If you’ve ever looked into omega-3 benefits for skin, then chances are you know something about it. But what you might not know is the history of research on how fatty acids can benefit skin dates all the way back to the 1930s.

While studying what vitamin E does in rats, a husband-and-wife researcher couple, George and Mildred Burr, designed several studies where rats were fed a diet completely devoid of fat. Assuming this macronutrient was only providing calories, the Burrs watched the rats quickly develop skin abnormalities. They observed significant water loss across the skin barrier; scaly, inflamed, and reddened skin; stunted growth; dandruff; fur loss; mouth sores; and compromised reproduction – ultimately leading to death.

Although they initially thought these results were related to vitamin E, when they added vitamins to the animals’ diets, the symptoms continued. Upon autopsy, the rats' kidneys and urinary tracts showed significant damage. The researchers, surprised by the adverse impact on the rats' health, had without knowing it stumbled on the fact that the lack of dietary fats was driving the changes. This finding suggests there are fish oil benefits for skin in humans.

It wasn’t until the Burrs conducted follow-up studies that ththey were able to answer the question, “Is fish oil good for the skin?” They methodically reintroduced fats back into the diet. It was through this project the Burrs discovered that polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) reversed the clinical maladies; whereas, saturated fats were not effective. Like many scientific discoveries, a surprise finding led to a great discovery, and it was this early research to which is attributed the phrase “essential fatty acids” (EFAs).1  

Omega-3s and omega-6s are essential fatty acids

Essential fatty acids aren’t made by the body, so the diet must include them. Their chemical structure allows these fatty acids to typically be liquid at room temperature. Omega-3s, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and omega-6s, such as linoleic acid (LA), gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), and arachidonic acid (AA), are classified as essential fatty acids.

The skin’s layers

Lipids (fats), specifically the essential omega-3s and omega-6s, are part of every skin layer. Skin is the largest organ in the body and has two primary layers: the epidermis (the outermost layer) and the dermis (the inner layer). These two layers have stratified layers within them, each of which has a specific cellular structure, corresponding function, and unique properties.

In the epidermal layer, essential fatty acids are part of the membranes of keratinocytes – the most prevalent cell in this skin layer that is responsible for skin repair, healing, and maintaining the skin barrier – protecting the inside of the body from what is outside. In the outermost layer of the epidermis, called the stratum corneum, an EFA deficiency can result in inflammatory skin conditions like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Here, EFAs also contribute to maintaining pH, regulating surface permeability and antimicrobial barrier, inflammation, and desquamation (skin peeling).2 Although omega-3s only account for two percent of total fatty acids in this layer, they help maintain immune function, and diet has been shown to directly influence the composition (and function) in this skin layer.3

The dermal skin layer provides physical and nutritional support to the epidermis. In the dermis, EFAs help produce signaling molecules that regulate the inflammatory response, including metabolites (a substance made during the metabolism process) that act on the epidermis layer.

Role of essential fatty acids in skin health: What are some fish oil benefits for skin?

Sun damage protection. Excess exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light can alter melanin production, antioxidant systems, and enzymatic repair pathways, resulting in cellular damage, inflammation, and decreased immune function. Both omega-3s and omega-6s participate in regulating these pathways and can influence the way skin and its makeup responds to UV light (for example, like collagen in the dermis layer). Although there are many pathways involved in protecting the skin from UV light, research shows that omega-3 fatty acids provide an added layer of photoprotection from the damaging effects of UV light.4 Similarly, there is promising research being done on fatty acids and their effect on skin pigmentation and hyperpigmentation caused by sun exposure.5 

Healthy skin aging. Typically, because of time, genetics, sun, smoking, and other environmental and lifestyle factors, skin aging presents with deep wrinkles, loss of elasticity, pigmentation changes, and collagen loss. Higher dietary EFA intake has been associated with a more youthful skin appearance.6

Wound healing. Millions of people suffer from general skin wounds, burns, ulcers, and other chronic and acute skin lesions. Proinflammatory cytokines drive the early inflammation stage of wound progression. Fatty acids are known to play a role in cell membrane structure and anabolic (breaking down) events during skin tissue reconstruction by regulating the synthesis and activity of cytokines. Some research suggests omega-3s and omega-6s help accelerate the rate at which wounds heal because of their ability to optimize the inflammatory response.7

Benefits for skin irritation. Dry, itchy, and red skin are symptoms of skin barrier dysfunction. But does fish oil help with dry skin? Although many of the most conclusive studies have been done in animal models, researchers believe fish oil benefits dry skin and other symptoms of skin irritation.*5

The takeaway

Thorne has eight omega-based supplements to complement your diet. 

References

  1. Essential fatty acids: the work of George and Mildred Burr. J Biol Chem. 2012;287(42):35439-35441.
  2. Khnykin D, Miner JH, Jahnsen F. Role of fatty acid transporters in epidermis: Implications for health and disease. Dermatoendocrinol 2011;3(2):53-61.
  3. Rhodes LE, O’Farrell S, Jackson MJ, Friedmann PS. Dietary fish-oil supplementation in humans reduces UVB-erythemal sensitivity but increases epidermal lipid peroxidation. J Invest Dermatol 1994;103(2):151-154.
  4. Pilkington SM, Watson REB, Nicolaou A, Rhodes LE. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: photoprotective macronutrients. Exp Dermatol 2011;20(7):537-543.
  5. Huang TH, Wang PW, Yang SC, et al. Cosmetic and therapeutic applications of fish oil’s fatty acids on the skin. Mar Drugs 2018;16(8). doi:10.3390/md16080256
  6. Essential fatty acids and skin health. Linus Pauling Institute. Published November 7, 2016. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/essential-fatty-acids  [Accessed February 17, 2023.]
  7. Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Glaser R, Christian LM. Omega-3 fatty acids and stress-induced immune dysregulation: implications for wound healing. Mil Med 2014;179(11 Suppl):129-133.