What is one of the best supplements for your skin?
Omega-3-fatty acids and omega-6-fatty acids have shown promise in many skin conditions such as: atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, lupus etc. They work by maintaining the outer skin barrier which keeps out toxins, decreases inflammation, promotes wound healing and promotes apoptosis of malignant cells.
Apoptosis is a process where a cancerous cell kills itself, thereby protecting the rest of the body. Thus, for youthful and healthy skin, consider supplementing with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. This can be done by eating salmon or mackerel or taking fish oil supplements.
The Research
Clin Dermatol. 2010 Jul-Aug;28(4):440-51. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2010.03.020.
Healing fats of the skin: the structural and immunologic roles of the omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.
1 Department of Dermatology University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, MC 6230, Farmington, CT 06030, USA.
Abstract
Linoleic acid (18:2omega6) and alpha-linolenic acid (18:3omega3) represent the parent fats of the two main classes of polyunsaturated fatty acids: the omega-6 (n-6) and the omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids, respectively. Linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid both give rise to other long-chain fatty acid derivatives, including gamma-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid (omega-6 fatty acids) and docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (omega-3 fatty acids). These fatty acids are showing promise as safe adjunctive treatments for many skin disorders, including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne vulgaris, systemic lupus erythematosus, nonmelanoma skin cancer, and melanoma. Their roles are diverse and include maintenance of the stratum corneum permeability barrier, maturation and differentiation of the stratum corneum, formation and secretion of lamellar bodies, inhibition of proinflammatory eicosanoids, elevation of the sunburn threshold, inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, and interleukin-12), inhibition of lipoxygenase, promotion of wound healing, and promotion of apoptosis in malignant cells, including melanoma. They fulfill these functions independently and through the modulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors and Toll-like receptors.
