These patches are the latest innovation in wearable wellness. But do they actually work or are they just a trend? L360’s Evelyn Richards puts them to the test.
Ever wish relieving stress, boosting energy or sleeping better could be as simple as slapping on a sticker?
Enter the world of wellness patches, the newest trend in self-care that’s got everyone buzzing, including Meghan Markle, who was seen sporting a NuCalm Biosignal Processing Disc last year.
These handy little stickers are making waves in the wellness community, promising an easier, more efficient way to get your daily dose of health-boosting goodness than popping supplements.
What are wellness patches?
Infused with vitamins, minerals, herbs or other active ingredients, wellness patches stick to your skin (usually on your arm, back or wrist) and release their ingredients slowly throughout the day or night.
Read more: 7 easy wellness shot recipes for boosted energy, immunity, and gut health
From stress relief to immune support, energy boosts to better sleep, wellness patches can cater to a wide variety of needs.
Whether you’re navigating a hectic workweek or just want to unwind after a long day, there’s probably a patch for that.
How do wellness patches work?
Wellness patches are similar to nicotine or pain-relief patches, relying on something called transdermal delivery.
Kieran Sheridan, founder of physiotherapy supply company GulfPhysio, explains: “You put them on your skin, and they slowly deliver ingredients such as vitamins or herbs into your body.
“The idea is that if these ingredients go through your skin, they could work quicker because they avoid the stomach.”
Read more: The five supplements almost all of us need
With transdermal delivery, the active ingredients are absorbed slowly and steadily, giving you a consistent dose over several hours.
So, there’s less need to worry about your supplements wearing off mid-meeting or waking up at 3am because your metabolism has processed the melatonin you took before going to bed.
What types of wellness patches are there?
The beauty of wellness patches is that they come in a variety of formulations, designed for different aspects of your health — saving you time and money when deciding on which combination of vitamins and herbs best suit your needs
Energy
Feeling a midday slump? These patches often include caffeine, B12 and other energy-boosting nutrients to help you power through.
Stress relief
Infused with calming herbs like ashwagandha, valerian root or magnesium, these patches are great for helping you keep calm and carry on.
The NuCalm patches — like the one Meghan Markle was spotted wearing last year — are said to ‘lower stress quickly and reliably’.
Sleep
Can’t seem to catch those Zs? Sleep patches usually contain ingredients like melatonin and magnesium to help you unwind and rest.
Read more: ‘I tried 9 hacks to help me fall asleep — here’s what worked’
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Immunity boosting
Packed with vitamin C, zinc and elderberry, these patches promise to act as a shield for your immune system, especially during cold and flu season.
Detox and weight management
Some patches even claim to aid in detoxing the body or boosting metabolism with ingredients like green tea extract or garcinia cambogia.
Pain relief
The controlled release of medication ensures a steady flow into the bloodstream over an extended period. This steady release can provide pain relief for several hours or even days, depending on the patch’s design.
Do wellness patches actually work?
As with most wellness products, the effectiveness of wellness patches can vary from person to person, and patch to patch.
Kieran explains: “Some patches can have helpful ingredients, but there isn’t a lot of research that shows they’re better than taking supplements.
“Also, everyone’s skin takes in things differently, so the patches might have the same effect on each person.”
The good news is that many wellness patches use ingredients that are already backed by science when taken orally, so there’s a good chance you’ll feel some of the benefits in patch form as well.
Leah Christian, founder of hormone health company The House of Hormones, believes that wellness patches are an excellent option for busy women.
“With such busy lives, it can often be hard to remember to take a supplement, or to take it in the form you like,” she says.
“I think it’s fantastic that we have so many different options for women, so we can get the supplements we need in a way that works for us.”
Leah added that for people who don’t like taking pills, powder supplements, gummies or drinks, patches are an alternative worth trying — you just stick one on and get on with your day.
However, Kieran stresses the importance of having a healthy lifestyle and remembering that the patches should only be used in addition to that.
He says: “Patches may give you a boost, but nothing patches up your health better
than eating right and staying active.”
I tried wellness patches for weeks — here’s what I thought
The main thing I wanted to address was my anxiety, as this is something I’ve struggled with for as long as I can remember, so Snowden Healthcare sent me a month’s supply of CBD patches to test out.
The clear patches not only contain 45mg of CBD, but also pomegranate, green tea, turmeric and menthol. You can buy them here for £65.95.
For four weeks, all I needed to do was stick a fresh patch on an area of my skin every 24 hours.
Contrary to what I’d envisioned, I wasn’t immediately hit with a wave of relief. However, I did notice that my general, day-to-day anxiety levels were softened. It was like the patches took the edge off the extremities of my chronic worrying.
They’re very discrete — however, I recommend taking the patch off after having a shower, as doing it while the skin is dry can be a little painful. Like ripping off a plaster, but every single day.
Additionally, I did notice a little bit of redness on the area where I wore the patch, which would take a while to go down, so just keep this in mind.
How to use wellness patches
Using a wellness patch is as easy as applying a sticker.
Here’s a quick guide to getting the most out of them:
- Make sure the area you’re applying the patch to is clean, dry and hairless. This helps it stick better.
- Stick it to a part of your body that will experience minimal movement — the arms, back or shoulders work well.
- Most patches are designed to be worn for six to 12 hours, but always follow the specific instructions on the packaging. My CBD ones were wearable for up to 24 hours, for example.
- Don’t place patches on the same spot every day. Give your skin a break and rotate application areas.
