This "Tattoo" Has a Secret

Are transdermal stickers the future of vitamins?

- By Katie Berohn

A few weeks ago, I was toweling off after a yoga class and overheard a conversation between two friends. One was speaking about a product with such reverence that my ears perked up. “They’ve changed my life,” she said. “I feel 10 years younger.” The product in question? Vitamin patches. She invited her friend to a “patch party.” They left before I could ask for the address, but I exited the studio with wearable vitamins dancing in my head.

We all know we need our vitamins. On the most basic level, they are among the essential nutrients that our bodies need in order to function. Yet even though we only require them in tiny amounts, many people are still deficient, whether it’s because they’re not eating a balanced diet or for some other reason, such as an autoimmune disease like Crohn’s that could hinder nutrient absorption. Supplements might be able to fill in the gaps—a belief that the wellness industry happily capitalizes on.