A wonderful skin that is clear of blemishes and spots is a desire of every woman; which is why the sales of skin creams 
and lotions keep on increasing by the day. The problem is, an outbreak of acne can undo all your efforts for having a beautiful and healthy skin and leave it damaged and scarred permanently. Can a fish oil acne treatment really help out here? Let’s find out.
Now, before we talk about the effects of omega 3 fish oil on acne, we first need to understand what it is and what are the reasons behind it.
Acne is a swelling reaction of your skin against unwanted bacteria and dirt. Sebum, an oily and waxy substance that is produced by sebaceous glands in the skin, is needed for keeping your skin moisturized and supple. When over produced, sebum combines with dead skin cells and clogs up the pores in your skin. This causes the breakout which we know as Acne Vulgaris, or plain old Acne.
Why it happens
1) Hormonal imbalance – An increase in the levels of Androgen can cause the glands to increase in size and produce more sebum.
2) Psychological – Stress, which can cause on over production of sebum, leading to acne and breakouts.
3) Oxidation – Damage caused by free radicals that leads to Oxidative Stress in the skin.
4) Diet – While no food item actually causes acne, dietary changes can surely help in restricting it though.
5) Bacteria like the Propionibacterium acnes have been linked to the onset of acne by many studies.
Omega 3 Fish Oil and Acne
Now let’s see how oil derived from the tissue of fish can help here. Fish oils, particularly those derived from fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna and hoki, are rich in essential Omega 3 fatty acids. These fats known simply as Omega 3, are highly beneficial for your health. Not only are they good for your heart, but your brain, eyes and bones too.
Also importantly, they contain something known as Prostaglandins. These are substances that act like messengers inside your body. Omega 3 fats DHA and EPA provide the necessary Prostaglandins which help in controlling the production of sebum in your skin. This results in a noticeable reduction in acne and improves your skin’s health.
An additional benefit offered by a quality omega 3 fish oil for acne is – DHA has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety naturally. Since 30% of the human brain is in fact made up of DHA itself, you can understand how effective this nutrient can be in improving your brain’s health and well being. Reduced stress levels again help in reduced sebum production and a clearer skin as a result.
Another reason an omega 3 fish oil acne treatment works is, omega 3 fats have excellent anti-inflammatory properties, and acne is nothing but inflammation in the skin at its core. Their anti-oxidant properties also help in keeping the Oxidative Stress in check.
Multiple studies have been conducted over the years[Logan AC: Linoleic and linolenic acids and acne vulgaris] that show that communities with high consumption levels of omega 3 fatty acids in their diet tend to have lower rates of acne.
What others say
Many people have reported significant reduction in their acne by taking a fish oil supplement. Mind you, not every supplement will work for this. You need to take a high quality fish oil that contains decent levels of DHA and EPA, and has been properly purified to remove all impurities.
The bottom line is, you just can’t go wrong with a quality omega 3 fish oil. Acne can be controlled, you just need to find the right tools.
Image by Saluda UdeA
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