Millions of people across the world are deficient in vitamins symptoms of which include brittle hair, mouth ulcers, hair loss, and scaly skin patches. Not only should you recognize these signs but also take adequate measures to get over this deficiency.

According to experts, a well-balanced and nutritious diet or supplements can help you get over the lack of these vitamins. And now, apart from supplements, patches have also been designed to deliver nutrients to the bloodstream through the skin. These patches have become all r among those who cannot swallow pills, forget to take them, or have digestive problems.

According to a market study, the global vitamin patch industry will grow from $6.6 billion to $10.4 billion over the next decade, even as some medical experts have offered mixed reviews on their effectiveness.

Many experts feel they are not as effective as oral vitamins but can be useful.

Brands like PatchMD, PatchAid, Nutri-Patch, Barriere, and the Good Patch are selling skin stickers that are said to provide everything from vitamin D to B12 to multivitamins and magnesium.

Also known as transdermal patches, these vitamin patches are adhesives placed on the skin to deliver medicine, yet they have been around for some time despite not being popular.

They work like nicotine patches, which help people quit smoking and estradiol patches, which relieve symptoms of menopause. Scopolamine patches may inhibit nausea and vomiting from motion sickness, anesthesia, or surgery, and birth control patches are intended to prevent pregnancy.

According to studies, vitamin patches produce conflicting results, with many reviews stating that some of the micronutrients are not able to permeate the skin in adequate quantities.

Even the users are not all fully satisfied. On social media, there are mixed reviews regarding vitamin B12 patches, which can be placed on the inner wrist, so they can be absorbed faster. While one TikTok user called her B12 patch wonderful, a functional medicine expert described the experience of using one as a “nightmare.”

“Based on my micronutrient test, which I did before and after trying the patch, I did not show any change," said Sam Tejada, CEO and founder of Liquivida Wellness Center, TOLD Verywell Health. “The patch utilises an adhesive that can be extremely toxic to the skin, and you can potentially absorb those toxins,” he continued, without revealing the patch type and brand he tried. “I had a very bad reaction and had to seek medical treatment from a local dermatologist, ending up with what is called contact dermatitis,” he added.

Many critics also believe vitamin patches should not even be considered supplements.

“Vitamin patches are illegal drugs, not dietary supplements. A dietary supplement must be orally ingested; it can’t be absorbed through the skin,” Jeff Ventura, CRN vice president of communications, told Verywell Health. “The FDA certainly has authority to regulate drugs. There are numerous warning letters related to products that are not orally ingested being falsely labelled as supplements.”

According to experts, always consult your doctors before planning to use a vitamin patch—especially if you recently underwent surgery, are taking medication, or have a medical condition.

Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Health and around the world.