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MIT Develops 'Second Skin' That Can Temporarily Erase Wrinkles

CAMBRIDGE (CBS) – The inventors call it "Spanx for the face," or just "second skin." And it could make you look years younger.

The breakthrough medical technology can temporarily erase some of the signs of aging and even deliver medication. It's the brainchild of scientists from Mass. General Hospital and MIT.

The cream is applied in 2 parts. First a clear layer of a silicone polymer goes on. The second layer is a catalyst causing a chemical reaction. The result is an elastic second skin that is invisible, breathable and lasts about a day.

"We designed the polymer to not only stick to your skin and be elastic so as you move your face, it moves, but as it sets up it actually flattens and tightens the skin," says Dr. Rox Anderson, a dermatologist at MGH and a member of the team that developed the second skin.

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"Eye bags" before and after treatment (Image credit Olivo Labs)

"It's designed that you can wear it all day," he adds.

But using it cosmetically is only one benefit. The cream can also deliver medication to treat skin conditions. "In the long run we will see some versions of this that are specifically made for eczema both for children and adults," says Dr. Anderson.

"It's really an amazing work in chemical engineering," says Dr. David Agus, a CBS News medical contributor. "A very, very exciting advance to hopefully get away from surgeries and injecting toxic compounds into the skin," he says. For cosmetic purposes you would probably have to re-apply the cream daily.

It's still early in the testing, but the scientists hope the product will be on the market in a year or two.

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