Slayer's Den

[01dragonslayer]

A Science-Backed Supplement Fix​

Zap zits from the inside out with the right supplement and dietary tweaks. Here's the science.​

I had a pepperoni pizza face back in high school. I tried every over-the-counter acne treatment available: all the soaps, creams, and acids. Nothing worked.

Finally, the dermatologist prescribed tretinoin (Retin-A) and isotretinoin (Accutane). The zits went away, but the drugs left me with cracked, bleeding lips, and eventually elevated liver enzymes – a sign of possible liver damage. The doctor pulled me off the drugs immediately.

I wish I'd known then what I know now: you can eliminate or at least greatly reduce acne by changing your diet and taking one healthy supplement: concentrated fish oli.

The Studies​

Pimples have many causes, one of which is a simple genetic predisposition. And of course, it's hard to win the battle against teenage hormonal changes. But acne is also made worse by diet.

Back in the day, milk and chocolate got the blame (and those foods do affect some people), but today we know that the main culprit is an inflammatory diet: processed foods, junk foods, sugar, high omega-6 seed oils, and refined carbs. So, it makes sense that an inflammation-fighting supplement helps with acne.

Check out these fish oil studies:

1. Researchers found that 98% of the 60 acne sufferers in one study were deficient in omega-3 fatty acids. When subjects ate more fish and took omega-3 supplements, they noticed significant reductions in inflammatory and non-inflammatory skin lesions. In this study, the subjects took omega-3 supplements for four months containing 600 mg of DHA and 300 mg of EPA for the first half of the study and a slightly bigger dose for the second half. (1)
2. In a 10-week study, participants were given a daily dose of fish oil containing 930 mg of EPA and 720 mg of DHA. They experienced a significant reduction in inflammatory acne lesions compared to the placebo group. (2)
3. Another study using 2 grams of combined DHA and EPA for 12 weeks found that fish oil reduced acne severity by lowering the levels of inflammatory cytokines. (3)

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How Does Fish Oil Do That?​

Primarily through its anti-inflammatory effects, but fish oil also regulates sebum production. (Sebum is the oily stuff that clogs pores.) Researchers also point to fish oil's ability to support the immune system and help the body fight off the bacterial infections that go along with acne.

How to Use This Info​

Based on the studies above and a few others, taking fish oil for eight to sixteen weeks noticeably reduces acne. Most successful studies use one to three grams of total fish oil daily. The high doses seemed to work faster.

These studies used fairly generic fish oil, so it would be nice to see similar studies conducted with higher-dose fish oil with self-emulsifying technology for optimal absorption. This should lead to better results at a faster rate.