By Nancy H, PharmD
Updated: July 2, 2023
7 minutes
There are immense large amounts of health benefits your body can derive from fish oil. Read on to learn about these benefits.
Skin Whitening
The omega-3s in this fish oil can boost skin immunity against certain skin conditions such as
hyperpigmentation
, irritation, acne, etc.¹ According to some studies, the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil can cure and prevent hyperpigmentation and whiten the skin instead. Hyperpigmentation, a skin condition that occurs when there is excess production or distribution of melanin in the skin cells, is one of the skin disorders peculiar to white-skin people. You will see dark patches or unusual discoloration on your skin as a result of hyperpigmentation. This condition often happens due to genetics, wrong medications, aging, exposure to UV, or skin trauma. However, studies confirm that fish
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA
) in omega-3 can reduce or prevent the excess melanin distribution which causes discoloration.²
Therefore, applying fish oil according to your skin care specialist or dermatologist’s prescription will help to whiten the affected area.
Reduce Acne
Acne mainly occurs due to sudden chronic inflammation of your skin cells. Skin inflammation is the breakdown of your immune system, which may allow some skin diseases as a result of stress or a poor lifestyle. When this condition happens, you may observe other symptoms like rashes, redness, itching, swelling, and further breakouts on your skin. The occurrence of acne on your skin can be painful and irritating. It spurs severe skin breakouts like cysts and pimples. However, you can prevent or reduce this skin condition with fish oil. Fish oil can help reduce the appearance of acne on your skin because it contains anti-
inflammatory
properties like the omega-3s. It also keeps your skin pores in constant check by reducing sebum production that may cause pores clogging.³
In addition, applying fish oil on your skin will enhance anti-bacteria that prevent acne by promoting testosterone and androgen, the hormones. Therefore, consult your healthcare provider for better directions on how to use fish oil.
Hydration booster
Fish oil, with its omega-3s, can help boost your skin’s hydration levels by ending the symptom of psoriasis, a dry skin disease. The components of fish oil counter this skin condition by strengthening your
skin’s immune
system and trapping appropriate moisture into your skin cells.⁴ As a result, they help the skin maintain its hydration level and prevent any other skin conditions that might build up, like skin aging, itching, etc. Besides, fish oil is potent to treat other diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, asthma, Parkinson’s, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular events, cancers, and depression.
Skin Wound Healing
The omega-3 in fish oil has the components to heal and prevent skin wound infections. Skin wounds are anything that breaks in the skin, causing the internal part to be open; examples are burns, cuts, gashes, lacerations, punctures, tears, etc. Some wounds heal naturally without applying anything, while you may need to consult your health specialist for some to heal. However, some severe wounds, like ulcers, high-level burns, and deep wounds, can trigger chronic inflammation in your skin. Therefore, you can leverage fish oil to speed up the healing process of your skin wound. Omega-3 in fish oil helps to restructure the skin tissue faster, enhancing the cellular and molecular procedures in the inflammatory phase of wound healing.
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Sunburn Protection
The omega-3 in fish oil can help protect your skin from the harm released from ultraviolet radiation (UV).
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In addition, it reduces your skin’s sensitivity to those harmful rays from UV. Ultraviolet radiation is electromagnetic radiation that the sun produces which may affect your skin. Besides, there are other man-made sources of UV, such as welding torches, tanning beds, etc. UV has enough energy to remove an electron from a molecule and damage the DNA in cells, resulting in skin cancer. To prevent this skin condition, using fish oil with large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids is expedient. Omega-3 will help improve the cell membrane resilience to UV and the nutrients of the skin cells. As a result, it will help the cells and the skin tissues to be healthier against the symptoms of skin cancer. However, self-medication and prescription are not advisable when you have severe skin disorders or diseases like skin damage and skin cancer. It is expedient for you to consult your doctor immediately for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Hair Growth
Among the health benefits of Fish oil is its ability to help your hair grow. Fish oil contains fatty acids that supply blood to the hit follicles. Through this, the hair gets the nutrients that enhance it to grow. In addition, fish oil helps your hair strands to become thicker and firmer. You enjoy healthy hair strands when you consume fish and use fish oil consistently.
Moreover, fish oil helps prevent hair follicle inflammation which can cause hair loss. It also makes your hair fuller and dandruff free. Therefore, it prevents grey hair from appearing on your hair strands. Overall, you can leverage the expertise of a dermatologist to know the best way to apply fish oil supplements for hair growth.
Stable Heart Condition
Heart condition is one of the most common causes of death in the US and other parts of the world. However, regular and moderate consumption of fish and fish oil has proven that omega-3 fatty acids can prevent the symptoms of heart disease. In addition, fish oil can increase good cholesterol (HDL) and reduce bad cholesterol (LDL).
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Nevertheless, consult your healthcare provider to know the suitable dosage of fish oil for your heart. Excess fish oil without proper knowledge may harm your body and cause sudden death.
Aging Renewal
Fish oil helps to renew your age by preventing wrinkles and old age marks from appearing on your body. Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids that help renew the collagen in your body. When you consume fish moderately, your skin glows and remains soft like a baby. Fish oil also contains vitamin D which helps prevent your skin from the harmful rays of ultraviolet radiation which can age you in time. However, you should consider consulting your dermatologist for a proper prescription of fish oil supplements. He will recommend a suitable dosage for skin renewal.
(Also read more about anti-aging fruits and vegetables for the skin.)
Anti-Skin Inflammation
Another benefit of fish oil is its ability to prevent inflammation in your skin cells. Inflammation can occur when there is an immune disorder or infection. As a result, your skin becomes swollen, itchy, broken, etc., which can be symptoms of dermatitis, or dry skin. However, when you consume fish as your diet or take fish oil as a supplement, your skin becomes free from any inflammation that may want to occur. Nevertheless, you should consult your skincare specialist or dermatologist to know the right dosage of fish oil supplements.
Healthy Bones
One of the health benefits of eating fish is having healthy bones even in old age. When you consume fish moderately, you enjoy its vitamin D and calcium which strengthen and improve the bone mineral deposit throughout your lifetime. In addition, the consumption of fish or fish oil supplements will help you prevent future risk factors of arthritis or rheumatism. However, it is expedient to consult your healthcare provider for a diagnosis if you have bone issues. In addition, your doctor knows the right dosage of fish oil that can help strengthen your bones.
Mental Health
Once again, fish contains a lot of properties that can help your overall well-being which includes your mental health. So many people suffer mental health problems because they rarely consume fish or its products. When you consume fish daily as recommended by WHO, you will seldom have a mental illness or breakdown.
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Likewise, fish oil helps the aged to sustain and maintain their mental stability unlike those who are deficient in omega-3s. Overall, it is expedient you consult your doctor to know the amount of fish consumption or fish oil supplement to help your mental health.
Pregnant Care Medication
Among its numerous health benefits, fish oil is also good for pregnant women. Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids that aid the early growth and development of a child. In addition, omega-3 increases fetal brain development in pregnancy and enhances the visual development of the infant. It is good to take enough fish oil during pregnancy but ensure your doctor guides you on the right dosage of fish oil supplements.
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Final Takeaway
Fish oil is good and has large proportions of nutrients that are beneficial to your health. Among its health benefits are skin whitening, mental health, anti-inflammation, anti-aging, and lots more. In addition, it is easy to consume as food and a supplementary diet for the body. However, it is important to note that there is no standardized dosage for fish oil supplements. Therefore, you must consult your healthcare provider to know the right proportion and dosage of fish oil for your body. Failure to do this may result in bad breath, and terrible skin diseases like rashes, bleeding, and diarrhea.
References
1. Cosmetic and Therapeutic Applications of Fish Oil’s Fatty Acids on the Skin by Tse-Hung Huang, et al.
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2. What to Know About Omega-3s by Annie Stuart
3. Could fish oil inflammation By American Heart Association News
4. Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Immune Cells by Saray Gutiérrez,
5. Oral administration of EPA-rich oil impairs collagen reorganization due to elevated production of IL-10 during skin wound healing in mice by Beatriz Burger
6. Omega-3 and preventing skin damage in the sun
7. A cardiologist’s top 10 things to know about fish oil supplements
by David Becker
8. Call for experts for Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption
9. Questions & Answers from the FDA/EPA Advice about Eating Fish for Those Who Might Become or Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding and Children Ages 1 to 11 Years
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