Here’s how Omega-3 gives you healthy, glowing skin

What if I told you that there is a real-life ‘filter’ that will make your skin more glowy and your hair glossier? Move over Instagram, Omega 3 is nature’s own secret to transforming your skin, nails, and hair. Discover the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for your skin and how you can best incorporate it in your daily routine below.

What you put in your body shows up on your skin

It’s all too common for a client to visit us here in the clinic, asking to get rid of pigmentation and fine lines before a big event, or for help in making their skin have smoothness and glow in time for their son’s graduation.

While certain treatments and procedures do bring a noticeable difference in the short-term, maintaining a youthful and healthy glow on your skin is due to what you’re doing in your day-to-day regime. Not just what you’re putting on your skin, but as the saying goes… real beauty comes from within. What you’re putting in your body will also influence how your skin looks and feels. If your diet is lacking in the essential nutrients that help revitalise and repair your skin, these deficiencies will show on your face too.

Omega-3 fatty acids are one such component that you can add to your diet to achieve healthy and younger looking skin. And I am just not saying that - this fact is backed by scientific research.

What are Omega-3 fatty acids?

First let’s bust a myth – not all fats are bad, in fact your body needs good fat to stay fit and healthy. One family of such important good fats are the Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in foods like fish oils, fatty fish, flaxseed, chia seeds, walnuts etc. Your body cannot produce these nutrients on your own, hence you need to add these in your diet via food or through supplements.

In addition to being important for your heart, cognitive function and mobility of joints, there are many benefits of omega-3 for your skin, hair, and nails too.

What are the benefits of taking Omega-3 fatty acid supplements for your skin?

While a healthy diet and adequate exercise are both ingredients for great skin health, Omega 3 has some great benefits for your skin too! Let’s dive into exactly what these benefits are:

Enhanced moisture barrier

The first and most important benefit is that it provides adequate hydration to your skin cells. By improving the epidermis’ ability to retain water, Omega-3 fatty acids keep your skin soft, supple, and hydrated even during dry spells. It also reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines naturally and delays your skins natural aging process.

For those who have itchy, irritated skin or those who are prone to dermatitis, the Omega-3’s in fish oil can bring a boost of moisture to the skin that ultimately leads to a youthful and natural glow.

Improved gut health

Trust your gut for a glowing appearance of skin, quite literally! This might be hard to believe but a healthy gut automatically translates to better health and even better-looking skin.

There is research that shows an unhealthy diet, especially high in sugar and high-fat foods, alters the behaviour of gut bacteria which can affect your skin’s health and appearance. Look at it this way – good digestive health will keep your skin healthy, while a diet consisting of sugar, processed food and unhealthy fats will ultimately result in more breakouts, wrinkles, and itchiness.

Consuming healthy amounts of fish, or supplements rich in Omega-3, can bolster the growth of good bacteria in the gut which prevents harmful toxins from entering the blood stream and causing breakouts.

Other skin benefits of omega 3 stem from the fact that a healthy intake of prebiotics, probiotics, and good fats like omega 3 also keep insulin production in check, which means a reduced risk of acne.

Protection against the sun

The reason why dermatologists and skin aestheticians focus so much on wearing sunscreen is the intensity with which the sun’s harmful UV rays can damage your skin. Omega-3 is also known to decrease your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, leading to fewer age lines, lesser pigmentation, and fewer breakouts. One of the key benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for skin is that it plays an important role in maintaining the skin’s resilience to UV rays by protecting the cellular membrane.

But this does not mean you skip your sunscreen, okay? Commit yourself to a skin regime, that includes a balance of having the right nutrients in your diet and the best products on your face.'

Keeping stress to the bare minimum

With tough schedules and exhausting routines littered with pending deadlines, our stress levels are at an all-time high. Stress, sleep deprivation and anxiety are all factors that lead to an unhealthy skin barrier. Over time, your skin loses its natural elasticity and youthful glow and starts appearing tired.Reducing stress is always important, and Omega-3 can help with that. It calms you from within, and aids in the production of happy hormones that can reduce the feeling of being stressed all the time. The result? Happy skin.

What is the best way to get Omega-3 into your diet?

Can you absorb omega 3 through the skin? Short answer – yes. Fish oil and cod liver are increasingly being used in cosmetic products such as creams and lotions. Healthy produce like fish, nuts, soybean, and green vegetables also include Omega-3 fatty acids, so it’s important you include these as part of a varied diet.

However, when it comes to adequate intake of Omega-3, the best results are often achieved through oral supplements, since they contain the right amount of the nutrients needed by your body to maintain optimal health and well-being.

Many Omega-3 fish oil products promise miracle results – but not all supplements are created equal. It is important that in choosing an Omega-3 supplement,  you get the right balance of nutrients in your supplements, backed by physicians and doctors. That’s why we’re excited to share that here at The Skin Manifesto, we now stock Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega supplement – which delivers optimal results for the body and mind without the fishy aftertaste! Available in both soft gel or liquid form, with a zesty lemon flavour, we know you’re going to love them as much as we do.

In a nutshell – is omega 3 good for skin? Absolutely. Should you start having it regularly? Go for it. But if you have any questions or specific concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Drop your questions below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!