Maintaining moisture in the skin is crucial for elasticity that snaps back quickly to its original position when pinched. Well-hydrated and elastic skin is always quick to snap back, but dry skin takes a long time. If you conduct a pinch test on your skin, you can check whether your skin is elastic or if you need fish oil for skin hydration.
What is the Difference Between Skin Hydration and Moisture?
Hydration and moisture are crucial for skin care. Hydration is water, and moisture is oil. Since people don’t understand whether they need hydration or moisturizer, they rely on moisturizers more. The good thing is that most moisturizers have hydrating ingredients that attract water to the skin.
Hydration vs. Moisture
Hydration refers to replenishing water in the skin cells. Drinking plenty of water, eating hydrating foods such as fatty fish, limiting hot showers, wearing sunscreen, and using hydrating moisturizers can hydrate your skin. Additionally, you can take Omega-3 for skin moisture. It has both hydrating and moisturizing properties. It is also safe for people of all ages.
Moisturizing ingredients lubricate the skin to lock moisture and prevent the locked water content from escaping. Moisturizing ingredients either hydrate or moisturize the skin. However, some ingredients, such as humectants, do both. They draw water from the deeper layers to the outermost layer and lock it to give a hydrating effect to the skin.
How to tell if Your Skin Needs Hydration or Moisture?
You can determine whether your skin needs hydration or moisture by examining visible signs, such as dullness, dryness, flakiness, increased sensitivity, and tightness. You should also learn about fish oil benefits for dry skin. If your skin appears dehydrated, you should start taking softgel capsules. Fatty acids are good for your skin as they increase its watery content.
Visible signs of dehydrated skin:
- Dehydration strips the skin of its natural glow and makes it appear lackluster.
- The skin looks and feels rough on the touch. It has visible flakes or patches of dry skin.
- Dryness highlights the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the skin.
- The skin remains dry even after applying moisturizing creams and ointments.
- Dry skin becomes itchy, especially after prolonged exposure to environmental aggressors.
- Dehydration increases the skin’s sensitivity to irritants and environmental factors.
- The formation of dark circles under the eyes is due to dehydration.
- Redness is a prominent sign of skin dehydration.
- Dehydrated skin loses its elasticity and appears saggy.
Could Moisturizing Products Increase Hydration in the Skin?
Moisturizers with hydrating ingredients, such as humectants, can help enhance the skin’s hydration to a great extent. Other moisturizing ingredients that help increase the hydration level include:
Occlusives: Oils and lipids such as beeswax, petrolatum, and mineral oil are called occlusive. They form a layer on the skin to prevent loss of moisture.
Emollients: Fatty acids and fatty alcohols are called emollients. They strengthen the skin’s barrier to moisture and improve the overall skin condition.
Protein rejuvenators: Collagen, keratin, and elastin are the proteins that replenish essential nutrients and rejuvenate the skin.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) cautions people against using any moisturizer. You should choose a cosmetic formulated for your skin type, such as dry or oily. However, you can use the best fish oil for skin health without a prescription. It is a health supplement that can benefit your skin in the following ways.
The Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Improving Skin Health
Omega-3 supplements provide fatty acids, especially EPA and DHA that the human body can’t produce. Supplements are the only source of these fats, essential for skin care, especially for moisture and elasticity.
Enhancing Skin Moisture
One of the most documented fish oil benefits for skin is improving hydration level and moisture. Loss of moisture is the prime reason for dehydration, loss of elasticity, and increased skin sensitivity.
1. Strengthening the Skin Barrier: EPA improves skin hydration by strengthening the structure and function of skin cells. It improves the natural lipid barrier and acts as a protective shield, locking in moisture and making the skin soft and supple.
2. Reducing Trans-Epidermal Water Loss: The skin loses water through evaporation from the epidermal layer. Water evaporates from the outermost layer of the skin. Omega-3 fatty acids replenish the watery content and reduce trans-epidermal water loss.
3. Enhancing Sebum Production: Sebum is a natural oil essential for the skin to maintain adequate moisture levels. Omega-3 fatty acids help balance sebum production to prevent the skin from becoming too oily or too dry.
4. Alleviate Dry Skin Conditions: EPA has anti-inflammatory properties that improve dry skin conditions, especially eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis. Fatty acids improve hydration and reduce irritation, providing lasting relief from skin dryness.
Improving Skin Elasticity
Elasticity allows the skin to stretch and bounce to its original position when released. The skin loses its elasticity due to aging, exposure to environmental aggressors, smoking, diet, hormonal changes, and genetics. Fish oil supplements for soft skin improve skin elasticity in the following ways:
1. Support Collagen Production: Collagen is a protein responsible for skin elasticity and firmness. Fatty acids preserve collagen levels and reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, and premature aging.
2. Reduce Inflammation: Chronic inflammation accelerates protein breakdown and affects collagen production. EPA has anti-inflammatory properties that can combat the oxidative stress responsible for inflammation, sagging skin, and wrinkles.
3. Enhance Skin Cell Membrane: Skin elasticity depends on the condition of cell membranes. If the membranes are fluid, the skin appears well-hydrated and dewy. DHA and EPA help keep the cell membranes fluid so the skin looks more resilient and elastic.
4. Prevent Environment-Induced Damage: Exposure to environmental aggressors, especially UV rays, reduces the quality of collagen and elastin, leading to photoaging. The skin looks baked and has dark spots. Research links UV-induced damage to low levels of Omega-3 fatty acids. However, increasing fatty acid content can prevent environmental damage.
How much Hydration does the Skin need?
A small 2015 study found that daily water intake from food and beverages affects the skin. The study conducted over 49 healthy females revealed that those taking more watery content have well-hydrated skin than those who take less water. Fish oil capsules have the ingredients that increase hydration and moisture content in cells. You can consume two softgels of 1g each in a day. However, it is safe to consult your dietician for more information and suggestions.
An older study from 2010 recommends 3,000 ml and 2,200 ml of water per day for males and females, respectively. In addition to increasing your water intake to the recommended level, you need to replenish your skin with the necessary nutrients to lock in moisture, increase collagen production, and fight oxidative stress. It is better you take a supplement that fulfills all your skincare-related needs. Omega-3 fatty acids can strengthen your skin and protect it from premature aging.
Final Thoughts
Omega-3 for glowing skin is a powerful natural supplement that can improve skin moisture and elasticity. EPA and DHA can improve the skin’s natural lipid barrier, preventing moisture loss. Fatty acids boost the production and quality of collagen and reduce inflammation. Essential fats can both hydrate and moisturize the skin. Omega-3 is a complete supplement suitable for people of all ages and skin conditions.
