What you need to know about vitamin patches

Vitamin skin patches, or transdermal patches, are medications that you can stick on your skin to absorb vitamins and nutrients into your body.

They are commonly available as vitamin B12, which helps to keep your blood and nerve cells healthy, and vitamin D3, which helps keep your bones healthy.

While some people may recommend this treatment for increasing vitamin intake, there is only limited evidence about whether vitamin patches are effective.

Vitamin patches aren’t the only method available to treat vitamin deficiencies. Doctors can advise you about the most appropriate options available for boosting your vitamin levels.

How do vitamin patches work?

Vitamin patches are similar to stickers that you can apply to your skin. The patches are infused with one or more vitamins that your body can absorb.

Some patches may use microneedles that can make your skin more porous and increase its ability to absorb the vitamins.

Once your skin absorbs the vitamins contained in the patch, the vitamins will then travel into your bloodstream and reach those areas of your body where they’re needed the most.

Are vitamin patches effective?

Some vitamin patches may be effective and may efficiently provide vitamins and nutrients to your body. Still, scientific studies have reported conflicting findings about these medications.

A 2022 study indicates that certain types of vitamin patches, such as the PatchMD Multivitamin Plus, can effectively deliver vitamins except for vitamin D and B6.

But research suggests that transdermal patches aren’t as effective as oral supplementation in delivering nutrients.

A 2020 study on athletes with low iron notes that those who took iron pills had significantly higher serum ferritin (a marker of iron status) compared to those who used iron patches. But there were several complaints of severe gastrointestinal side effects in the pill group.

As of today, more research is necessary to confirm the long-term effectiveness of vitamin patches.

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Alternative treatment options

Several ways can ensure appropriate vitamin intake. Oral vitamin supplements are typically a cheap and effective option, and they’re usually available both in their over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription form.

Some vitamins, such as vitamin B12, are available in various forms, including:

• injections
• oral tablets
• liquid
• pills
• nasal gel spray

You can find supplements for a singular vitamin, including vitamin D or B12 supplement tablets, or multivitamin preparations. Examples include:

• One A Day women’s 50+ multivitamin tablets
• OLLY Perfect women’s multivitamin gummies
• One A Day men’s multivitamin VitaCraves gummies
• Centrum men’s multivitamin/multimineral supplement tablets
• One A Day men’s 50+ advanced multivitamin with immunity and brain support gummies
• Thorne Basic Prenatal vitamin
• One A Day VitaCraves women’s multivitamin supplement gummy
• OLLY Perfect men’s multivitamin gummies
• Centrum women 50+ multivitamin/multimineral supplement tablets

If you have a health condition that may make it difficult to absorb vitamins and nutrients, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), you can improve your vitamin levels by managing the underlying condition.

This may help your gastrointestinal system to absorb nutrients from the food you eat.

What lifestyle measures can help you absorb enough vitamins?

If you have vitamin deficiencies, you can take several steps to help your body absorb enough vitamins. Vitamins are present in most types of foods, including fruit, vegetables, meats, fish, and dairy products. Making sure you eat a balanced diet can often provide you with enough vitamins.

If you eat a vegan or vegetarian diet, you may not be able to ensure an appropriate intake of certain vitamins, such as vitamin B12, which are mostly found in dairy and meat products.

In this case, consider speaking with a dietitian to ensure you take appropriate nutritional supplementation to avoid developing vitamin or nutrient deficiencies.

If you have low levels of vitamin D, consider spending more time outdoors, as exposure to sunlight stimulates the production of this vitamin in your body.

Excessive exposure to UV rays can increase the risk of skin cancer. You should always make sure you protect your skin with sunscreen to reduce this risk.

Summary

Vitamin patches are a form of vitamin supplementation. You can absorb vitamins and nutrients through your skin and pass them down into the bloodstream.

Still, more research is necessary to better evaluate the actual effectiveness of these medications compared to traditional oral supplements.

Vitamin patches are not the only medication you can use to treat vitamin deficiencies. Oral supplements and injections are also available. Making sure you eat a balanced diet can also help boost your vitamin levels.

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on some prescription medications.