Clear Skin Study FO R P RO FES S IO N AL U S E O NLY

Clear Skin Study

Summary Increasing evidence suggests that skin health and appearance could be improved with modest dietary changes and specific nutritional supplements. A brief series of case reports demonstrates that simple advice and daily supplementation may result in important improvements to common but troublesome skin complaints such as acne, blemishes and overall skin appearance. Furthermore most people were very happy with the nutritional treatment, which was well tolerated and easy to follow.

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Clear Skin Study

Background Thousands of teenagers and increasingly adult women suffer with acne and other skin issues and will know just how unpredictable skin imperfections such as acne, eczema, skin tone and premature ageing can be. Some will suffer prolonged out breaks, others will endure sudden severe out breaks only to go for months without further appearance of blemishes. The American Academy of Dermatology1 has recently released a new study which has shown that late-onset or adult-onset acne is becoming increasingly common in women in their 20s, 30s, 40s and even 50s.

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Clear Skin Study

Background Exactly why some people are affected by skin problems more than others is multi-factoral including genetics, but there are certain factors you can control. Dale Pinnock, medicinal chef and author of The Clear Skin Cookbook, says: “Diet and lifestyle have a massive impact upon the health and functioning of the skin, the rate at which it ages, and the severity and healing time of skin lesions.” There are numerous research papers indicating the use of nutrition in skin health and consistent through this research are three factors: Inflammation, Free radical damage and Digestion.

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Clear Skin Study

Objective The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of the dietary supplements Clear Skin Complex and Clear Skin Omega Oil (Viridian Nutrition, Daventry, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom)

on overall skin appearance, specifically in the reduction of acne, blackheads, whiteheads and other blemishes.

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Clear Skin Study

Participants & Recommendations Twelve candidates (all female, aged between 15 and 45 – average age 33) were recruited through a website and social media. No specific criteria for candidate selection was required other than that they wanted to take part. All were sent a three-month supply of the Clear Skin Complex and Clear Skin Omega Oil together with a copy of the Clear Skin Cookbook. They were advised to use the dietary supplements as follows: 1. Clear Skin Complex capsules – take two capsules once daily with breakfast. 2. Clear Skin Omega Oil – take three teaspoons once daily with breakfast. Participants were also advised to choose recipes from the Clear Skin Cookbook to suit their individual taste, ideally for at least one meal per day. They were also asked to not change their current skin regimen/products.

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Clear Skin Study

Participants & Recommendations

100% Female

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Average age

33

Clear Skin Study

Supplement Details Organic Clear Skin Omega Oil from Viridian Nutrition

Provides a reliable source of omegas 3, 6 and 9 essential fatty acids. Dominant in omega 3, this oil also contains a range of fat soluble antioxidants including vitamin E and carotenoids plus phytosterols and flavonoids. INGREDIENTS: Organic Golden Flaxseed Oil 79% Organic Rosehip Seed Oil 2% Organic Perilla Seed Oil 7% Organic Sea Buckthorn Oil 1% Organic Avocado Oil 4% Organic Pomegranate Seed Oil 1% Organic Pumpkin Seed Oil 3% Organic Blackcurrant Seed Oil 0.5% Organic Argan Oil 2% Organic Elderberry Seed Oil 0.5% Each 5ml teaspoon provides approx: Alpha linolenic acid (Omega 3) 2500mg Linoleic acid (Omega 6) 900mg Palmitoleic acid (Omega 7) 32.5mg Oleic acid (Omega 9) 900mg

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Clear Skin Study

Supplement Details Clear Skin Complex Veg Caps from Viridian Nutrition

Inspired by medicinal chef Dale Pinnock and his book, the Clear Skin Cookbook. Clear Skin Complex Veg Caps is a specifically formulated blend of targeted botanicals, key minerals, fat-soluble antioxidant carotenoids in a base of probiotics. INGREDIENTS: Two capsules provide: Probiotic blend providing equal ratios of Lactobacillus bulgaricus 50mg Lactobacillus acidophilus 50mg Bifido bacteria 50mg Lutein Extract (5% Lutein) 100mg (Providing 5mg of Lutein and 300ug of Zeaxanthin) Burdock Root 100mg Gotu Kola 100mg Natural Betacarotene/carotenoid complex 5mg (as D.salina algae) (Equiv. to Vitamin A 833ug) Zinc (Citrate) 15mg Astaxanthin Extract (5% Astaxanthin) 20mg (Providing 1mg of Astaxanthin) Selenium (Methionine) 75ug Lycopene Extract (5% Lycopene) 6mg (Providing 300ug of Lycopene) In a base of spirulina and alfalfa.

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Clear Skin Study

Supplement Details

Zinc & Selenium may prevent various skin conditions, reduce inflammation, and improve healing at the surface. Carotenoids - Astaxanthin, Lutein, Lycopene, Beta-carotene - provide photoprotection and antioxidant support (anti-aging effects) in the dermis. High omega-3, high anti-oxidant, phytonutrient rich oils support the skin structure, hydration, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

Probiotics support nutrient digestion and the immune system (the gut-skin axis). F OR PROF ES S IONAL U S E ONLY

Burdock Root and Gotu Kola have been traditionally used for skin cleansing and health.

Clear Skin Study

Results Of the 12 subjects, nine took the supplements either ‘always’ or ‘most days’. Three subjects failed to take the

75%

took the supplements either ‘always’ or ‘most days’.

supplements regularly and were excluded from the final results.

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Clear Skin Study

Results IMPROVEMENT

100%

Blackheads

Whiteheads

Acne

Open pores

75%

75%

63%

50%

Improvement

Improvement

Improvement

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Improvement

Small bumps under skin

75%

Improvement

Clear Skin Study

Results

Overall Improvement

78%

78% of subjects described their overall skin as ‘better’ or ‘much better’ F OR PROF ES S IONAL U S E ONLY

Clear Skin Study

‘H

Results

s’ s e n i p p a

Improvement

78%

In comparison to before they began the trial, 78% of subjects described themselves as ‘happier’ F OR PROF ES S IONAL U S E ONLY

Clear Skin Study

0% None of the subjects experienced a worsening of their skin condition or symptoms during the trial F OR PROF ES S IONAL U S E ONLY

Clear Skin Study

Results

A (before)

B (after)

Subject A: Skin before (A) and after (b) three months of the Viridian Nutrition Clear Skin program. Severe cystic acne has almost completely improved. F OR PROF ES S IONAL U S E ONLY

Clear Skin Study

Results

A. Before

B. After

Subject B: Skin before (A) and after (b) three months of the Viridian Nutrition Clear Skin program. Acne redness has reduced and started to heal and regress. F OR PROF ES S IONAL U S E ONLY

Clear Skin Study

Feedback from subjects “After a month, the eczema which I've had under my left eye for a long time completely disappeared and also a large lump from an old acne spot which I've had for several years on my jawline has visibly reduced and is almost unnoticeable. I'm really pleased with these results.” Caroline, Manchester. “I just want to express my sincere thanks for allowing me to be part of this trial - my skin benefitted greatly from the changes in my diet and the support of the supplements. These are changes that I am motivated to sustain long term.” Alena , London. “…definitely smoother and softer to the touch. My pores are less visible and I don’t have blackheads or whiteheads. “ Carina, London.

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Clear Skin Study

Conclusion 78% of subjects described themselves as happier and described their skin as better or much better. The supplements and small modifications to diet contributed to an overall positive and significant beneficial effect on the outer appearance of the skin in subjects who previously experienced problem skin within just three months.

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Clear Skin Study

References 1. American Academy of Dermatology www.aad.org 2. Michaelsson G, Juhlin L,Vahlquist A. Effects of oral zinc and vitamin A in acne. Archives of dermatology. 1977: 113(1): 31-36 3. Shukla A, Rasik AM, Jain GK, Shankar R, Kulshrestha DK, Dhawan BN. In vitro and in vivo wound healing activity of asiaticoside isolated from Centella asiatica. Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1999); 65(1): 1-11. 4. Verma KC, Saini AS, Dhamija SK. Oral zinc therapy in acne vulgaris: a double blind trial. Acta Derm Venereol. 1980; 60(4): 337-340. 5. Acne vulgaris, probiotics and the gut-brain-skin axis - back to the future? Bowe WP, Logan AC. Source Department of Dermatology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.

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