By Mira Miller
A patent application has been filed for a computerized approach to treating wrinkles and forming a personalized skincare plan.
At a time when skincare is a primary concern for many individuals, new treatments continue to emerge that promise to produce younger, more vibrant skin.
Knowing exactly what treatment is right for your specific skin concerns isn’t always an easy task, however. Now, a new invention could help remedy that issue
Filed by Peachy Corp. in May 2024 and published in September, a new patent application describes a computerized method to analyze an individual’s skin and produce an individualized plan to prevent and treat wrinkles.
“With this new computerized wrinkle treatment, [we’d be] trading in guesswork for precision,” says Hamdan Abdullah Hamed, MBChB, a board-certified dermatologist and trichologist at Power Your Curls. “This new way uses computers to make treatments special for everyone’s skin and could change the whole way we think about wrinkle care.”
How Peachy’s treatment works
The invention uses digital images to detect dynamic index (wrinkles that appear when your muscles contract), and static index (wrinkles that are visible when the muscles aren’t contracting). It then helps generate a treatment plan, including at least one dose of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A), the ingredient in Botox that relaxes the muscles that may cause wrinkles over time.
The algorithm helps to determine the exact doses and facial locations needed.
According to the application, BoNT-A may prevent dynamic facial wrinkles while maintaining some degree of natural muscle movement. Since repeated muscle contractions are what cause dynamic lines to become static lines, BoNT-A may also prevent and/or slow the progression of dynamic wrinkles to static wrinkles.
The application explains that the amount of BoNT-A needed to effectively relax facial muscles and reduce or prevent wrinkles is dependent on muscle strength, but little effort has been made to quantify, predict, and implement treatment plans based on this dose-dependent relationship.
“Unlike usual treatments that try to work the same for everyone, this way of treatment adjusts specifically to what you need,” Hamed says. “Also, the computer can understand and change as time goes by, so it becomes better at treating your skin as it changes too.”
How Peachy compares to products on the market
Currently, common ways to treat wrinkles include retinoid creams, laser treatments, and injectables.
Retinoids work to help the skin renew faster and feel smoother, Hamed explains. Laser treatments meanwhile use light to stimulate collagen production in the skin, helping to improve texture. Injectables, such as Botox and fillers, can help to lessen the appearance of wrinkles by relaxing muscles or increasing volume in places where it’s needed.
“While these treatments help many people, they can also have some downsides,” Hamed says. “For instance, they might need several appointments, cause side effects, or involve time to heal afterward.”
One of the main challenges with current treatments, however, is knowing exactly which one is the right approach for your skin and its needs. That’s where this new method shines, Hamed says.
Unlike using the same method for everyone, this approach creates a specialized plan of Botox injections according to an individual’s unique skin.
The computer program could also ensure more accuracy in treatments and reduce the risk of errors or botched procedures, he says. And because the system has a learning algorithm, it can adapt a treatment as your skin changes over time.
What it could mean for the future of skincare
If this new method is approved and comes to market, Hamed says it could significantly alter the world of skincare.
The precision of this approach could appeal to a wider array of people, and with improved accuracy could come improved outcomes.
But while this computerized method looks promising, Hamed says sufficient research and thorough testing are needed to ensure its safety and effectiveness.
He also hopes that if it does eventually come to market, it will be made to be affordable so it can be accessible to as many people as possible.
“This new patent for a computerized way of treating wrinkles is very exciting and might change how we take care of our skin,” Hamed says. “Even though there is much to understand and try out, it looks like technology could become very important in making wrinkle treatments more personal and helpful for all people.”