Women and skin conditions - Women's Health Update

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, May, 2003 by Tori Hudson

Individuals with eczema appear to have altered metabolism of essential fatty acids and prostaglandins (beneficial hormone-like substances that are made from essential fatty acids). In eczema, there is a tendency for increased levels of linoleic acid and deficient levels of gamma linolenic acid (GLA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexanoic acid (DHA).

With psoriasis, blood levels of free-fatty-acids are typically abnormal. Nutritional supplementation with fish oils and specific seed oils that supply some of these essential fatty acids is one of the most important tools in treating eczema and psoriasis as well as moisturizing the skin and protecting it from environmental oxidative damage. In eczema, supplementing the diet with evening primrose oil, borage or black currant oil can provide gamma linolenic acid (GLA) that will correct the underlying metabolic defect. There have been many scientific studies using GLA with excellent benefits in improving the symptoms of eczema. (1-4) Dosages in the range of .5 to 3 grams of GLA are appropriate. Both evening primrose oils and borage oil have been used in these studies but borage oil is a much richer source of GLA and therefore more effective. Borage oil typically contains 20-24% GLA and evening primrose oil only 8-10% GLA.

Fatty acid research for psoriasis has focused on the fish oils and borage oil. Several double-blind clinical studies have demonstrated that supplementing with 10-12 grams of fish oils rich in EPA and DHA (providing 1.8 grams of EPA and 1.2 grams of DHA) can result in significant improvement in psoriasis lesions. (5-7) Individuals who have psoriasis produce many times more leukotrienes, which are inflammatory compounds. Fish oils bind to receptor sites and inhibit the production of these inflammatory compounds, thereby reducing the buildup of skin cells that have replicated too rapidly in psoriasis individuals. Seed oils containing high amounts of GLA such as borage oil may also be helpful for psoriasis patients.

Essential fatty acid supplementation should also be considered to provide the skin with the proper oils and moisture thereby preventing and reversing dry skin, preventing and reversing sun and age damage, and other environmental oxidative damage. The skin needs essential fatty acids, particularly when stressed by the damage that occurs with sunburn. Experiments have shown that UV rays cause a significant release of fatty acids from the cell membranes. The cell uses these fatty acids to regulate the inflammation, swelling and pain. GLA from borage, evening primrose and black currant oils has been found to reduce redness, swelling and pain from ultraviolet damage. In case of sunburn, you can take up to 8 capsules of borage oil daily until symptoms subside. Borage oil can also be applied topically to the burned area two or three times daily. When going on a sunny weather vacation, it would be smart to use 1-2 capsules of borage oil daily for 4-6 weeks before departure as a protective measure. Supplementing with fish oils, flax oils, borage, evening primrose and black currant oil can correct long term deficiencies and imbalances in fatty acids. These imbalances result in not only chronic skin problems and excessive skin aging, but immune diseases, heart disease, arthritis, cancer, depression, diabetes, and neurological disorders.