Essential Fatty Acids - What Can They Do for Your Skin?

As a Skin Therapist (and you probably know that if you have had a skin consultation with me) I am passionate about taking and prescribing essential fatty acids.

Every morning religiously I take my own essential fatty acids supplement. Due to this, I have noticed a massive change in my skin's moisture barrier function and the hydration of my body and skin. My skin literally never feels dehydrated!

Essential fatty acids have many benefits for the skin, bones, muscles, joints, severe skin conditions, diseases and inflammatory conditions.

Also read: Inner Health - Find the Root Cause of Your Skin Concerns

These good fats known as Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are deemed essential because your body cannot produce them on its own, so they must come from your diet. However, our western diet doesn't often provide us with good quality and quantity of EFAs.

The two primary EFA's are known as linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3).

You can find Omega-3 in foods such as fish. The best fish sources of Omega-3 are salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring and sardines. The best vegan sources of Omega-3 are flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts and flaxseed oil.

However, through our western diet we unfortunately cannot receive an adequate amount of Omega-3, so supplementing our diet with a EFAs will help up your intake of Omega-3.

Essential in building the skin barrier function and maintaining a healthy cell membrane, Essential Fatty Acids are the building blocks to a healty skin.

Essential Fatty Acids release their fish oil rich source into our skin to build, protect and strengthen the layers of our skin.

An insufficient amount of Omega-3 can result in irregularities in the skin barrier function.

When the cell membrane is not intact or becomes damaged through lifestyle, oxidated stress, diet, and wrongly prescribed skin care products it will not function correctly leading to other skin conditons like dehydration and premature skin ageing.

Here, your Essential Fatty Acids will support cell membrane development and hence acid mantle creation and maintenance. This is an important step in treating dehydrated skin, sensitive and ageing skin.

For these skin types/concerns, EFAs will allow regulation of your sebum consistency, making it more "watery" than the usual thick consistency that these skins experience.

The problem with the "thick" sebum consistency in these skins is that the sebum cannot flow through your hair follicles and strengthen your cells for healthy cell immunity function.

Once the EFA can regulate your skin's sebum, that will aids in cell membrane function for a healthier acid mantle.

Essential Fatty Acids here will perform their role of supporting cell membrane development and hence acid mantle creation and maintenance. That will lessen the severity of these conditions.

In this case, liquid EFAs are best to take in conjunction with fat dietary foods to aid in better absorption for more severe skin conditons.

All supplements are NOT the same! Investing in a high quality sourced brand is a MUST!

Look for natural fish oils that come from 100% wild caught, sustainably sourced fish rich in Omega 3's that have come from their own habitat. There are brands out there that do not use high quality sourced fish, and you might end up with a "supplement" containing high levels of heavy metals!

My name is Sari Pols,
I have been in the skincare industry for over 15 years. My passion lies in ‘Health’. Health for the skin and body. My philosophy is if we have good well-being on the inside, then it shows our vitality on the outside.
I have furthered my knowledge of Skin Anatomy, Skin Concerns, and Fitness. I am a true believer in how to make my clients feel their best both inside and out. My emphasis is on guiding my clients through their journey of skin concerns and conditions. I do not like to band-aid a concern or condition but want to get down to the root of the cause. I aim to give personalised consultations with treatment and correct prescribed skin products.