I took a 10-minute Superdrug blood test for my haggard skin… the result shocked me and affects millions of women

GAZING in the mirror, my heart sinks as I take in the fine lines, dark circles and crepey skin surrounding my eyes. I look tired and, it pains me to say it, older than my 45 years – but it turns out a couple of new wrinkles weren’t the biggest surprise on the horizon. Lynsey Hope turned to a quick and easy blood test from Superdrug to link her skin concerns to what’s happening in her body Credit: Lorna Roach Costing an affordable £109, Superdrug’s Skin Health Blood Test analyses a range of biomarkers linked to skin health Credit: BEN GREEN Of course, every stage of life brings unique skin concerns. For teens and twentysomethings, it’s often excess oil and breakouts, then in your thirties, you might notice the first signs of ageing. Sign up for the Fabulous newsletter Thank you! By your forties and into your fifties, declining collagen, hormonal changes and reduced skin elasticity can lead to dryness, fine lines and wrinkles. But the chances are, those issues are more than just skin deep. So when I heard high street chain Superdrug is now offering a quick and easy blood test which can supposedly link common skin concerns to what’s happening in the body, my interest was piqued. Costing an affordable £109 (some online testing companies charge more than double this), the Skin Health Blood Test analyses a range of biomarkers linked to skin health, including hormone levels, thyroid function and nutritional deficiencies. Maintaining a clear complexion has never been easy for me. In my teens, I battled acne and through my twenties and thirties I have suffered with redness and rosacea. Most read in Fabulous Now the wrinkles and dark circles are setting in, I wondered if Superdrug’s test could give me a clue about what’s going on and provide some solutions – so I decided to give it a go. The test is available at 85 of Superdrug’s clinics nationwide and the process is easy enough. I booked my test at the store in Westfield in White City, West London, and it took no more than ten minutes. I went to a spotlessly clean clinic room at the back of the store. It was fairly small, like a GP’s room with a patient chair by the nurses’ desk, a bed and lots of medical equipment. Lynsey booked her test at the Superdrug at Westfield in White City, West London Credit: BEN GREEN The lovely nurse went through Lynsey’s medical history before the test Credit: BEN GREEN The lovely nurse in her Superdrug clinic uniform was reassuring, knowledgeable and went through my medical history, made sure I wasn’t allergic to anything and checked if I was on any medication. She asked if I take any supplements, but I only take a multivitamin, which doesn’t affect the results. After being given the-clear, she took a small blood sample from my arm and labelled it up in a prepaid box that I was instructed to take to a Post Office a five-minute walk away. It would have been easier if they’d posted it themselves, but the nurse gave clear instructions and the Post Office was close by. I’m not squeamish so the test didn’t worry me. It was very quick and almost painless – like an injection. Four days later, I received an email with my results. It was a box, showing each thing that had been tested, my score and then the ‘normal’ ranges. It was easy to read, anything out of the normal range was flagged in red. I was pleasantly surprised by most of what I read. My levels of Vitamin D – linked to reducing redness and inflammation – are good, as are my levels of B12, which promotes cell turnover, helping the body to shed those yucky old skin cells and produce youthful new ones, for a healthier glow. Great news. My iron levels were also on point. As iron has been linked to a radiant complexion – it helps form haemoglobin, which pumps oxygen to skin cells, and supports the enzymes that build collagen for skin elasticity – I couldn’t have been more chuffed. But it is also said to reduce under-eye shadows, so why are mine so noticeable? I wouldn’t have been surprised if my levels were low due to my bags – but perhaps it’s not iron but extra sleep that I need. I do take a multivitamin, but not every day as I often forget, so it’s reassuring to know that I’m taking enough and eating a diet healthy enough to keep my levels up. Lynsey’s blood sample was put in a prepaid box and then she was instructed to take it to the Post Office Credit: BEN GREEN The biggest shock from Lynsey’s results was how low her testosterone results are Credit: BEN GREEN My thyroid, which is linked to healthy cell turnover in skin, also seems to be working properly, while my protein stores are good, too. My blood sugar levels were higher than I’d have liked, but well within the normal range. I don’t have diabetes. The biggest surprise was that my testosterone levels are extremely low. This vital hormone is produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands and supports sex drive, bone strength and muscle mass. The ‘normal range’ for women is somewhere between 0.29 and 4.2, but my result was less than 0.09. But does this mean anything for my skin, and is there anything I can do about it? A quick Google suggests low testosterone can cause thin, dry, brittle skin, but dermatologist Dr Thuva Amuthan, of drderme.com, says this has less of an impact on skin than certain other factors. “Evidence that an isolated low testosterone level directly causes dry or ageing skin is limited,” he says. “Oestrogen decline, aging and sun exposure have much better-established effects on skin hydration, collagen and elasticity.” The testosterone result would have been more interesting if it was high, Superdrug said, as it might contribute to oily skin or acne. “A low testosterone result would need to be interpreted in a clinical context and shouldn’t be used in isolation to draw conclusions about skin health,” they explained in a statement. While it is likely not a huge issue for my skin, it would have been helpful to have been offered a medical consultation afterwards. But you don’t get that with this test, so I either ignore the results, or contact my GP. LYNSEY’S SKIN HEALTH BLOOD TEST RESULTS Vitamin D – reduces redness and inflammation: GOOD B12 – helps to promote cell renewal: GOOD Testosterone – for sex drive and bone strength: VERY LOW Iron – for radiant skin, reducing under-eye shadow: GOOD Blood sugar – to reduce breakouts: NORMAL Protein – to boost skin’s elasticity: GOOD Thyroid – to boost skin moisture: GOOD I spoke to Dr Helen Wall, who says these kinds of tests “fill her with dread” as there is “no follow up, no interpretation”. She adds: “People end up either trying to self-manage, or asking their GP to interpret results for a test they haven’t asked for. “A blood result is only ever one piece of the puzzle. Your age, symptoms, medications, menstrual cycle, hormone use and medical history are all essential for interpreting many of these tests.” She also points out that when it comes to testosterone, women’s levels “fluctuate considerably” and warns that blood tests are not always reliable at measuring lower levels. “Low testosterone isn’t going to cause any harm and it’s not linked with a particular skin health problem,” she assures me. “Some women report thinner skin or reduced skin quality, but oestrogen is a much bigger player when it comes to health.” It seems then, that my result doesn’t really tell me a lot. For Dr Wall, it sounds like Superdrug’s Skin Health Blood Tests throws up as many questions as it answers. “But my biggest concern is the lack of clinical support,” she says. “Receiving results with no access to someone who can explain what they mean and whether any action is needed can be confusing and cause upset. “People might also turn to private treatments or supplements that are not necessary.” Dermatologist Dr Anton Alexandroff, of the Cambridge Dermatology Clinic, agrees. “The blood test is not obviously relevant to skin health and there is a problem with interpretation,” he says. “An NHS GP may refuse to interpret the results if he or she did not order it. So what does a patient do if the result is abnormal – pay for a private consultation?” Knowing that my vitamin and iron levels and thyroid function were all up to scratch was reassuring, though. If it had diagnosed something like low Vitamin D, I guess that would have been a much easier fix. Craig Watt, Superdrug’s pharmacy director, says that is what many customers seek. “People are looking for evidence based-results to improve their skin health and the reality is that our skin can sometimes reflect what’s happening internally,” he says. “Factors such as vitamin levels, hormones and overall health can all play a role in how skin looks and feels and our new skin health blood test gives people the option to understand what’s going on biologically.” While that might be true, if you are considering shelling out for this test, be aware the results may not provide the silver bullet you are looking for. I enjoyed the experience and found it fascinating, but I’d only really recommend it to someone who had specific concerns. If you think your iron is low or want a vitamin check up, it’s fab. But if it’s hormones you are worried about, you might be best speaking to your GP. Comment now