Fish oil is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which contain powerful clinical and nutritional benefits. Nutritionists and integrative health-care practitioners widely recommend fish oil supplements as treatments for a variety of conditions affecting the skin, nervous system, eyes and blood vessels. Although fish oil may cause mild rashes, no current scientific evidence links fish oil to worsened acne symptoms. Fish oil appears to improve, not augment, break-outs in people coping with acne.
Rash
According to the National Institutes of Health, rashes are among the most common side effects associated with fish oil supplements. However, MayoClinic.com states that fish oil related rashes are rare. Susceptible individuals may experience mild skin problems due to contaminants or allergens in the supplement. The NIH states that people who are allergic to seafood or shellfish should take fish oil supplements cautiously. If you develop a rash or other allergy symptoms after taking fish oil, discontinue use of the product and consult a health-care provider.
Misconceptions
Popular folk wisdom posits that fatty foods, including French fries, pizza and chocolate, worsen acne symptoms. This misconception stems from the perceived connection between oily food and oily skin. People who are interested in using fish oil may be concerned that the omega-3 fats might pass into skin and worsen acne symptoms. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there is no credible scientific evidence linking fatty foods to increased acne outbreaks.
Acne Improvement
Supplements containing fish oil can help to reduce the frequency and severity of acne outbreaks. A 2008 study from American and Canadian researchers, the results of which were published in the medical journal "Lipids in Health and Disease," found that 250 milligrams of oral fish oil effectively treated acne when taken in combination with zinc, selenium, chromium and green tea extract. Although these findings were promising, they were not entirely conclusive, and the study was very small. Clinical trials are necessary to definitively confirm these findings.
Fish Oil in Skin Disease
Oral fish oil products may help to treat several other forms of skin disease, although their safety and efficacy remain ultimately unconfirmed. The NIH regards fish oil as "possibly ineffective" as a treatment for allergic skin rashes, but acknowledges its potential as a treatment for psoriasis, an autoimmune skin disease. Fish oil may also be valuable in the treatment and prevention of atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema. People with skin conditions should consult their health-care providers to evaluate the relative benefits and safety of fish oil supplements.
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