There are a host of treatments that may be able to reduce the appearance of wrinkles or other signs of aging. But beyond chemical peels, creams, laser therapies, and injections, social media users claim there's a less invasive product that can achieve similar results: silicone face patches.
Silicone or wrinkle patches have gone viral on TikTokvideos featuring the products have racked up nearly 150 million views. Some users have even dubbed the patches a Botox alternative, and others claim consistent use can help reduce wrinkles over time.
While this beauty hack sounds encouraging, experts are skeptical of silicone face patches efficacy long-term.
Heres what experts had to say about the health and safety of silicone face patches, and best practices for keeping skin looking youthful.
How Do Silicone Patches Impact the Skins Appearance?
Wrinkle patches are typically made of either adhesive paper or silicone patches, and they can actually improve the appearance of wrinkles, Emily Wood, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology, told Health.
Silicone patches can be applied overnight while sleeping to improve ones appearance the following day, Wood said. It is also trendy to apply silicone patches around the crows feet [fine lines around the eyes] before an event, which can help lessen the appearance of these wrinkles.
The patches can cover either large or small areas of the face, depending on someone's specific skin concerns. On TikTok, patches that cover the under eyes, smile lines, and forehead seem to be most commonly used, but some use silicone patches to improve chest or neck sagging, too.
Once applied to the face, silicone wrinkle patches may reduce some signs of aging by increasing hydration to the skin, Wood explained.
With wrinkles in particular, silicone patches can also prevent mobility of the skin throughout the day or night, and hydrate the top layer of the skin. This lessens the appearance of creases and lines
Silicone patches can improve the appearance of any facial scars, too. The patches provide an occlusive barrieror physical barrier on the top layer of the skinwhich decreases water loss, and increases hydration and plumpness, said Mary Alice Mina, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon at Baucom and Mina Derm Surgery.
The goal is somewhat similar to that of slugging, a technique where people use thick ointments such as Vaseline or Aquaphor as a final step in their nighttime skincare routine. Wrinkle patches can help the skin retain more of its moisture, keeping it hydrated overall, Mina said.
In effect, this improves hydration and decreases fibroblast growth, which can increase scar thickness by increasing collagen production, Mina told Health in a statement. These patches also provide subtle pressure on the scar which can help improve the scar overall.
Do Dermatologists Recommend Silicone Wrinkle Patches?
While silicone patches can provide hydration to the skin and help minimize the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and scarring, the effects are short-lived, according to Brendan Camp, MD, a board-certified dermatologist of MDCS Dermatology. Because of this, many dermatologists remain skeptical.
Silicone patches provide a temporary plumping effect to the skin because they draw water to the epidermis. This helps minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles, Camp told Health. But once the water content on the skin returns to normal, lines and wrinkles reappear as they did prior to applying the patch.
The products are relatively affordable and available over-the-counter, unlike other skincare treatment such as laser treatments or Botox, Mina said. Still, they may not be worth most peoples time, since wrinkles will come back shortly after the product is applied, she explained.
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In some cases, silicone or wrinkle patches might actually even irritate peoples skin rather than help it.
Some people who use these products, such as those with sensitive skin, may experience irritation from the adhesive backing on the product or may develop a rash if the product is used daily for weeks or months at a time, Mina said. Patches sometimes contain active ingredients such as retinol, which could also be an irritant, she cautioned.
Reusing patches multiple times might also spark breakouts for those with acne-prone skin. This can also occur with slugging, so if you are prone to breakouts, its best to avoid this trend, Mina said.
There are better options for people looking to improve their skin texture and [to] treat or prevent fine lines and wrinkles than the burdensome use of sleeping in silicone all over the face at night, every night, Mina said. But if someone wants to try them, they are not harmful and can show temporary benefits.
Best Practices for Managing Wrinkles and Fine Lines
If someone decides that they want to give silicone wrinkle patches a try, Mina recommends only buying those made with medical-grade siliconethis means that theyve been produced in a chemically-stable way and have been tested to interact safely with the human body.
People with sensitive skin or a latex allergy should find products that use a hypoallergenic adhesive or a latex-free adhesive backing, Mina added.
Before trying any new skincare product, its important to see how the body reacts to it, Wood said. In this case, she recommends patch testing a small area of skin before applying wrinkle patches to the body.
And of course, using silicone or wrinkle patches is not the only way people can prevent or manage wrinkles and fine lines.
While Im ok with people trying silicone patches on wrinkles and stretch marks, please know there are other potentially more effective options out there, Mina said. Those include:
Experts also recommend exercising daily, drinking plenty of water throughout the day, and eating a balanced diet that consists of healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, lean protein, fruits, and vegetables.
There are a ton of ways to manage wrinkles, fine lines, and skin texture, Mina said. If you want to know the best ways to be proactive with aging, definitely seek out expert advice from a board-certified dermatologist.
Some folks swear by the products ability to smooth fine lines, particularly the so-called elevens that form between the eyebrows. They make a massive difference, but only to my elevens and frown linesIve not used them anywhere else, says Becca Caddy, 35, a journalist based in the United Kingdom.
Caddy says her lines arent age-related, but rather appeared because she went without glasses for years and squinted instead. Im fully aware theyre not magically getting rid of age-related lines, but must be doing a similar thing to Botox in relaxing that area thats usually mega-tense.
Gwen Calais-Haase, a graduate student in Boston, found out about Frownies on TikTok. I get so much baby Botox content that I was like, hmm, interesting alternative! she says, referencing the trend of people in their twentiesbabiesgetting preventative Botox. I was pretty dedicated [to Frownies] for three weeks before falling off the wagon, she says.
Frownies are similar to Botox in that they immobilize the underlying facial muscles through their unique design, according to their maker. Theoretically, the patches prevent the muscles from moving, thus helping to retrain the facial muscles to relax, release tension, and lay flat. Other brands of wrinkle patches, such as the silicone-based SiO Beauty, work similarly, though SiO also claims that it helps the skin stay hydrated, thus plumping the skin and causing it to appear smoother.
Wrinkle patches require a fair amount of effort daily. Users must first wash their face, and any moisturizer must be allowed to sink in for 10 to 15 minutes before applying the patches. After massaging any fine lines for 10 to 15 seconds, the skin is ready for application. Each patch must be lightly wetted on one side. After gently separating the lines on the relevant area of the face, the user should apply the patch while pressing down with the fingers to ensure it adheres completely; the patches then harden as they dry.
Frownies recommends that people use the patches for several hours a day, preferably overnight for three to five days for shallower fine lines. Long-term results may take up to four weeks, according to the company, which advises users to wear them at least three to four nights every week to maintain wrinkle-free skin.
Using them is as uncomfortable as it sounds. I recently tried Frownies on my forehead and around my smile lines, and I was unable to drink water except through a straw; I couldnt laugh, and could only mumble, as my mouth was too constricted to form words clearly. When I finally tore them off at my bathroom sinkan unpleasant experienceI was incredibly relieved. Considering that laughing, speaking, eating, and drinking all require facial movements that will inevitably result in fine lines and wrinkles, it follows that a product aimed at preventing their formation would also prevent the movements that create them. But in practice it is extremely awkward and bizarre.
The idea of these types of products is they harden and basically stiffen, so you cannot use the muscles. So temporarily the idea is to prevent a movement, and over time to train the muscle to not move, says Mary Stevenson, MD, an associate professor of dermatology at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine. The results of these are temporary, and I think theyre gimmicky, she says.
Anjali Mahto, a dermatologist based in the United Kingdom and author of "The Skincare Bible: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Great Skin" (Penguin, ), says shes unaware of any data that suggests that wrinkle patches are effective. Any temporary effects will disappear as you start to use your muscles againa bit like an ironed piece of clothing in that its smooth to start with, but with wear, will become creased.
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