to 25% of their body surface covered in burn injuries.
Burn victims suffer from a multitude of complications such as infection, low body temperature and fluid loss.
Researches from Japan have developed a solution. Scientists from Saga University and the National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences have developed an artificial skin that can temporarily treat severe burn victims and act as a bandage. The artificial surface protects the burned location until undamaged skin can be harvested for grafting.
The skin is made out of a pig-derived collagen membrane called atelocollagen, which has been shown to help wounds heal faster. Atelocollagen is thin, less likely to trigger an allergy than existing collagen-based skin-replacement solutions and resistant to tearing.
One fun fact is that the artificial skin can be stored at room temperature for a long time without spoiling. The impact of this technology is endless. In the future, you might see the skin products as an over-the-counter at your local Walgreens.
‘Skin’ That Can Enhance Your Beauty
According to a new survey by SkinStore.com (via Today), women spend over $200,000 on makeup in a lifetime. Research published by Statista found that 104.23 million women in the U.S. used some form of foundation or concealer in 2019 in the pursuit of that flawless skin.
Kao, a Tokyo-based corporation, has created a spray-on "artificial skin" concealer to take that flawless skin to the next level. The "Fine Fiber Technology" uses a diffuser developed with Panasonic to spray super-fine fibers over moles and facial blemishes, forming a thinly layered membrane on the skin. Tiny capillaries in the layer help the skin stay on evenly, achieving that flawless, natural look. The fascinating technology not only lasts for hours, but it also moisturizes the skin (your real skin) and completely hides scars and blemishes.
Although the company has set its sights on using the revolutionary technology for medical uses, the first step is to commercialize the product. Kao is currently marketing the mechanism as a skincare product line in lotions and diffusers.
We definitely live in a fascinating time. Perhaps in the coming years, we will be able to pick up "artificial skin" in the aisle of CVS next to Tylenol, check up on our dad using his skin monitoring device, and conceal the much-hated acne and pimples with an artificial skin concealer, achieving that coveted flawless and natural skin. And who knows, maybe we'll even have that talking raccoon.
