SkinVance + Zinc contains a unique blend of plant-derived phytochemical ingredients and nutrients that optimise skin health, combat hormonal acne and alleviate skin inflammation in the presence of Insulin resistance. For male and females

SkinVance + Zinc can be used for:

• Hormonal acne in both men and women (Especially during teen years or menopause)
• Poor skin quality caused by insulin resistance
• Hormone associated blemishes 
• Skin Hyperpigmentation
• Excess facial hair resulting from hormonal imbalances
• Thinning hairline or male pattern baldness
• Darkening of the skin, particularly along neck creases, the groin and underneath breasts
• Skin Tags (small growths or bumps of skin especially in the armpits or neck area)
• Skin Inflammation

SkinVance + Zinc contains a unique blend of plant-derived phytochemical ingredients and nutrients that optimise skin health, combat hormonal acne and alleviate skin inflammation in the presence of Insulin resistance.

For male and females.

Inositol

Inositol is a naturally occurring compound related to the vitamin B family. Chemically it occurs in different molecular structures (stereoisomers) of which myo-inositol (MI) and D-chiro-inositol (DCI) are the most biochemically active. Inositol plays a critical role as cofactors in several reproductive and metabolic hormone signalling pathways, including insulin, thyroid, androgen,  and gonadotropin.

Extensive research has documented the beneficial role of inositol supplementation on the alleviation of insulin resistance in patients with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This includes marked improvements in acne outcome scores observed in both adolescent and adult-onset acne.

Collagen

Collagen is the main structural protein in the body’s various connective tissues and forms a dominant part of skin. It has a long history of medical use in cosmetic- and burn-surgery and is commonly used as a supplement to enhance skin and joint health. Research has indicated that collagen supplementation assists with general skin health and wound healing.

French Lilac (Galega officinalis)

Galega officinalis is an herbaceous plant native to parts of Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. Besides growing wildly, it is also cultivated for ornamental purposes, a forage crop and as a bee plant dedicated to honey production. G. officinalis contains a reach source of phytochemicals. Research into these has led to the discovery of metformin, one of the most famous diabetic and beneficial diabetic drugs which is still the gold standard for type 2 diabetic treatment in the world.

Zinc

Zinc is a mineral that acts as a cofactor in hundreds of different enzymatic reactions. Several clinical trials have demonstrated the benefits of zinc supplementation in the treatment of both acne vulgaris and hidradenitis suppurativa. Low levels of zinc have also directly been correlated to the presence and severity of acne, while zinc supplementation has demonstrated a converse effect. Several mechanisms of action are involved which include the inhibition of inflammatory mediators (such as nitric oxide), integrin, and toll-like receptor expression by keratinocytes. Zinc also inhibits the activity of the enzyme 5α-reductase which blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a major contributing factor in acne formation.

Folate, Vitamin B6 and B12

These act as cofactors or catalysts for key metabolic pathways required in cell development and optimal skin health.

Choline

Choline phospholipids are necessary components in cell membranes and are required to restore the elasticity and suppleness of skin.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A suppresses the formation of white- and blackheads (comedogenesis) through an inhibitory effect on sebaceous gland activity and sebum secretion. Studies in individuals with acne have showed that vitamin A levels in skin is often reduced.  Vitamin A levels in skin are also inversely correlated with the degree of severity of pustular acne.

Vitamin D

Research has suggested a strong connection between vitamin D levels and the severity of acne and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterised by painful nodules and abscesses in the armpits, buttocks, and groin. In general, acne and HS sufferers appear to have lower levels than controls, and levels are inversely associated with the severity of acne and inflammatory lesions.

Iodine, Magnesium and Selenium

As catalysts or cofactors, these chemical elements  facilitate and regulate a number of biochemical pathways in the body and  a deficiency in any can play a direct role the dysregulation of metabolic pathways which may lead to the development of insulin resistance (IR).

ZinCol-G^TM tablets:

SkinVance + Zinc can be used by anyone who is experiencing poor skin health as a result of hormonal imbalance or change (during teen years or menopause), poor blood sugar control or some combination of the two. SkinVance + Zinc is ideal for those who are trying to improve their skin quality, as well as as an assistive therapy to active medical treatment for acne.

Take 1 SkinVance tablet and 1 ZinCol-G tablet daily with meals.

You should not take SkinVance + Zinc if you are hypersensitive or allergic to any of the active or inactive ingredients of SkinVance + Zinc.  Do not take SkinVance + Zinc if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

The ingredients contained in SkinVance + Zinc generally have low side-effect profiles even when used for extended periods. Side-effects are unlikely to be experienced at the dosages provided by SkinVance + Zinc. For large doses of the individual ingredients, side-effects are mostly of a gastrointestinal nature, including abdominal discomfort or nausea.  To reduce the chance of side effects, it is recommended that SkinVance + Zinc is taken with meals.

Yes, SkinVance + Zinc may be taken with most prescription drugs, including oral contraceptives and diabetic drugs such as metformin. Caution, however, must be taken with anti-diabetic medication, as the blood sugar-lowering effect of SkinVance + Zinc may enhance their action and leave you with symptoms of low blood sugar. Caution must also be taken when used with blood thinners such warfarin. It is always important to inform your doctor of what supplements you are taking, especially if you are already being treated for another condition.

• Shop Online
• South Africa: At any pharmacy. No prescription is required.
• Namibia: At any pharmacy. No prescription is required.
• International Email us at info@mnilifestyle.co.za for international purchasing information.

Inositol

Inositol is a naturally occurring vitamin B-like nutrient. Of its nine stereoisomers, myo-inositol (MI) and D-chiro-inositol (DCI) are the most abundant in tissues. Both are important to health, and act in fertility, reproductive and metabolic related hormone signalling, including insulin, gonadotropin, thyroid and androgen pathways.

Acne vulgaris typically occurs in teenage years due to a surge of androgen activity during puberty, while persistent, severe or late onset in women is suggestive of androgen imbalance.

Androgens, such as androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), enhance sebum production from sebaceous glands and cause abnormal epithelial cell desquamation, both of which contribute to the development of comedones. These can then become colonised by the bacterium Propionibacterium acnes, the major cause of papules and pustules typical of acne vulgaris.

Inositol supplementation has been proven a simple and safe treatment able to ameliorate the metabolic and hormonal irregularity in patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Indeed, marked improvements in acne have been observed in both young patients and adults. This stems largely from the reduction in serum androgens and activity of sebaceous glands, and may be expected to produce similar results in other cases of hormonal acne associated with androgen excess but not necessarily Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Folate and B vitamins

Folate, as well as Vitamin B6 and B12, are involved in numerous aspects of cellular function and general health. Due to the wide ranging roles of these vitamins in metabolism, deficiency can have substantial effects.

Acne has been associated with elevated levels of homocysteine (Hcy), an amino acid, in combination with lower levels of folate and vitamin B12. This is significant as hyperhomocysteinemia is linked with a variety of systemic diseases, including cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and neuropsychiatric conditions. Hcy is normally recycled into methionine, requiring folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. The requirement for vitamin B6, folic acid, and vitamin B12 in acne patients may therefore be increased.

Additionally, isotretinoin, a common drug used for acne treatment, has been associated with elevated Hcy levels and reductions in serum folate and vitamin B12. Supplementation with folic acid and vitamin B12 may be effective for preventing elevated Hcy in acne patients on Iso therapy, thereby reducing risks for cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric disorders in patients taking isotretinoin.

SkinVance contains 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF), the natural form of folate, as opposed to folic acid, a synthetic form that is most often found in fortified foods and supplements. Despite the widespread success of folic acid supplementation in improving health, it is believed that 5-MHTF offers a number of benefits, including better bioavailability through more rapid absorption and reduced chance of side effects.

Choline

Choline is vital in optimal liver, neurological, musculoskeletal and cellular membrane function. While hepatic synthesis of choline does occur, the majority is obtained from animal derived foods. Vegetarians and vegans are therefore especially susceptible to choline deficiency, while a large proportion of the general population exhibits some level of choline insufficiency.

Choline deficiency can lead to a number of pathologies, including fatty liver disease, muscle damage, decreased cognitive function, cancer and homocysteinaemia. It is also required for healthy skin through its roles in maintaining the lipid portions of cell membranes.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a nutrient essential to normal growth, especially during foetal, neonatal and childhood development. The vitamin is well-known to be crucial for ocular integrity and development, but also has roles in the skeleton, immune system, teeth, hair and mucous membranes. Importantly, vitamin A is required for the integrity and differentiation of skin, and vitamin A receptors are found in the epidermis, particularly in the sebaceous glands.

In acne, vitamin A levels appear to be significantly lower, and are also inversely correlated with severity of acne. Indeed, retinoids suppress comedogenesis via epidermal cell differentiation and keratin production, and through inhibitory effects on sebaceous gland activity and reduced sebum secretion. Consequently, P. acnes population and inflammatory acne is reduced. Improvements in acne with oral vitamin A have been noted and major drug based treatments are based on synthetic retinoic acids, such as isotretinoin.

Vitamin D

The vitamin D’s are a group of fat-soluble steroid vitamins. Vitamin D has wide ranging effects on general health, from participating in immune function to cardiovascular and skeletal viability.

Current research has suggested a connection between vitamin D and acne. In general, acne sufferers appear to have lower levels than controls, and levels are inversely associated with the severity of acne and inflammatory lesions. In support of the above observations, supplementation has proven to result in improvement of acne inflammation.

Part of this correlation can be explained by vitamin D’s antioxidant and anti-comedogenic properties. Deficiency may result in comedogenesis and the exacerbation of inflammation. The vitamin is also involved in reducing lipogenesis and the triglyceride content of sebum. Furthermore, vitamin D regulates proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes and sebocytes. Sebocytes and keratinocytes express nuclear vitamin D receptors and metabolizing enzymes, and adequate levels lead to reduced sebocyte proliferation, differentiation and sebum secretion.

Within sebocytes, the vitamin is also directly involved in immune regulation, which supports the possible anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin D and affects the pathogenesis of P. acnes. Inflammation resulting from the immune response targeting the bacteria has a significant role in acne pathogenesis, and vitamin D is able to reduce this, as well as prevent growth of the bacterium.

Iodine

Iodine is primarily required for synthesis of thyroid hormones, which, among many other bodily functions, are able to affect skin health. Indeed, low thyroid hormone levels are often associated with dry, flaky skin. Iodine, and its necessity to maintain adequate thyroid hormone levels, is therefore able to regulate skin moisture, promote skin repair and improve elasticity.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a trace element involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions.  Suboptimal magnesium levels or deficiency is associated with a number of disorders. In skin, magnesium deficiency leads to lower fatty acid levels, causing dryness. It also plays a role in preventing acne and improving collagen. Through its positive metabolic hormone effects, it may also serve to aid in correcting insulin associated androgen imbalances, and as a result, hormonal acne.

Selenium

Selenium, another trace element, plays a major role in facilitating immunity and redox processes, as well as playing a role in MetS and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, exhibiting insulin sensitization properties, an inverse relationship between selenium status and androgenic hormone levels, and an ability to attenuate dyslipidaemia. In specific, selenium has been observed to be both lower in patients suffering from acne, as well as to improve acne in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome patients upon supplementation. The molecule also displays protective effects against UV radiation-induced damage to skin.

Zinc

Zinc is an essential mineral required for normal health and acts as a cofactor in hundreds of enzymatic reactions. Approximately 6% of the zinc in the human body is localized in the skin, and dermal concentrations are higher than those in the rest of the body. Not surprisingly, therefore, zinc is essential for the development and functioning of the human skin and plays a role in a number of cosmetic disorders.

The utility of the mineral in acne was first recognized in the 1970s, and research has continued to corroborate this observation. Indeed, low zinc levels have been associated with acne presence and increasing severity, whilst supplementation has shown a number of benefits. These especially include reduced acne associated inflammation, inflammatory lesions, papules and pustules, and lesser effects on comedones. A number of clinical trials have also shown promise, and the research overall suggests that zinc is effective in treating acne vulgaris.

Mechanisms of action are largely related to immunoregulatory roles of zinc through its well-described anti-inflammatory effects and directly inhibiting proliferation of P. acnes. Furthermore, zinc and acne may be linked through its roles in synthesis of retinol binding protein and ability to inhibit enzymes responsible for production of dihydrotestosterone, thereby suppressing sebaceous gland activity.