Certain fish, including mackerel, herring and salmon, have oils that can be extracted to make fish oil supplements. Fish oil can be taken to relieve a variety of problems with body maintenance and function, including skin conditions that cause itching, or pruritus. You should talk to a doctor before taking fish oil, however, because it can be harmful for some patients.
What Is in Fish Oil?
Fish oil's main benefits come from its omega-3 fatty acid content. Omega-3 fatty acids are fats that can be found in fatty fish as well as in some plant sources, such as walnuts, flaxseed, vegetable oils and green leafy vegetables, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for many different functions in your body, including maintaining the health of the brain and the immune system. These fats can also reduce inflammation.
Pruritus
Pruritis is a symptom of many different skin problems, including atopic dermatitis, xerotic eczema and allergic contact dermatitis, also known as a skin allergy, the American Academy of Family Physicians reports. Other health problems, including regular dialysis treatments, can also cause itchy skin. Pruritus is usually caused by something irritating the skin or causing the tissue around the skin to become inflamed. Although pruritus generally does not cause serious medical problems, it can cause a patient to scratch and damage her skin, resulting in conditions like impetigo and lichen simplex chronicus.
Fish Oil as Treatment for Pruritus
Only a limited amount of information is available for the effectiveness of fish oil for treating your skin problems. A 2003 article in the "Journal of the American Dietetic Association" reported that fish oil reduced itching in patients receiving hemodialysis. Similarly, a 2001 review in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" also found that fish oil may be able to reduce skin irritation and other triggers that result in pruritus.
Considerations
Although fish oil is safe for many to take, it is not known how effective it is for all treatment of chronic itching. If you find yourself itching excessively or for extended periods of time, talk to your doctor as this may be a sign of a more serious underlying condition. Fish oil supplements should be consumed orally but be careful not to exceed the dosage recommended on your supplement's packaging, as high doses of fish oil can cause bleeding disorders, something your doctor should be able to advise you on.
References
- "Journal of the American Dietetic Association"; Benefits of Fish Oil Supplementation for Hemodialysis Patients; Vergili-Nelsen Joyce; September 2003.
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Omega-3 Fatty Acids; 2011
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Nutritional Skin Care: Health Effects of Micronutrients and Fatty Acids; Boelsma, et al.; May 2001
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