Looking after your skin when you have acquired that sunkissed look – whether faking it or frolicking on the beach – means attending to the dryness that often accompanies any sort of tan. The sun dries out your skin and some fake tans can make the skin’s surface look dry.
Maintaining that glow takes a little extra care – but you’re worth it!
Regularly moisturising and nourishing the skin as well as gently exfoliating are the obvious ways to treat the external surface. But what about maintenance from within? To maintain cell strength and keep your skin soft and dewy you need the nutrients that build and protect the cells and also help create new cells. Omegas 3 & 6 have been shown to help prevent moisture loss from the skin as they play an essential role in the formation of both the permeability and anti-microbial barriers. This means that skin cells are more able to hold onto moisture within the cell, keeping it plump and soft. UV light in sunshine damages cells making the cell membranes weaker and less able to hold on to moisture, but fish oils help!
Essential Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are known to play a critical role in promoting healthy skin. They help to regulate cellular function and maintain elasticity and suppleness in the skin. Consequently, a fatty acid deficiency will show up as skin problems. Most of us do not get enough of the Omega 3 fatty acids in our diet whereas Omega 6 fatty acids are in plentiful supply. Symptoms of Omega 3 fatty acid deficiency include skin problems like eczema, dandruff, dry and flaking skin and poor wound healing.
Supplementing with fish oils that contain EPA can alleviate symptoms of a number of dry skin disorders such as psoriasis, as well as many other inflammatory skin conditions. Science has found that fish oil containing EPA can reduce inflammation by helping the body to produce anti-inflammatory agents. These are called prostaglandins and are responsible for regulating all the cells in our body, helping to stabilize the moisture content and thereby keeping skin supple. EPA also helps to inhibit the production of androgens – hormones that influence the production of sebum and in excess can lead to acne.