I often get asked what makes Skin Friend AM so different from other skin and gut supplements, so today I thought I would share exactly how our bestselling multi works and why I created it for my patients and family.
It began with an observation I saw again and again in clinic: people with skin disorders or lacklustre skin had specific nutrient deficiencies, so I wanted to prescribe a suitable skin and gut supplement.
However, I found skin and gut supplement brands focused on trends, not the key nutrients needed to restore skin health. As a consumer I understand that trends are exciting and fun to explore, and they make brands very rich, but often people are being sold a suboptimal product as a result.
Most skin and gut supplements focus on trends, not skin health.I was also frustrated because many multis and skin and gut supplements rely on megadoses of zinc and vitamin C, which can unbalance the body and even harm the gut if used long term.
Balance is key, and unsafe megadosing, which I believe should be better regulated, is my constant frustration with the supplement industry. So I started Skin Friend.
When researching the AM formula, it became clear that skin needs all of the following nutrients:
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Vitamin C, zinc, silica, lysine and glycine (and protein from your diet) to make its own collagen, the protein that keeps skin strong—unfortunately collagen supplements do not contain the vitamin C, zinc, lysine and silica your body needs to build collagen, so that's why they often don't work.
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Riboflavin (B2), pantothenic acid (B5), biotin and nicotinamide (B3), as running low on any of these can cause dermatitis-like rashes. Biotin also supports the fats that form your skin barrier.
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Nicotinamide has been shown to increase ceramides and reduce moisture loss from the skin, and together with the correct dose of chromium it supports steady blood sugar, which is associated with fewer breakouts.
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Your skin and nervous system are closely linked, and stress and nerve sensitivity can both trigger itch and flares. That is why Skin Friend AM includes thiamin (B1), which supports a healthy nervous system.
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Vitamin B12 and folate are both essential for making DNA, so every rapidly dividing skin cell depends on them. A deficiency in either can show up on the skin and mouth as hyperpigmentation, glossitis (an inflamed tongue) and cracks around your mouth. Skin Friend AM uses methylated "active" forms of both. Its methylfolate bypasses the conversion step affected by common MTHFR gene variants, so your body can use it straight away, whatever your genetics.
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Vitamin D and pantothenic acid (B5) are essential for a healthy skin barrier [balance is key as excess amounts of vitamin D can be toxic, so less is best when it comes to vitamin D. Most brands overdo it!]
Liver health is not trending, but it matters more than you might think.
That's because, when your liver is missing key nutrients, your skin pays the price. Flare-free skin depends on these liver-supporting nutrients:
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Magnesium, taurine, active vitamin B6 (pyridoxal-5-phosphate) and high-dose glycine, as they help your liver clear toxins and chemicals before they build up — reducing the risk of skin inflammation and premature ageing.
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And finally, my quiet favourite: molybdenum. This trace mineral is a crucial cofactor for liver enzymes that break down sulfites, toxins and metabolic by-products that can trigger skin inflammation. If you are sensitive to sulfites, this one is worth knowing about, as your body relies on it to break down these common preservatives.
These are the 14 active nutrients (and 2 excipients, silica and lysine) in Skin Friend AM, that nourish your skin, gut and liver without the preservatives, colours, salicylates and flavourings that can aggravate sensitive skin.
When you take Skin Friend AM, you are giving your body the nutrients it needs to make collagen and ceramides, plus nourishing your skin, gut and liver for calm, resilient skin.
