Acne is a skin condition characterized by blocked pores and pimples that affects 17 to 45 million people in the United States, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Acne most commonly affects teens but can also continue into adulthood. If you suffer from acne, your doctor might prescribe topical treatments or oral drugs to help clear up your skin. Omega-3 fatty acids might also help accelerate healing and improve skin health, although evidence to prove that fatty acids can reduce acne lesions is lacking; thus, talk to your doctor before taking omega-3 supplements.
Properties and Potential Benefits
Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fatty acid. There are two main types --- eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic --- both of which might confer therapeutic effects. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center notes than omega-3 fatty acids might play a role in the treatment of a number of conditions including depression, cancer, asthma and schizophrenia. An article published in the October 2008 issue of "Lipids in Health and Disease" adds that omega-3 fatty acids might also have anti-acne effects.
Sources and Administration
Fish oil is the main source of omega-3 fatty acids. You can obtain omega-3s eating oily fish such as mackerel, cod liver, herring, salmon and tuna, but for convenience, fish oil is also available in capsules and as liquid. Since omega-3 fatty acids are not a proven treatment of acne, guidance regarding a suitable dose of fish oil is lacking. However, your doctor can advise you.
Effectiveness
Clinical studies evaluating the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on acne are lacking; therefore, it is difficult to say whether taking a fish oil supplement is beneficial for acne sufferers. However, eicosapentaenoic acid improved inflammatory acne lesions in five acne cases, according to an article by M.G. Rubin, et al., in the October 2008 issue of "Lipids in Health and Disease."
Safety Considerations
MedlinePlus states that fish oil is likely safe for most people, but adds that it might cause such side effects as nausea, heartburn, bad breath, nosebleeds and more. Its use is contraindicated in a number of conditions including HIV, diabetes and bipolar disorder. It might also interact with other medicines you are taking, including the birth control pill and the weight loss drug, Orlistat.
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