Omega 3 is a type of fat that is essential for brain, eye, heart, joint & skin health. It is not produced by the body, which means that it must be consumed in our diet or added in as a supplement.

There are 3 subcategories of Omega 3: EPA, DHA and ALA. EPA & DHA are the forms that the body can utilise for our health. These are found in fish and sea food. ALA is a plant-based source of Omega 3. When ALA is consumed, there is a conversion process that happens in the body that turns this into EPA and then DHA. Whilst ALA is still a form of Omega 3, it isn’t a very active form due to this conversion process.

Why is Omega 3 important for my skin?

Omega 3 helps the skin with barrier support and inflammation. Omega 3 is particularly important when it comes to improving inflammatory based skin conditions such as acne, dermatitis and rosacea. Ageing can also be linked with inflammation, so supplementing with Omega 3 may be a great option for long term skin health too. If you are struggling with pigmentation, surprisingly Omega 3 can be of support here aswell. This is because the cell membranes that are responsible for allowing pigment into the cell are made up of Omega 3 fatty acids. If the cell membrane is impaired, i.e. lacking Omega 3, this can allow too much pigment to enter the skin cells, resulting in pigmented skin.

If you are experiencing dry or dehyrated skin, Omega 3 can help to rebuild your skin barrier, ensuring that the essential water content of your skin does not evaporate.

I eat fish once a week, do I still need to supplement with Omega 3?

To absorb the amount of EPA & DHA needed for the body, you should be eating fresh, fatty fish atleast 3 times a week. For most people this is an unrealistic amount, meaning the majority of people would benefit by taking atleast a low does of Omega 3 daily.

How do I choose a good Omega 3?

The quality of Omega 3 is highly impacted by the exposure of oxygen to the product. This can occur throughout the process, from the fish being caught, to the oil being stored and encapsulated. At Skin Health Central, we stock the Nordic Naturals range. We value this company as they are completely transparent with their production processes. They actually own and control the whole manufacturing process, from the boat to bottle. They have special processes which use nitrogen to prevent any quality damage that can be caused by oxygen. They also practice sustainably with only wild caught fish, and are Friend of the Sea certified. To enhance their transparency, they also have a function on their website called the certificate of analysis which you can use to check the purity and freshness of every single batch of their Omega 3.

How much Omega 3 should I be consuming for my skin?

This depends on your skin. If you are experiencing acne, rosacea or eczema, 2 capsules of the Ultimate omega twice daily is recommended. If you are wanting to maintain skin health 1-2 capsules is recommended daily.

If you struggle to swallow capsules, there is also a liquid option which is lemon flavoured. One teaspoon of this daily is ideal and can be mixed into any cold drink. I like to add this into a tropical juice in the morning!