What is electroporation? You may have heard this term with the proliferation of home-use skin devices on the consumer market. These devices are incredibly popular right now, with many purported skin benefits, such as giving “glass skin,” “jelly skin,” or even claiming to help skincare products absorb deeper. The mechanism behind these amazing claims is electroporation. So what exactly does “electroporation” do and what can it do to improve your skin?
What is electroporation?
Simply put, electroporation uses an electrical field to temporarily increase permeability of permeability of the cell membrane. Flash back to Biology 101, a cell is encapsulated by a semi-permeable lipid membrane, which means only selected particles can enter a cell. This is important for many vital processes that occur in the cell and also functions as a form of protection, keeping out foreign or unwanted particles. Applying an electrical field can overcome the capacitance of the cell membrane, allowing molecules to enter a cell by temporarily bypassing the cell membrane. Care must be taken so that the cell membrane is only temporarily open; too strong of an applied field and the cell is destroyed. Advances in technology have made this technology more accessible. In layman’s terms, electroporation is essentially applying electricity to cells to temporarily open their membranes to allow in molecules that might normally not be allowed in. This also allows topical substances to absorb deeper due to enhanced diffusion; something that might normally be restricted by the stratum corneum (top layer of the skin).
What differentiates electroporation from iontophoresis?
Voltage and duration of the applied electrical field is what differentiates electroporation from iontophoresis, another process that uses an electrical field to deliver molecules into a cell. Electroporation relies on short pulses of high voltage application to temporarily increase permeability by disrupting the cell membrane. Iontophoresis relies on steady, low voltage application to push charged particles into a cell. While the mechanism and effect of each respective process differs, there is enough overlap in practical application when it comes to skincare that they can be thought of as similar processes. In terms of skincare, “electroporation” and “iontophoresis” are often used interchangeably.
While home-use electroporation devices are proliferating on the market now, galvanic and iontophoresis devices have been available to aestheticians, dermatologists, and other skin experts for professional use for many years. Because these devices were usually sold as professional-grade or salon-grade, layperson access was limited. Consumer awareness and advancements in portability of this type of technology has allowed the home-use device market to proliferate.
Both electroporation and iontophoresis have many potential biotechnical and medical applications. When it comes to skin, these processes can enhance diffusion of topicals into the skin. Benefits of this are increased absorption or deeper penetration of skincare that may not normally penetrate as deeply due to large molecular size or how hydrophilic the product may be. Many skincare products tend to sit more superficially on the skin because due to larger molecule size or difficulty diffusing deeper. It is in this regard that electroporation and iontophoresis can improve absorption through their aforementioned mechanisms of action. Increased absorption of skincare products when paired with these devices can help skin look more hydrated, plumper, and glowy.
When it comes to home-use devices, check out our Iontophoresis skincare device that pairs with our graphene sheet masks for amazing absorption and penetration of the mask essence! Available as a set; masks can also be purchased separately.
Iontophoresis Device + Graphene Sheet Masks
DSC Laser & Skin Care Center
www.dscbeauty.com
(626)285-0800
info@dscbeauty.com
889 S. San Gabriel Blvd. San Gabriel, CA 91776
