There’s been plenty of buzz in the skin care and beauty industry about the fatty acid Omega 3 which is found naturally in fish, nuts and seeds. So what’s the buzz all about and is Omega 3 the key to healthy younger looking skin?
First, let me preface this article by noting that I am not a physician and this is not medical advice. Now with the legal niceties out of the way I can tell you about my personal experience with regards to increasing the Omega 3 in my diet.
I’ve been a steak and potatoes kind of girl for most of my life however that all changed in 2004 when my husband and I decided to give the South Beach Diet a try. What started out as a vehicle to help us trim our waistlines and improve our health had a hidden positive benefit – the diet comprised mostly of fish, veggies and nuts was doing wonders for the condition of my skin. For the first time in ages my skin was clear and glowing, so much so that my relatives who have known me and my flawed skin forever commented on how beautiful my skin was. For someone who has struggled with blemished skin for years and years hearing those words made me cry for joy.
Unfortunately, I didn’t figure out the direct relation between the diet and my skin’s condition until after I stopped following the South Beach Diet and started loading up again on meat, starches and refined/simple carbs. Within six weeks time my skin was stressed, blemishes were erupting everywhere, the glow was replaced by ashen, flakey skin – bottom line my skin was in turmoil. Since I didn’t immediately realize the connection between the better diet of fish and nuts (loaded with Omega 3) I just kept treating the outside (skin) with beauty creams but to no avail. The blemish breakouts were less severe but my skin still looked awful.
Finally it dawned on me that with everything else being constant including my skin care regimen that it was the diet that had changed. After reintroducing fish, veggies, nuts and completely cutting out simple carbs my skin started recovering. I learned that the South Beach Diet recommended meals were typically high in nutional value and rich in Omega 3 – an essential fatty acid. I researched Omega 3 and found that it was known throughout the medical community as a powerful fatty acid that helped lower bad cholesterol levels and improved cardiovascular health. Beyond the heart healthy attributes Omega 3 also contained anti-inflammatory agents, which meant that it could potentially help those who suffer from inflammatory type skin diseases such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, or rosacea. As an added benefit Omega 3 is also an excellent anti-oxidant that is touted for it’s anti-aging properties.
Not everybody likes eating fish and even I don’t eat fish or nuts all the time so I introduced Omega 3 Vitamins from Olay into my daily regimen. The supplements seem to work for me and I do notice my skin acting up when I don’t maintain the important balance between diet, exercise and skin care treatments. All three work in a symbiotic relationship – when I get lazy with my skin care regimen (which sometimes happens specially when my skin looks normal again) but still do the the diet and exercise – my skin breaks-out, gets flaky and looks dull. All three elements are critical for me to maintain so that my skin isn’t in constant turmoil.
Submitted by Ms. distressedDERMA on Thursday, 6 September 2007
January 17th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I just left a comment that is far too long on your recent post about the eye area, so I won’t go on and on here except to say I’m a believer in Omega-3. I was a total skeptic about supplements but the overall health benefits of Omega-3 urged by my physicians has had a wonderful side effect for my skin. I also agree that diet, exercize, and skin care work symbiotically — each is necessary for general health and specifically skin health. Finally, I would add two more elements: abundant hydration and proper rest. If it sounds impossible, no need to be a perfectionist. Real life happens. It’s not always possible to get an A+ in all areas, but sensible efforts (C+ is still a passing grade!) pay off.
January 18th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Hi Harriet,
Thank you so much for both your comments. The other one was just perfect also and I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences and product review for under-eye care treatments.
You’re absolutely correct, lots and lots of hydration. Like you I too don’t like regular water I can only drink lots of it if it’s flavored or in green tea or some other non-caffeinated herbal tea.
I’m getting better at resting more. I think as a nation in general we are workaholics and rest is a foreign concept. Skin needs down time to recuperate and regenerate so rest as you note is paramount to better skin.
I’m not big on most of the vitamins and supplements out there but but I do really believe in the benefits of adding Omega 3/6 to my diet. I hate taking pills of any kinds so it really had to work for me to be willing to swallow pills, yuck.
As of late, I’ve been eating lots more fish and foods with added Omega 3/6 and my skin is much better for it and the upshot is that I don’t have to take the supplements. I only take the omega 3/6 supplements when my diet “sucks” – which it does when I am traveling on business.
I do have to add a special note here for those of you who might want to try Smart Balance Skim Milk with Omega 3. DON’T. I love Smart Balance blend and use it instead of butter so I though why not try the milk?
What a waste of money $3 for a small container. It tastes and smells abhorrent. It contains fish oil, I believe that that is the stinky culprit, now just try to visualize your cheerios floating merrily atop of a milky white fluid that smells like Biscayne Bay on a bad fishy day. Eww isn’t even descriptive enough. There you have it, Smart Balance Milk, don’t buy it.
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:40 am
I somehow got lucky genetically and, unlike my 3 younger siblings, have pretty clear skin, but there’s somebody in my life who can attest to the skincare benefits of omega-3 fatty acids: my cat =) She usually gets a spoonful of 1 part cod liver oil diluted with 11 parts canola on her kibble, but when I went on vacation for a week and forgot to tell my friend about the oil, the poor kitty had dandruff when I got back! And looked like a ball of dryer lint.
Anyway I’m gonna send my spotty sisters a link to this post…maybe supplements might help them.
January 25th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
That’s very believable because I excluded carbs and sugars from my diet for about 2 weeks when I was trying to cure a fungal sinus infection. The infection didn’t improve much but it did wonders for my skin. It completely cleared up. I’m not on that diet any longer but I eat carbs in moderation and cut out refined sugars completely. My skin is now a lot better than it was when I was eating mostly carbs everyday. I’m also going to get a food allergy test done soon to get to the bottom of my break outs.Do you mind if I repost the article?
May 8th, 2008 at 11:34 am
A healthy diet is up to you and lots of people need to rethink their eating behavior because lots of them don’t know what some products can do to their body and I don’t say that in a positive way.
June 26th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
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October 10th, 2008 at 11:04 am
I am dangerously allergic to fish, although I can eat canned salmon, and shrimp with no adverse affect, Can I take a supplement with the omega 3 in it will it bother my food allergies if I am allergic to fish my obgyn said that it should not bother me to take a supp with omega 3 in it??
October 25th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
This is in response to ms. distressedDerma’s comment with regard to the Smart Balance milk. For $3 I would suggest that if you are thinking of trying it – go for it! I was skeptical, but since I liked the Smart Balance spread I went ahead and tried it. For me, I found very little difference in taste. The only time I notice any difference in smell is if I deliberately put my nose closely and strongly inhale. I do prefer the fat free over the 1% because there is a difference in thickness. I don’t like whole milk because it’s too thick and the 1% Smart Balance is smiliar to that of Whole… the fat free Smart Balance is similar to that of 2%, which I prefer. What it comes down to, folks, is your own personal preference. My son has even used it in his cereal when he was out of his own milk and could tell no difference – and he’s a picky eater. So again, I urge you to make the decision for yourself. I know $3 can be pricey, but with the added Omega 3’s if you like it just might be worth it to you.
January 26th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Good article. It should also be noted that many people who are either allergic to shellfish or who do not wish to take a supplement containing animal products don’t realise that there are also Omega-3 supplements derived from algae instead. This means that everyone can actually benefit from taking an omega-3 supplement
May 7th, 2009 at 9:30 am
It is important to choose a good quality omega 3 supplement. An inferior quality supplement can have contaminants such as mercury, lead or other heavy metals. It is also important that you choose a supplement that is not made from farm-produced fish as the fish food which is used to feed farm fish contains heavy metals. The best quality fish oil is made from red salmon fished in the northern, colder latitudes where the waters are not contaminated by industrial dumping. Omega 3 supplements like, Triple Strength Omega 3, contain pharmaceutical grade fish oil of 90% purity.