About Skin Friend

skin friend team of eczema nutritionists

Here at Skin Friend we focus on nourishing skin from the inside out with our pure powder supplements and luscious skin care, free of nasties.

Skin Friend is a family-owned business founded by nutritionist and award-winning author Karen Fischer. But it is so much more than that. We have created a community to engage and support people who struggle with debilitating skin conditions, so no one feels like they are going through this alone.

And have given them hope, as well as nourishing recipes and the best hydrating cream on the planet (hello 24-Hour Rescue Balm!).

Karen Fischer’s personal family history with eczema (and other skin conditions including dermatitis and hives) is the reason why Skin Friend exists. The company’s wholesome beginnings started when her daughter, Ayva, developed eczema as a baby, which continued to worsen with age. Karen utilised her knowledge of nutritional biochemistry and designed The Eczema Diet and Skin Friend AM to help her daughter. Now, people from all over the world are following the same program. Just read the reviews on our website, they will bring tears to your eyes.

Our supplements reflect our values which include a commitment to providing ingredients that are non-GMO and vegan-friendly, and free of nasties including tabletting agents, dyes, flavourings, colourings, salicylates, histamines, gluten, soy, dairy, and more.

Our core values: Reduce and reuse

We are mindful about waste so we picked our bespoke supplement jars because they are reusable and we do not individually box any of our products--as the box just goes into the bin!

Meet the team...

Karen

Our founder Karen Fischer is a nutritionist, mother of two and an award-winning author whose personal family journey with eczema is the reason Skin Friend exists. As a qualified and certified nutritionist with a Bachelor of Health Science, Karen has specialised in eczema and skin health for the past 19 years.

Karen's passion for helping people with skin disorders began when her baby developed eczema, which worsened by age two. So with Karen's knowledge of nutritional biochemistry, she designed The Eczema Diet and a supplement for her daughter.

For more than a decade Karen has helped thousands of people with problem skin, via her books and eczema clinic in Sydney. While Karen no longer sees patients, she spends her work hours formulating new skin-friendly products.

Karen says: “I grew up eating a lot of junk food and dairy products and I was a sickly and shy child with dermatitis, depression, dark circles under my eyes and allergies. As an adult I suffered with crazy itchy head-to-toe hives and eczema (and a short bout of psoriasis) and I'm so grateful I now get to enjoy beautiful skin at age 47.”

Karen's books include The Eczema Detox, The Eczema Diet, Healthy Family Happy Family, Don't Tell Them It's Healthy, Younger Skin and The Healthy Skin Diet (Winner 'Best Health, Nutrition or Specific Diet Book' at the 2008 Australian Food Media Awards). Her next book is due for release in 2021.

Karen is also an avid photographer who takes our 'dark and stormy' food photos and staff pics.

Ayva

The baby who inspired the birth of Skin Friend has now grown up, and is now working on the Skin Friend team packaging products and assisting with social media.

Bonnie

Bonnie is our blog writer who looks after our social media. She is a qualified nutritionist and has just completed a Bachelor of Health Science, majoring in Nutrition and Health Promotion. Bonnie looks after our @eczema.life Instagram page.

Bonnie’s health journey began when she developed chronic eczema as a child, which continued into her adolescent years. Despite years of taking strong medications and steroid creams she continued to suffer chronic eczema. This had a significant impact on Bonnie.

Bonnie says “In my mid-teens I embarked on a new journey to heal my skin from the inside out after reading Karen’s books. To my delight my skin completely healed. The dramatic change to my health sparked something inside of me. I realised the incredible impact of diet and lifestyle, and how much it has an effect on our lives both good and bad.”

It was this interest that encouraged Bonnie to study for a Bachelor of Health Science in the hope of helping others. She is very thankful to work at Skin Friend as she is now able to offer support and share her personal journey with eczema.

With a love of children and a passion for nutrition, Bonnie says: "I have a keen interest in educating and improving the health of young people. My ultimate goal is to show little ones that veggies can be delicious and they really do give us super powers!"

Grace

Grace Pettitt replies to your emails. After a successful career in the beauty industry, Grace gained a passion for helping others feel their best in their own skin. This journey led her to become a qualified nutritionist.

Grace says "I'm continually inspired by the changes I have seen in clients after small dietary and lifestyle alterations. I believe we all have a purpose in life, to which I aspire to fulfil my dreams of creating change in the environment around me. With mental health sitting close to my heart, I'm forever intrigued about our individual biochemistry and love to share my knowledge in regards to up-to-date research.

I'm a lover of all things outdoors, from spending hours in the garden growing fresh produce to days off relaxing at the beach. For me, my life is all about moderation and being the best version of myself to which is forever changing and growing.”

Katie

Katie Layland is a registered nutritionist and a wonderful cook who contributes to developing and preparing the delicious eczema-friendly recipes for our blog.

Katie also looks after our Eczema Diet Support Group.

If you're having trouble following any of Karen's diet programs or if you want tailored eczema advice, you can book an appointment with Katie here.

Photos and styling by Karen Fischer