Essential Fatty Acid Supplementation and Improvement to Skin Texture

Essential fatty acid supplements have come to be recommended for a variety of health conditions, both preventatively and in active treatment.

Heart disease and cancer are two examples of conditions where essential fatty acids are recommended.

Omega-3 fats found in fish and flaxeed oils, absent from many weight loss diets, prevent the formation of useful and diversely beneficial prostaglandin hormones (also known as PG-3).

Supplementation with essential oils containing gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and omega-3 fats have been shown to benefit the management of:

• arthritis
• many inflammatory skin conditions, such as rosacea
• eczema
• psoriasis
• fibrocystic breast disease
• ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) - a very contentious diagnosis
• Menopausal symptoms
• Pre-menstrual symptoms

Essential Fatty Acids Soften, Smooth, Hydrate and Firm Skin

There is a scientific reason behind the ability of essential fatty acids to improve many aspects of skin texture and assist in the management of skin conditions.

The reason is related to the synthesis of prostaglandin hormones within epidermal cells.

Developing skin cells require many elements in order to develop without problems, and live as long as possible.

Slowing the rate at which skin cells age is fundamental to an effective anti-aging skin care treatment.

This is why effective skin care products contain a perfect blend of biologically relevant materials (amino acids, proteins, vitamins, minerals, trace elements and enzymes), and exclude those ingredients which are not skin-native.

Developing skin cells extract essential fatty acids from the bloodstream. If they are present in inadequate concentrations they will be taken up by organs other than the skin, and the essential fatty acids remaining in circulation will be inadequate for the cells' needs.

Epidermal Skin Cells Convert Essential Fatty Acids

A variety of different fats are used by healthy skin. The epidermal skin cells convert essential fatty acids to prostaglandins.

Prostaglandin series 2 hormones will render the skin dry, rough and/or scaly.

Prostaglandin seres 1 and series 3 hormones will render the skin soft, smooth and moist, generally supporting many of its functions.

Most Diets Produce Excess Series 2 Prostaglandin Hormones

Diets high in saturated fats produce hormones that result in dry, rough, uneven skin texture.

Many weight-loss diets remove all fats from the equation.

A complete anti-aging skin treatment will utilize low-glycemic index foods and actually favor fats high in GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) and the omega-3 fats.

Perfect skin texture and condition has been made an impossibility, courtesy of most modern, Western dietary traditions.

Effective Supplementation of Essential Fatty Acids for the Improvement of Skin Texture and Condition

A marked improvement in the condition of the skin will take around three months after the implementation of suitable essential fatty acid supplements.

The rate of skin improvement is determined by the rate at which the epidermis replaces itself in entirety. Depending on your age, this takes anywhere from 45 to 75 days.

Given the time taken to achieve improvement, it is recommended to purchase essential fatty acid supplies three months in advance and to only use the purest and most active essential fatty acid supplements.

Differences Between Essential Fatty Acid Supplements Used in Skin Care and Treatment

To achieve genuinely young-looking skin, characterized by bounce and turgidity, only the most potent and pure supplements will be effective, especially in the treatment of more mature skin.

The inter-cellular matrix cannot be adequately rebuilt with weak supplements.

It is important to note the following:

• the diet must already be rich in fish, green leafy vegetables and unsaturated oils in order for the skin to substantially benefit from essential fatty acid supplementation;
• evening primrose oil is the only suitable supplement source of essential fatty acids, because borage and blackcurrant oils have been shown to have adverse effects;
• the best source of evening primrose is the Canterbury Plains of New Zealand -- the unpolluted air and mineral rich soils produce the most potent seeds;
• cold-pressed evening primrose oil destroys much of the needed ingredients;
• internal supplementation must be augmented by topical care to get the most out of the physical improvement in skin quality, in particular Cells-Life Serum (for high natural glycosaminoglycan and hyaluronate content, as well as other elements which make up the skin's inter-cellular matrix) , Hydra-Ger Mask, Synchro and the Skin Immunity Treatment should be used.
• breast milk is a rich source of essential fatty acids -- the quality of baby's skin speaks for itself.