Do Vitamin Patches Work? Here’s What You Need to Know

Whether you take vitamin D and zinc for immunity, or amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids to reach your fitness goals, choking down a handful of pills and capsules every day can make it pretty challenging to stay on your supplement game. But what if there was an alternative? Fortunately, there is: wearable vitamin patches. They couldn’t possibly be quicker or easier to use: just stick them on your skin and go. So, how do they work? And should you try them? RELATED: Vitamin Buying Guide: What Men Need to Know Here’s what you need to know. What Are Vitamin Patches? With traditional supplements, you extract nutrients via your digestive system. After swallowing a pill, powder, or capsule, the vitamins and/or minerals make their way through the digestive tract into the small intestine, where they’re absorbed and can finally enter the bloodstream. But vitamin patches work differently. These are designed to be absorbed through your skin. Transdermal delivery isn’t a totally novel concept — consider how nicotine patches are used to help someone quit smoking, and estrogen patches are used for hormone replacement therapy. It’s just that now, nutraceutical companies are starting to apply this technology — which was previously reserved for niche medications — to everyday supplements. While vitamin patches are still a relatively new category, you can already find products aimed at improving everything from skin and sleep to energy and cognitive health. Some patches offer single nutrients, while others combine nutrients like a multivitamin. RELATED: Expert-Recommended Supplement Brands You Can Trust So, Do Vitamin Patches Work? Research on how effective vitamin patches are is still mounting. “The skin is designed to keep things out, so getting vitamins through a patch isn’t as straightforward as popping a pill,” explains Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a quadruple board-certified physician and Chief Medical Advisor for Sleepopolis. One study found that blood levels of vitamins D and B6 increased in patients who used them for a year after bariatric surgery — however, they were still deficient in these vitamins. Meanwhile, a different study revealed that healthy adults experienced a noteworthy uptick in vitamin D levels after using vitamin patches for eight weeks. One thing we do know is that when it comes to efficacy, research has shown that the size of the molecules matters. If the molecules aren’t small enough for your skin to absorb, then your body obviously can’t use the nutrients these patches are aiming to deliver. Barriere, a popular supplement patch company, micronizes the ingredients (to under 50 microns) — in other words, breaks them down into super small particles, so that they’re more easily absorbed and used by the body. The materials a specific patch is made with, the dosage of vitamins in the patch, and even where you place the patch on your body can all impact how well it works. That’s why following the product’s instructions is key — brands will typically specify where to apply the patch and how often (say, every day or every other day for 12 hours). As a general rule, vitamin patches adhere more easily to thinner-skinned areas with less hair and oil production, like the inside of your wrist or on your shoulder. Make sure you apply them to clean, dry skin with no lotion for best results. Finding the Best Vitamin Patches There are already a number of brands offering vitamin patches, but not all are created equal. Something to keep in mind: The FDA does not consider transdermal patches to be dietary supplements, because they aren’t intended for ingestion. That means the agency doesn’t regulate them as supplements. Because of this, it’s especially crucial to vet the companies you buy vitamin patches from. Make sure they’re third-party tested, which gives you reassurance that they contain the dosage of nutrients promised. Of the brands we examined, Barriere stands out for several reasons. For one, every single batch of vitamin patches gets third-party tested. Not only that, but the brand has carefully selected ingredients that have strong scientific evidence demonstrating benefits, and formulas that meet E.U. regulations. The U.S. vitamin regulations are notoriously lax compared to other parts of the world — but Barriere’s factory is certified not only in the U.S., but also in the UK, EU, and Australia, among other countries where regulations are more strict. Barriere’s patches are hypoallergenic, which is noteworthy given that skin reactions are really the only potential side effect with vitamin patches. And to ensure maximum effectiveness, these patches are also water-resistant. The Bottom Line There are definitely a few advantages to vitamin patches worth noting. Researchers have found that when people use these as opposed to pills, they’re less likely to miss doses, and to experience gastrointestinal side effects. “For people who have trouble swallowing pills or have digestive problems that make absorbing nutrients tough, patches could be a useful alternative,” says Dr. Dasgupta. “They’re also convenient. And because they bypass the stomach, there’s less chance of upsetting your gut.” That said, vitamin patches are only worth investing in if your body can actually absorb the nutrients they offer. “Look for patches that clearly say how much of each vitamin you’re getting and have been tested by a third party to back up those claims,” Dr. Dasgupta tells AskMen. “Watch out for ones that promise the moon without proof, and always check with your doctor before trying something new." You Might Also Dig: Fitness Awards 2025: Best SupplementsThe Best Food Supplements for Better HealthWhy Liposomal Supplements Are the Way of the Future