Learn what doctors say about transdermal vitamin patches vs. traditional supplements—are they actually more effective?
Published: Jun 23, 2025 7:00 PM
Taking huge pills every day can feel like a task—and for many, it’s the worst part of a daily supplement schedule. Whether it’s the unpleasant size, or the physical discomfort huge pills inspire, taking vitamins in pill form can quickly feel like a hassle.
Enter vitamin patches!
Companies like Barriere, The Good Patchhttps://thegoodpatch.com/products/b12-awake?sscid=61k9_o4a7o&, and Alan are changing the supplement game with their fashionable, wearable “sticker vitamins.” These beautiful patches are applied to the skin and claim to deliver nutrients through the skin and right into the bloodstream.
But do they actually work?
For the concept to work, there is a physiological hurdle: skin is designed to protect you by keeping things out—notably foreign substances, including most vitamins, according to Dr. Austin Shuxiao, a board-certified internal medicine physician and founder of PeachIV.
“Skin is a robust barrier and does not let vitamins easily permeate,” says Dr. Shuxiao. “Even with certain patches that contain active ingredients like ethanol, which has been shown to maximize skin permeability temporarily, the skin still has an effective barrier.”
So, how does a patch work compared to taking oral supplements?
Below, health professionals share the science behind delivering vitamins transdermally, how it compares to swallowing a supplement, and if patches are true alternatives or just another wellness trend.
Do Vitamin Patches Work as Well as Oral Supplements?
The efficacy of vitamin patches is a subject of debate among members of the health professions. According to Dr. Shuxiao, although the skin is a natural protective barrier, the digestive tract, or gut, has specific structures in place to ensure nutrient absorption, including both water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins.
There is robust scientific evidence to suggest we can absorb nutrients through the digestive tract, but transdermal (through-the-skin) delivery is an area that is still limited in research and the evidence is uncertain. Dr. Paul Daidone, an internal medicine physician and medical director at True Self Recovery, states that additional well-designed studies are needed to show that vitamin patches are effective.
A great example was a 2019 research study published in Obesity Surgeryhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31302845/#:~:text=group,seen%20in%20the%20patch. The study measured patients that had gastric bypass surgery across a 12 month period, comparing patients using vitamin patches to patients using oral supplements. The results were striking: 14 of 17 patients using vitamin patches developed at least 1 vitamin deficiency, and 11 of 27 patients using oral supplementation developed 1.
Vitamin D levels were significantly different, with the patch group having about 81% of participants with a deficiency and the oral group having 36%. The vitamin B1 and B12 levels were also significantly lower in the patch group.
While transdermal patches could provide more convenience for patients, the current available data suggests that they may not provide nutrients like oral supplements. Until compelling evidence is presented, experts will continue to recommend pills or capsules as the viable option for meeting person’s daily vitamin requirements.
Do Vitamin Patches Work? Here’s What the Experts Have to Say About Absorption and Efficacy.
According to Dr. Daidone, the effectiveness of vitamin patches depends on a number of key components—including how the patch is designed and made and how the individual person’s skin absorbs the patch based on factors like skin type and where on the body the patch is applied. “The design of the patch, materials used, dosage of vitamins, and area of patch application all play significant roles in nutrient absorption,” he explains.
Location is also paramount. Patches work best when placed on high blood flow areas with thin skin such as the inner wrist, upper arm, lower back, or just behind the ear—to those areas where the most absorption is occurring. Areas like the bottom of the feet or places with thick hair will be much less effective because it may affect adherence and absorption.
While some vitamins have varying levels of absorption through the skin, fat-soluble vitamins (A,D,E, and K) are more likely to be absorbed transdermally, according to Daidone. In fact, water-soluble vitamins typically rely on certain carrier proteins for absorption. Unfortunately, skin just doesn’t have those proteins, she says.
Dr. Shuxiao points out that the digestive system is better adapted to absorbing vitamins completely. “The gut is equipped with the transport mechanisms to absorb both fat- and water-soluble vitamins, which is why oral supplements are usually more consistent when it comes to nutrient absorption.”
Who should use vitamin patches?
Do You Need to Use Vitamin Patches? Experts Say
If you’re thinking about incorporating vitamin patches into your routine, it’s important to connect with your medical provider to determine if you have any deficiencies in nutrition, according to Dr. Daidone. If you identify you have a deficiency, you and your provider will determine if vitamin patches are a solution for you.
For the average person, vitamin patches are unnecessary. “Most people can meet their nutritional needs through a diet or more conventional oral supplements,” Dr. Shuxiao says. “The only time patches are going to be useful is in certain situations, which can include pill swallowing trouble or poor absorption of nutrients due to digestive issues.”
Even in those situations, IV therapy or injectable vitamins would typically be better. “You are getting the vitamin directed into the bloodstream and availability is higher with IV or injectable vitamins,” says Dr. Shuxiao. That said, if injections or IV therapy aren’t available or are too expensive, vitamin patches may be a more convenient, but less effective, option.
How to Use Vitamin Patches the Right Way
If you are contemplating introducing vitamin patches to your wellness routine, proper application is key for optimum results. Always start by reading and following the manufacturer’s directions. In most cases, you should apply patches to clean, dry and hairless skin – perfect examples are the inner wrist, upper arm, or behind the ear. “Patches are typically applied for eight to twelve hours,” says Dr. Daidone.
How often you need to use a patch depends on the brand. Some patches are meant to be used every day, while some may be intended for a patch every other day. Lastly, Dr. Shuxiao recommends rotating application sites, in order to avoid skin sensitivity from repeated applications over the same area.
Vitamin patches do not rely on digestion like oral supplements that are ingested. Therefore, you don’t have to take them with food. As Dr. Shuxiao explains, “This is a great option for individuals who want to avoid pills or who have a hard time absorbing nutrients from the digestive tract.”
Vitamin patches represent a contemporary and convenient substitute for the oral vitamin forms we typically take, but their full efficacy has not been established yet. They shouldn’t be considered a primary option for treating vitamin deficiencies. It’s always a good idea to consult with a health care provider to make sure vitamin patches are safe and a good fit for your health needs.
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