A light-emitting sticking plaster will help cure dermatitis, says the University of St Andrews and Tayside Hospital in the UK (patent GB 2393912). Photo-pharmaceutical ointments activated by bright light already exist, but they require patients to sit in front of high intensity lamps, which can cause skin bleaching or even pain.
The answer? A transparent patch coated with photo-active ointment on one side and a light-emitting polymer on the other. The patch is stuck to the patient, with the ointment facing the skin. A low current is then applied to the polymer, making it emit light, activating the ointment.…
