The skin is the largest organ in the body. It may appear to be a superficial covering, but it possesses multiple functions and is fundamental to health. Skin conditions are common, and it is important not to separate them from the skin as a functional organ. Where we see skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea, acne and psoriasis it is an indication of a further underlying dysfunction and should be treated as such. At Cytoplan we provide products which support skin health both directly (nutrients which support structural integrity) and indirectly (nutrients which may address the underlying causes).
The health of the skin directly impacts the health of hair and nails as they are made up of similar tissues and the original development of hair and nails lies within the skin. Supportive nutrients for each of these tissues also benefits the others, and therefore they are combined together. For maximum benefits to skin, hair and nails at both development and growth stages we need to ensure optimum nutrition and that the nutrition gap is bridged with a multi vitamin and mineral or with specific nutrients for hair, skin and nails.
At Cytoplan we are committed to ensuring the highest quality formulations providing nutrients in their most bioeffective, natural, food-based forms. We therefore have developed our all-encompassing CytoProtect Hair, Skin and Nails vitamin, mineral and phytonutrient formulation. This supports the structural integrity of skin, hair and nails, benefitting both function and appearance, making it an excellent choice as a beauty supplement as well as for supporting specific skin conditions.
Cytoplan also provides an excellent range of collagen products which are known to support the integrity of hair, nails and especially the skin. With both marine and vegan collagen a choice is available to suit everyone.
The skin has unique detoxification and immune capabilities which are fundamentally underpinned by its microbiome. Therefore, supporting the skin involves considering the close relationship it has with the gut and its microbiome. Therefore, Cytoplan's excellent range of digestive health products are also supportive, depending on individual needs.
What are the best vitamins for hair and skin?
Vitamins that support the integrity of hair, skin and nails include:
Vitamin C - in the epidermis, vitamin C acts as a powerful antioxidant, combatting the free radicals produced by UV rays. In the dermis, it is used as a co-factor producing and maintaining collagen. It supports a normal immune response and also plays an important role in barrier integrity and wound repair.
Vitamin D - the skin is the site of vitamin D production, but vitamin D status can also influence skin health. This pro-hormone regulates keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation, which are critical processes in skin renewal and replenishment.
B5 - essential for maintaining keratinocyte (cells which make up skin hair and nails) proliferation and differentiation.
Vitamin A acts as hormone-like growth factor to support epithelial cell production and so is involved in maintaining the structural integrity of the skin. Retinols (active form of vitamin A) have been shown to be beneficial for acne.
Vitamin E is the major fat-soluble antioxidant which is important for neutralising free radicals in the skin. Vitamin E can also absorb UV rays and therefore enhance skin protection. It has also been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin E deficient diets are consistent with acne onset and vitamin E has been shown to regulate retinol levels.
It can be seen that many vitamins are important for the health of hair and skin but it is important to consider that optimal levels of all nutrients is ideal as many other nutrients, including minerals, play a role in skin and hair health both directly and indirectly. For maximum benefits to skin, hair and nails at both development and growth stages we need to ensure optimum nutrition and that the nutrition gap is bridged with a multi vitamin and mineral or with specific nutrients for hair, skin and nails.
Best Hair, Skin and Nails supplements
I would recommend Cytoprotect Hair, Skin and Nails which is an all-encompassing multi nutrient with supportive vitamins, mineral and phytonutrient to fully support and protect the structural integrity of the skin.
CytoProtect Hair, Skin & Nails features cocoa extract, maritime pine bark extract bilberry extract, beta- carotene, lycopene, lutein, 1-3, 1-6 beta glucan and astaxanthin. These are phytonutrients which have been shown to protect the skin from damage, particularly from UV radiation, supporting integrity of the skin and have been shown to improve skin appearance.
Along with specific micronutrients – biotin, zinc, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin B5 and MSM, all of which are utilised in skin production and formation and therefore aids repair and integrity of the skin.
Biotin, zinc and selenium all contribute to the maintenance of normal hair and skin
Vitamin C (from acerola cherry) contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin
Also includes MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) which is a source of organic sulphur; sulphur is found naturally in hair, skin and nails
Vitamin C, selenium and zinc all contribute to the protection of cells from oxidative stress; this means they are antioxidants
Collagen supplements are also a great option as they are known to support the integrity of hair, nails and especially the skin and are often used as beauty supplements.
Are probiotics good for hair, skin and nails?
The skin possesses its own microbiome which is intrinsically linked to the gut microbiome. A healthy gut microbiome therefore contributes to healthier skin microbiome. A healthy skin microbiome can help to protect against infection, reduce inflammation and support detoxification within the skin. An imbalanced or dysbiotic skin microbiome is associated with skin conditions including acne and eczema. Taking probiotics has been shown to support the balance of the microbiome in the gut and therefore has an impact on the health of both the skin itself and its microbiome.
Additionally probiotics can help support the integrity of the gut. If the gut is leaky or damaged, larger molecules can pass across the gut lining and enter the blood stream, triggering inflammation. This is associated with skin conditions including psoriasis, acne, eczema and rosacea, to name a few. Probiotics have been shown to attenuate leaky gut and are hence an important consideration for skin health. The health of the skin will directly influence the health of both hair and nails.
