The skin tells a story that analytics don't always reflect. Certain cutaneous signs—persistent dryness, slow healing, pallor without apparent cause, increased fragility of hair and nails—can be the visible expression of nutritional deficiencies that are below clinical alarm thresholds but above what allows optimal functioning. In women aged 35 to 55, some of these deficiencies are more common than often recognized.
Vitamin D and skin: the most widespread and least discussed deficiency
Vitamin D has receptors in keratinocytes and regulates their differentiation and renewal. Insufficient vitamin D levels are associated with increased skin reactivity, a greater tendency to inflammatory skin conditions like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, and reduced cutaneous immune response. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Europe is very high—some studies estimate that over 40% of the population has insufficient levels—especially in mid to high latitudes and in people with limited sun exposure.
Zinc: what happens when it's lacking (and how to tell)
Subclinical zinc deficiency—levels below optimal but without evident symptoms of clinical deficiency—can manifest in the skin as increased reactivity, slower healing, dryness, and a greater tendency to superficial infections. Zinc is a cofactor for multiple enzymes involved in the synthesis of skin proteins and in the regulation of the inflammatory response. Chronic stress and diets high in phytates (unsoaked whole grains) reduce zinc bioavailability.
Iron and dull complexion: a direct relationship
Iron deficiency anemia—and iron deficiency without anemia—causes pallor, reduced skin luminosity, and increased hair and nail fragility. Iron is a cofactor for prolyl-4-hydroxylase—the enzyme that stabilizes collagen—along with vitamin C. Iron deficiency is more common in premenopausal women with heavy menstruation. It is one of the deficiencies that warrants analytical confirmation before supplementation.
Essential fatty acids and the lipid barrier
Essential fatty acids—omega-3 (EPA and DHA) and omega-6 (linoleic acid)—are precursors of ceramides and other stratum corneum lipids. Their deficiency leads to a more permeable skin barrier, increased TEWL, and greater reactivity. Diets with low intake of fatty fish and a high proportion of pro-inflammatory omega-6 (refined vegetable oils) create an imbalance in the omega-6/omega-3 ratio, which is associated with increased systemic inflammation and poorer barrier quality.
Selenium and antioxidant defense: why soil matters
Selenium levels in food depend directly on the selenium content in the soil where they are produced. In many regions of Europe—including parts of Spain—soils are poor in selenium, which translates into a habitually suboptimal dietary intake. Selenium is a cofactor for glutathione peroxidase and other antioxidant selenoproteins, and its deficiency increases vulnerability to cutaneous oxidative stress.
When supplementation makes sense and when to consult a professional
Micronutrient supplementation at doses covering NRVs—as LEVIAL does with zinc, selenium, copper, and vitamins—has a very favorable safety profile and can help correct suboptimal levels in the general population. However, more significant deficiencies—especially of iron, vitamin D, or vitamin B12—require analytical confirmation and, in many cases, targeted supplementation with higher doses under medical supervision. LEVIAL is not a treatment for clinical deficiencies: it is a maintenance nutritional support for those who already have a fundamentally correct nutritional status.
