The Science
The science of
better delivery
Transdermal drug delivery has been used in medicine for decades — from nicotine patches to hormone therapy. We're applying the same proven technology to everyday wellness.
How it works
Ingredients meet your skin
When you apply a VivPatch patch, the active ingredients are held in a matrix layer pressed against your skin. The adhesive creates a sealed environment that maintains consistent contact between the formula and your epidermis.
Permeation through the skin barrier
Your skin's outermost layer (stratum corneum) acts as a natural barrier. Our ingredients are selected and formulated specifically for their ability to pass through this barrier — small molecular weight, appropriate lipophilicity, and enhanced with natural permeation aids.
Direct to bloodstream
Once through the epidermis, ingredients reach the dermis where they're absorbed into the capillary network. From there, they enter systemic circulation — bypassing the digestive system entirely. No stomach acid degradation. No first-pass liver metabolism. Just clean, direct delivery.
Steady-state release
Unlike pills that dump their entire dose at once (causing spikes and crashes), our patches release ingredients gradually over hours. This creates a “steady state” — consistent blood levels of each active ingredient throughout the wear period. Your body gets a smooth, sustained supply.
Pills vs. Patches
💊 Oral Supplements
- ✕
Spike & crash delivery
Blood levels spike within 1-2 hours, then drop rapidly
- ✕
Degraded by stomach acid
Up to 50-80% of some supplements destroyed in digestion
- ✕
First-pass metabolism
Liver processes and reduces active compounds before they reach circulation
- ✕
GI side effects
Nausea, bloating, acid reflux — common with many supplements
- ✕
Easy to forget
50% of people don't take supplements consistently
◻ VivPatch Transdermal
- ✓
Steady-state delivery
Consistent blood levels over 6-12 hours — no spikes, no crashes
- ✓
Bypass digestive system
Ingredients go directly through skin to bloodstream — zero degradation
- ✓
No first-pass metabolism
Active compounds reach target tissues at full potency
- ✓
Zero GI issues
No nausea, no stomach upset, no acid reflux. Gentle on your body.
- ✓
Impossible to forget
Stick it on once and it works all day. The ultimate set & forget.
Bioavailability comparison
Bioavailability measures how much of an ingested substance actually reaches your bloodstream. Higher is better.
Caffeine
Caffeine is well-absorbed both ways, but transdermal avoids the rapid spike that causes jitters and crash.
Melatonin
Oral melatonin has notoriously low bioavailability (only ~15%) due to extensive first-pass metabolism. Transdermal delivery dramatically improves this.
B12
Oral B12 absorption depends on intrinsic factor, which declines with age. Transdermal bypasses this bottleneck entirely.
Magnesium
Most oral magnesium passes straight through the GI tract (causing loose stools). Transdermal delivery is more efficient and gentler.
Ashwagandha
Withanolides (ashwagandha's active compounds) are lipophilic and absorb well through skin, avoiding GI degradation.
Berberine
Berberine has notoriously poor oral bioavailability (~5%). Transdermal delivery bypasses first-pass metabolism for dramatically improved absorption.
Resveratrol
Oral resveratrol is almost entirely metabolized before reaching circulation. Transdermal delivery is a game-changer for this potent longevity compound.
* Bioavailability estimates are based on published research and may vary. Individual results depend on formulation, skin type, and application site. Sources: Prausnitz & Langer (2008), Transdermal Drug Delivery, Nature Biotechnology; Marwah et al. (2016), JPharmSci.
Not all ingredients are equal
Effective transdermal delivery requires ingredients with specific properties. Here's what we look for.
Molecular Weight
Ideal compounds are under 500 Daltons — small enough to pass through the gaps between skin cells. All VivPatch ingredients meet this criterion.
Lipophilicity
The skin barrier is lipid-based, so moderately fat-soluble molecules penetrate best. We select compounds with optimal log P values for skin permeation.
Potency
Effective at low doses. Transdermal delivery works best with ingredients that produce effects at milligram or microgram levels — no mega-dosing required.
Research & References
- →Prausnitz, M. R., & Langer, R. (2008). Transdermal drug delivery. Nature Biotechnology, 26(11), 1261-1268.
- →Benson, H. A. (2005). Transdermal drug delivery: penetration enhancement techniques. Current Drug Delivery, 2(1), 23-33.
- →Marwah, H., et al. (2016). Permeation enhancer strategies in transdermal drug delivery. Drug Delivery, 23(2), 564-578.
- →Chandrashekar, N. S., & Rani, R. S. (2008). Physicochemical and pharmacokinetic parameters in drug selection for transdermal delivery. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 70(1), 94-96.