The skin is the largest organ of the body and our first defense against toxins, allergens, irritants and disease-causing pathogens.
That makes it a major part of the immune system.
The skin's natural lubricant and protectant is called sebum, it is basically a fat. It is composed of free fatty acids and waxy
substances. It serves to protect the skin from wind and other elements. While regular cleansing is important for good hygiene,
cleansers and plain tap water strip the skin's sebum, which can lead to premature aging and other problems, unless you use a good
moisturizer. Most of what's on the market cannot be described as good.
Balanced intake of omega-6s and omega-3s is essential for normal immune system function.
The skin is the barrier that protects the inside of the body. Another primary function of the immune system is called inflammation.
Inflammation due to an injury, illness or infection is necessary. It serves a number of purposes.
Chronic inflammation is involved in:
- asthma
- allergies
- rheumatoid arthritis
- lupus
- osteoarthritis
- heart disease
- cancer
Sometimes, the immune system responds inappropriately to things in the environment. An overreaction of the immune system to things like
ragweed and pollen is the cause of seasonal allergies. These things are not dangerous and should not cause inflammatory responses.
Reserach indicates that childern whose mothers got enough omega-3s (EPA and DHA) during pregnancy are less likely to have asthma or
allergies. But, the nutrients are not just essential for normal immune system development. They are necessary for maintenance as
well.
An over-reaction of the immune system occurs in rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases like lupus.
Researchers believe that the underlying cause of autoimmune diseases could be an imbalanced intake of omega-6s and omega-3s.
Both are essential in the human diet. But, within the body omega-6s are converted into pro-inflammatory compounds. While the
omega-3s are converted into less inflammatory ones. EPA, specifically, is converted into anti-inflammatory compounds.
The two fatty acids compete for conversion. If too many omega-6s are present in the diet, the balancing omega-3s may not get
converted. This is what leads to chronic inflammation.
The ideal intake would be an even amount of omega-6s and omega-3s. Even consuming four times more 6s than 3s is okay. But, in some
American diets, people consume 40 times more 6s than 3s. It is really no wonder that there are so many people in the US with chronic
ailments caused by chronic inflammation.
The best thing to do is to increase your intake of omega-3s while decreasing your intake of omega-6s. The easiest thing to do might be
to switch from corn oil products to those made with canola oil. The omega-6 to 3 content of corn oil is about 40:1. In corn oil, the
ratio is about 2:1.
While watching your diet is a good idea, a fish oil supplement will help insure that chronic inflammation does not become a problem in your
life. If you are already experiencing one of the health problems mentioned above, you need the best fish oil dietary supplement that money
can buy.
Skin conditions that are known to be benefitted by omega-3 fish oil supplementation include:
- acne
- psoriasis
- eczema
- sagging skin
- dermatitis
- dry skin (xeroderma)
People with acne tend to have low blood levels of DHA, but most of the benefits are seen because of the anti-inflammatory activity of omega-3 fish oil. Remember that
some fish oils have more anti-inflammatory activity than others. We recommend Xtendlife DHA fish oil. Click here to order, now.
In addition to taking good dietary supplements, using good skincare products can help with all of the conditions mentioned above.

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