What is NAD+, and why do people use it?

NAD+ is a coenzyme found in every cell. It helps your body produce energy, support metabolism, and carry out DNA repair. NAD+ levels naturally decline with age, which is why some people use NAD+ supplements as part of a wellness routine.

What do NAD+ supplements support?

People use NAD+ supplements to support cellular energy, cognitive function, metabolism, and healthy ageing. Results vary, and research is ongoing.

How can you verify that your My NAD product is genuine?

Each genuine My NAD product includes a unique authenticity verification system. You can verify your product through the official authenticity portal to confirm it is genuine.

Why is product authentication important for supplements?

Counterfeit supplements may contain incorrect ingredients, improper dosages, or poor-quality materials. Verifying authenticity helps ensure you receive a genuine product that meets quality and safety standards.

Who should consider taking NAD+ supplements?

Adults interested in supporting healthy aging, energy metabolism, cellular health, and overall wellness may consider NAD+ supplements. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement.

Are NAD+ supplements generally well tolerated?

NAD+ supplements are generally well tolerated when you use them as directed. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or managing a medical condition, you should speak with a healthcare professional before use.

Why do NAD+ levels decline with age?

Research indicates that NAD+ levels naturally decrease as we age due to changes in cellular metabolism and increased demand for DNA repair processes. This decline has led to growing interest in NAD+ supplementation.

How may My NAD products fit into a healthy aging routine?

NAD+ supports cellular energy production and DNA repair. You may use My NAD products as part of a broader routine that includes good nutrition, exercise, sleep, and regular medical guidance. Results vary from person to person.

Where can I buy genuine My NAD products in the UK?

To ensure authenticity and quality, purchase My NAD products only through the official My NAD website or authorized distributors.

Can NAD+ Support Skin Health? A UK & EU Guide to the Evidence

NAD+ Blogs

Oct 6

5 min read

NAD+ skin health is one of the most searched NAD+ questions in the UK and EU right now, and the honest short answer is this: there's a plausible cellular story, but very little direct clinical proof. Laboratory research shows NAD+ fuels several repair and energy pathways inside skin cells, and NAD+ levels are known to fall with age and chronic UV exposure. What's missing, according to recent dermatology reviews, is large-scale, injection-specific trial data confirming visible skin outcomes in people. This guide walks UK and EU readers through the cellular science, what's backed by evidence versus still theoretical, and exactly where NAD+ injections currently sit in that picture.

Does NAD+ Have Anything to Do With Skin Health?

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme present in every cell in the body, including the keratinocytes and fibroblasts that make up skin. It's required for mitochondrial energy production and for the enzymes that repair damaged DNA. Skin is one of the most metabolically active, UV-exposed tissues in the body, which is why researchers have taken a specific interest in how NAD+ availability might relate to skin ageing, barrier function, and cellular resilience. A widely cited research review on the NAD+/nicotinamide metabolome describes its role in skin homeostasis, cellular bioenergetics, and ageing — language that reflects genuine scientific interest, not a settled conclusion about what happens when NAD+ is injected.

The Cellular Science: Three Mechanisms Researchers Are Studying

Most NAD+ skin ageing discussion centres on three overlapping pathways that laboratory and pre-clinical studies have identified:

DNA repair (PARP enzymes): NAD+-dependent PARP enzymes are part of the molecular machinery skin cells use to repair DNA damage caused by UV exposure.
Mitochondrial energy: NAD+ is essential for the mitochondrial pathways that generate cellular energy, including in skin-cell mitochondria.
Sirtuin signalling: NAD+-dependent sirtuins, particularly SIRT1, are linked to how cells respond to stress and to the process of cellular senescence.

Illustration of three proposed NAD+ skin cell mechanisms: DNA repair enzymes, mitochondrial energy, and sirtuin signalling

None of these mechanisms are unique to skin — they operate in cells throughout the body — and showing that a pathway exists in a lab dish or animal model is a different thing from showing a visible skin benefit in humans after an injection. That distinction matters for anyone evaluating NAD+ skin health claims online, including ours.

How Strong Is the Evidence, Really?

This is where most NAD+ skin health content online gets vague — and where UK and EU readers deserve a straight answer. Evidence strength varies enormously depending on how NAD+ actually reaches the body, and conflating the three delivery routes is one of the most common sources of misleading claims.

Route	What It Is	Evidence for Skin-Specific Outcomes	Key Caveat
Topical nicotinamide (vitamin B3 derivative)	Applied directly to skin in creams or serums	Moderate to high	Best-studied route; a topical precursor, not the same as an NAD+ injection
Oral NAD+ precursor supplements (NR, NMN)	Taken by mouth to raise NAD+ levels systemically	Low to moderate	Low bioavailability; most trials track general ageing markers, not skin outcomes specifically
Injectable / subcutaneous NAD+	Injected directly — the format used in NAD+ injection kits	Low	No dermatology-specific clinical trials yet; skin claims are extrapolated from broader cellular research

In plain terms: nicotinamide applied to the skin has the most robust supporting research for photoprotection and barrier support. Oral and injectable NAD+ precursors are better studied for general cellular ageing markers than for skin-specific outcomes, and a 2024 dermatology review found no dermatology-specific clinical trials for the IV and injectable routes specifically, noting that most cosmetic anti-ageing claims for these formats are extrapolated from pre-clinical or systemic studies rather than demonstrated directly in skin research. That's an important caveat for anyone comparing NAD+ injections UK suppliers on the strength of skin-related marketing claims — including ours. My NAD+'s injection kits, like other NAD+ products sold in the UK and EU, are not licensed by the MHRA as a medicine, and no skin-specific benefit is an approved medical claim.

NAD+ Decline, Photoageing and Why Timing Gets Discussed

NAD+ levels are well documented to decline with age, and separately, chronic UV exposure is known to deplete NAD+ locally within skin tissue as PARP enzymes consume it for DNA repair. Several research reviews point to this decline as one plausible contributor to reduced DNA-repair capacity and visible signs of skin ageing over time. What hasn't been established in controlled human studies is whether topping up NAD+ levels, by injection or otherwise, meaningfully reverses or slows those visible changes — only that the underlying biological decline itself is real and reasonably well characterised. We've covered that broader decline timeline separately in What Age Does NAD+ Start to Decline? What the Research Actually Shows.

Practical Considerations for UK & EU Readers Curious About NAD+ and Skin

Sun protection remains the single most evidence-backed way to limit UV-related skin ageing, regardless of any supplement or injectable routine.
If you use prescription retinoids, hydroquinone, or other dermatologist-prescribed treatments, check with your prescriber before adding NAD+ injections or any new injectable to your routine.
NAD+ injection kits sold to UK and EU customers are not licensed by the MHRA as a medicine, and skin-specific benefits are not an approved medical claim — treat any skin-related marketing, including ours, as exploratory rather than guaranteed.
Mild redness, swelling, or itching at the injection site is possible with any subcutaneous injection; this is a general injection-site reaction, not a skin-health outcome.
If you notice signs of an allergic reaction, or feel unwell after an injection, seek medical attention immediately rather than waiting to see if it resolves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does NAD+ help with wrinkles or fine lines?

There's no robust, dermatology-specific clinical trial data confirming that NAD+ injections reduce wrinkles or fine lines in humans. The underlying cellular mechanisms — DNA repair, mitochondrial energy, sirtuin signalling — are genuinely studied in skin biology, but a lab-level mechanism isn't the same as a proven cosmetic outcome. Current research reviews describe cosmetic anti-ageing claims for injectable NAD+ as investigational rather than established.

What's the difference between NAD+ injections and topical vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) for skin?

Topical nicotinamide is a form of vitamin B3 applied directly to the skin, and it has comparatively strong evidence for photoprotection and barrier support. NAD+ injections deliver the coenzyme itself, systemically, rather than a topical precursor applied to skin — a different route with a much thinner evidence base for skin-specific outcomes. We've covered how NAD+ and vitamin B3 relate to each other in more detail in Is NAD+ the Same as Vitamin B3? The Real Relationship Explained.

How soon might someone notice any skin-related changes after starting NAD+ injections?

There's no established clinical timeline for skin-specific effects, because no dermatology-specific trials exist for injectable NAD+ to draw one from. Any timeframe quoted online for skin outcomes specifically is anecdotal rather than evidence-based, and individual experiences vary considerably.

Can NAD+ injections cause a reaction at the injection site?

As with any subcutaneous injection, mild redness, swelling, or itching at the injection site is possible and usually settles on its own. This is a general injection-site response rather than a skin-health effect. If you notice signs of a more serious allergic reaction, or feel unwell, seek medical attention immediately.

Can NAD+ injections treat specific skin conditions like acne or eczema?

No. There is no dermatology-specific clinical evidence that injectable NAD+ treats, prevents, or improves any diagnosed skin condition, and it shouldn't be used as a substitute for a proper diagnosis or treatment. If you have a diagnosed or suspected skin condition, speak with a GP or dermatologist.

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new supplement or injectable therapy.