Chronic inflammation of skin is a long-standing condition affecting patients’ quality of life that, in many cases, requires indefinite management. Conventional treatment consists of topical medications, systemic therapies, and photo-therapeutic modalities. The development of bioelectronic medicine over the years has yielded newer approaches such as bioelectronic skin patches that use electrical stimulation to modulate inflammation. This article considers the current potential of those devices in the treatment of eczema and psoriasis with applicable research and clinical evidence.
Understanding Eczema and Psoriasis
Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, manifests in dry, itchy skin that is often inflamed, resulting from a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and immunological factors. On the other hand, psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by rapid proliferation of skin cells that leads to thick, scaly plaques. Both of these disorders are characterized by dysregulated immunologic responses and could thus be approached for therapy by means of interventions targeting neural-immune interactions.
The Concept of Bioelectronic Medicine
Bioelectronic medicine refers to therapies targeted at modulating electrical activity in the nervous system of the body for the treatment of various disorders. In dermatology, this method looks to influence neural pathways regulating immune reactions in the skin. With local electrical stimulation, bioelectronic devices are expected to correct pathological signaling pathways involved in inflammatory skin conditions.
Bioelectronic Skin Patches: Mechanism and Development
Bioelectronics form skin patches that are wearable devices for the electrical stimulation of specific areas of the skin in a more precise way. The device generally has flexible electronic parts and is covered by biocompatible materials, thus allowing users to continue to wear the patches in comfort during a long period of time. Living bioelectronic patches are developed recently by combining living cells and hydrogels with advanced components used in electronics. For example, some prototypes have been created by immersing bacterial cells in a hydrogel matrix with linking electronic components for monitoring and dynamic modulation of skin inflammation (Shi et al., 2024).
Clinical Evidence and Potential Benefits
Studies assessing the efficacy of bioelectronic skin patches show promise, particularly in treating psoriasis. A pilot study was conducted that involved testing a non-invasive bioelectronic device on 28 patients with mild to severe forms of psoriasis. Members of the treatment group wore the device for a minimum of 10 minutes a day for four weeks. The study also reported that 15 of 18 patients had a decrease in symptoms of at least 50%, of whom six patients had greater than 75% improvement; whereas only two out of ten patients in the placebo group had similar benefit (Pal et al. 2017).
It is thought that the mechanism by which this happens may involve modulation of inflammatory pathways through electrical stimulation, which may decrease the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and restore skin homeostasis (Zhao et al., 2023). Most research so far has been directed to psoriasis, but the immunomodulatory properties of the bioelectronic patch may also have implications in the treatment of eczema.
Additionally, a systematic review emphasizes the reliability of electrical neurostimulation in chronic pruritus treatment-a common finding in both eczema and psoriasis. According to the same review, electrical neurostimulation may be worth considering for refractory chronic itch of selected etiologies, which proves the versatility of bioelectronic interventions in dermatology (Ständer et al., 2020).
Safety and Considerations
Bio-electronic dermal patches for safety, reported with minimal side effects. The most common side effects observe mild irritation or redness at application sites, but they usually resolve once the device is removed. However, before establishing bioelectronic therapy, one has to consider the local conditions of the patient, such as skin sensitivities and other potential comorbidities. In addition to that, there is a lack of long-term safety data currently, which means that optimal research is needed to garner more extensive risk profiles.
Future Directions and Challenges
The combination of working biological cells with electronic systems in bioelectronic patches represents a completely uncharted territory in personalized medicine. Operating as “living bioelectronics,” these devices could adapt to the ever-changing inflammatory environment of chronic skin diseases for real-time monitoring and treatment. However, several hurdles still need to be crossed, such as working with stable and viable living components, avoiding probable infections, and the need for cost-effective manufacturing processes.
In addition, although early-stage testing is encouraging, extensive clinical trials to verify bioelectronic skin patch efficacy and safety in a wide variety of patient populations are also required. From regulatory approvals to the development of standardized treatment protocols, all these steps would be equally critical for the clinical implementation of bioelectronic skin patches.
Conclusion
Bioelectronic skin patches are the latest innovations in the management of chronic inflammatory skin diseases in patients like eczema and psoriasis. These patches are implanting electrical stimulation in modulating immune responses in a patient and, as such, are promising an area of a new non-pharmacological treatment modality. In a few more years of research and technology advancement, the efficacy of such therapies shall be increasing, and it may change the vita landscape of dermatological care.
References
- Pal, S., Robertson, L., & Tharp, M. D. (2017). Bioelectronic wearable shows promise in psoriasis. Pharmaphorum. Retrieved from https://pharmaphorum.com/news/bioelectronic-wearable-shows-promise-psoriasis
- Shi, J., Tian, B., & Niu, S. (2024). Living bioelectronic device monitors and manages psoriasis in mice. The Microbiologist. Retrieved from https://www.the-microbiologist.com/news/living-bioelectronic-device-monitors-and-manages-psoriasis-in-mice/3279.article
- Zhao, M., Chen, X., & Ma, H. (2023). Electrostimulation: A promising new treatment for psoriasis. PubMed. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39684717/
- Ständer, S., Pogatzki-Zahn, E., & Schneider, G. (2020). Electrical neurostimulation for the treatment of chronic pruritus: A review. Experimental Dermatology, 29(4), 384-391. https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.14468
- Niu, S., & Tian, B. (2024). To heal skin, scientists invent living bioelectronics. Rutgers University News. Retrieved from https://www.rutgers.edu/news/heal-skin-scientists-invent-l
