Is fish oil good for your skin and hair?

For healthy skin and hair, we cannot say it is, because we found no trial of fish oil alone that tested it. The strongest evidence is in psoriasis, and it is mostly negative: a 2019 meta-analysis of 13 trials in 625 people found fish oil did not significantly lower psoriasis severity, a difference of 0.28 points on the PASI score. A 2020 review of 18 trials in 927 people with psoriasis found the same for fish oil alone, and a fall of 3.92 points only when it was added to standard treatment.

Myth. Fish oil on its own has been tested for psoriasis and did not significantly reduce severity. Two separate meta-analyses of randomized trials reach that answer for fish oil taken without other treatment.

Unsettled. The add-on result in psoriasis, the acne trials and the hair trials are small, use mixed products or depend on another treatment. None of them tested fish oil alone on the skin or hair of people without a skin condition, so the everyday question is open because nobody we found asked it.

Fall in psoriasis severity score (PASI) against comparison, points

The first bar is drawn without its interval because the interval runs from 1.74 points better to 1.19 points worse, crossing zero, and the result was not significant. The second comes from a different review and holds only when fish oil was given on top of standard treatment. Sources: cards ev-fosk-01 and ev-fosk-02 below.

What the trials found

Psoriasis

In the 2019 meta-analysis only 3 of the 13 trials could be pooled, and they were small. The 2020 review included Chinese-language trials, and its add-on effect depends on which standard treatment fish oil was given with. Lesion area also fell in that add-on analysis. Neither review found a benefit from fish oil used by itself.

Eczema

A 2012 Cochrane review of dietary supplements for eczema covered 11 trials in 596 people and found only two small trials of fish oil. The reviewers wrote that these suggest a possible modest benefit, and that many outcomes were explored. Overall they found no convincing evidence for supplements in eczema, and their search ended in July 2010.

Taking omega-3 in pregnancy to prevent eczema in the baby has more trials behind it, with a mixed answer. A 2023 meta-analysis of 6 trials in 1,646 mother and infant pairs found no clear fall in eczema (RR 1.09) or in IgE-associated eczema (RR 0.67), with both intervals crossing 1. A 2015 Cochrane review of 8 trials in 3,366 women found a clear reduction in medically diagnosed IgE-mediated eczema in children aged 12 to 36 months, and no difference at any other age. Only two of its eight trials were at low risk of bias on selection, performance and attrition.

Relative risk and odds, with 95% intervals

Randomized trialsObservational data

Every interval crosses 1, so none of these is a measured effect. The cards give no absolute rates, so we cannot say how many children or adults these ratios would mean. The cancer rows are observational and cannot show cause. Sources: cards ev-fosk-04 and ev-fosk-11 below.

Acne

In a 10 week randomized trial of 45 people with mild to moderate acne, 2,000 mg a day of EPA and DHA reduced inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions. The arms held about 15 people each, and the abstract gives no effect size. In a 2026 trial of 80 people aged 18 to 25 with moderate to severe acne on low-dose isotretinoin, adding 1 g of fish oil a day for 3 months was non-inferior to placebo, with a difference in acne counts of 6.0 (95% CI -16.5 to 4.5). That design shows fish oil did not get in the way of the drug. It does not show fish oil added a benefit. The fish oil group did lose less skin hydration.

Hair

Both hair results come from mixed products. A 2025 network meta-analysis of 19 trials in 1,658 people with pattern hair loss found that an omega-3 and omega-6 supplement, along with six other supplements, scored better than placebo in blinded doctor ratings of hair regrowth. That product contains antioxidants as well, and the rating is subjective. In a 6 month randomized study of 120 women with pattern hair loss, a supplement of fish oil, blackcurrant seed oil, vitamins C and E and lycopene improved hair density on photographs more than no supplement. There was no placebo, so the women knew whether they were taking something.

Sun and skin cancer

In a 3 month trial of 79 fair-skinned women with nickel allergy, 5 g a day of an EPA-rich oil did not significantly reduce how much sunlight suppressed skin immunity, a difference of 6.9% (95% CI -2.1% to 15.9%). It reached significance at one dose of light only, and the outcome is a laboratory proxy, not sunburn or aging. A 2014 meta-analysis of 5 observational studies found no link between omega-3 in the diet and basal cell skin cancer (OR 1.05), and its authors called the evidence inadequate.

Who should be careful

Not for everyone. The one skin outcome with firm evidence is a side effect. A meta-analysis of 21 trials in 24,460 people found prescription omega-3 was linked to more skin reactions, such as rash, itching and eczema, and more fishy taste than control. It found no definite serious adverse event. Those are prescription products, and the abstract does not give how often the reactions happened.

EFSA concludes that supplemental EPA and DHA combined at up to 5 g a day raises no safety concerns for adults. The sun trial above gave 5 g a day, at that ceiling. Fish oil taken in pregnancy appears in the eczema trials above as a prevention question. We found no card here on fish oil for skin with medicines or in children taking it themselves, so we cannot tell you anything for those groups from this page.

What expert bodies say

The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health cites dermatology guidelines that find inconsistent to no evidence to recommend fish oils for treating atopic dermatitis. For psoriasis it reports that reviews disagree, and points to the 2019 meta-analysis of 13 trials that found no significant drop in severity. We found no body that recommends fish oil for healthy skin or hair.

How we searched

Searched: a local copy of PubMed on 7 October 2026, all study types, for fish oil, omega-3, EPA or DHA with skin, psoriasis, eczema, acne, hair, sun damage or wounds. The broad search returned 417 records, mostly about surgery, burns and pressure ulcers. Narrower searches returned 13 on acne, 72 on eczema, 59 on hair (mostly about mercury in hair), 35 on sunburn, aging and skin cancer, and 11 on dry skin. We also searched the US trial registry, which had one trial with unknown status, checked every included study against Retraction Watch, ran three web searches for newer reviews and read the NCCIH digest on skin conditions.

Included: seven meta-analyses and systematic reviews, four randomized trials, one observational meta-analysis, the EFSA safety opinion and the NCCIH digest.

Excluded: a 2026 psoriasis review with no pooled result that mixed creams and supplements, fish oil given by drip, krill oil, omega-3 applied to the skin, itching in dialysis, and nutrition studies after burns or surgery, which do not answer the reader's question.

What we read: abstracts for every study, and the relevant sections of the EFSA and NCCIH pages.

What we could not get: the full texts of the two psoriasis meta-analyses, the American Academy of Dermatology guideline itself, which we quote only through NCCIH, and the NIH fact sheet on omega-3, which refused our requests for earlier pages and which we did not retry.

What would change this answer

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of fish oil alone in healthy adults that measures skin hydration, wrinkles or hair over months. We found none.
A placebo-controlled hair trial of fish oil without the antioxidants and other oils it is usually mixed with.
A larger acne trial that reports how big the effect is, against placebo, and over longer than 10 weeks.
For psoriasis, a trial that settles whether the add-on effect holds with today's standard treatments.

More on fish oil: fish oil and inflammation and fish oil and pregnancy.

The food behind this question

Fish oil: lower triglycerides, no fewer deaths — numbers, evidence and safety

The same question for other foods (skin)

Sources

ev-fosk-01 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of RCTs · n = 625
Fish oil supplement did not significantly reduce the severity of psoriasis when assessed by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score (mean difference - 0.28; 95% confidence interval - 1.74 to 1.19).
Who: patients with psoriasis in RCTs of fish oil supplements; 3 RCTs (337 participants) with usable data
Effect: PASI mean difference -0.28 (95% CI -1.74 to 1.19), not significant
Certainty: Only 3 of 13 trials poolable; Cochrane risk of bias tool; small trials.
BMC Complement Altern Med, 2019 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the abstract
ev-fosk-02 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 RCTs (PROSPERO CRD42019128631) · n = 927
Fish oil or ω-3 PUFAs combined with conventional treatments, however, resulted in a decreased PASI score (mean difference [MD], -3.92; 95%CI, -6.15 to -1.69; P = 0.0006) and lesion area (MD, -30.00; 95%CI, -33.82 to -26.18; P < 0.0001).
Who: patients with psoriasis in RCTs of fish oil or omega-3 PUFAs, alone or with conventional treatment
Effect: monotherapy: no effect on PASI (P = 0.47); with conventional treatment: PASI MD -3.92 (95% CI -6.15 to -1.69), lesion area MD -30.00
Certainty: Includes Chinese-language trials; add-on effect depends on the co-treatment; no between-group safety differences.
Nutr Rev, 2020 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the abstract
ev-fosk-03 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · Cochrane systematic review of RCTs · n = 596
Two small studies on fish oil suggest a possible modest benefit, but many outcomes were explored.
Who: people with established atopic eczema in RCTs of dietary supplements; 2 trials of fish oil vs olive or corn oil
Effect: possible modest benefit in two small fish oil trials; no convincing evidence overall
Certainty: Search to July 2010; many outcomes explored; a larger registered trial is needed.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2012 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the abstract
ev-fosk-04 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs (RoB 2) · n = 1646
Pooled data showed no pronounced decline in the incidence of eczema (RR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.82~1.46, p = 0.54) or IgE-associated eczema (RR = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.29~1.57; p = 0.34).
Who: mother-infant pairs in RCTs of prenatal omega-3 PUFA supplementation
Effect: eczema RR 1.09 (95% CI 0.82 to 1.46); IgE-associated eczema RR 0.67 (0.29 to 1.57)
Certainty: Subgroup signal for IgE-associated eczema at 3 years or younger (RR 0.70) only.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol, 2023 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the abstract
ev-fosk-05 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · Cochrane systematic review of RCTs · n = 3366 women
There was a clear reduction in medically diagnosed IgE-mediated eczema with n-3 LCPUFA for children 12 to 36 months of age, but not at any other time point for both medically diagnosed IgE mediated and medically diagnosed IgE mediated and/or parental report.
Who: pregnant and/or breastfeeding women supplemented with n-3 LCPUFA and their 3175 children
Effect: reduction in IgE-mediated eczema at 12-36 months only; no difference at other ages; overall limited evidence
Certainty: Only two of eight trials at low risk of selection, performance and attrition bias.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2015 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the abstract
ev-fosk-06 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · systematic review and network meta-analysis of RCTs with GRADE · n = 1658
In blind doctor assessments, PSO, capsaicin-isoflavones (CI), saw palmetto extract (ESR), Omega 3&6, Lambdapil, Nutrafol, and Multi-component supplements (AGA-P) showed higher hair regeneration scores than placebo or conventional treatments.
Who: patients with androgenetic alopecia in RCTs of dietary supplements (16 supplements)
Effect: Omega 3&6 among supplements with higher blinded hair regeneration scores; no differences in terminal-to-vellus ratio
Certainty: Omega 3&6 product is a mix with antioxidants, not fish oil alone; outcome is a subjective rating.
Front Nutr, 2025 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the abstract
ev-fosk-07 · Randomized controlled trial(s) · randomized comparative trial, no placebo · n = 120
After 6 months of treatment, photograph assessment demonstrated a superior improvement in the supplemented group (P < 0.001).
Who: 120 healthy women with female pattern hair loss, 6 months, supplement vs control
Effect: greater improvement in photographic hair density (P < 0.001); lower telogen percentage (P < 0.001)
Certainty: Mixed product (fish oil, blackcurrant seed oil, vitamins C and E, lycopene); control without placebo.
J Cosmet Dermatol, 2015 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the abstract
ev-fosk-08 · Randomized controlled trial(s) · randomized double-blind controlled parallel trial · n = 45
After 10 weeks of omega-3 fatty acid or γ-linoleic acid supplementation, inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions decreased significantly.
Who: 45 participants with mild to moderate acne; omega-3 (2,000 mg EPA+DHA), borage oil, or control
Effect: significant decrease in inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions after 10 weeks; size not given in abstract
Certainty: Small, three arms of about 15; effect size not reported in the abstract.
Acta Derm Venereol, 2014 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the abstract
ev-fosk-09 · Randomized controlled trial(s) · randomized double-masked non-inferiority trial · n = 80
The fish oil group was noninferior to the placebo group in reducing total acne counts from baseline (between-group mean difference: -6.0; 95% CI: -16.5 to 4.5).
Who: participants aged 18-25 years with acne IGA >=3, 10 mg isotretinoin plus 1 g fish oil (n=40) or placebo (n=40), 3 months
Effect: acne count between-group MD -6.0 (95% CI -16.5 to 4.5), non-inferior; smaller fall in corneometer values; smaller TG rise
Certainty: Non-inferiority design: shows fish oil does not hurt efficacy, not that it adds benefit.
J Am Acad Dermatol, 2026 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the abstract
ev-fosk-10 · Randomized controlled trial(s) · double-blind randomized controlled trial · n = 79
Photoimmunosuppression appeared less in the n-3 PUFA group than in the control group (not statistically significant [mean difference (95% CI): 6.9% (-2.1%, 15.9%)]).
Who: 79 nickel-allergic women aged 22-60 years, phototype I or II, 5 g n-3 PUFA lipid (70% EPA, 10% DHA) or control daily for 3 months
Effect: mean difference 6.9% (95% CI -2.1% to 15.9%), not significant; 11% (0.5% to 21.4%) at 3.8 J/cm2 only
Certainty: Surrogate outcome (nickel contact hypersensitivity); high dose; one significant dose level.
Am J Clin Nutr, 2013 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the abstract
ev-fosk-11 · Observational data · systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies · n = 5 studies
Dietary n-3 PUFAs were not associated with BCC (pooled OR 1.05, 95% CIs 0.86-1.28).
Who: two case-control and three cohort studies of dietary n-3 PUFA and skin cancer
Effect: BCC pooled OR 1.05 (0.86-1.28); SCC OR 0.86 (0.59-1.23); melanoma OR 0.52 from one estimate
Certainty: No RCTs; evidence called inadequate by the authors.
Int J Cancer, 2014 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the abstract
ev-fosk-12 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs · n = 24460
Compared with the control group, RxOME3FAs were associated with more treatment-related dysgeusia (fishy taste; p = 0.011) and skin abnormalities (eruption, itching, exanthema, or eczema; p < 0.001).
Who: participants in RCTs of marketed prescription omega-3 products vs control
Effect: more treatment-related skin abnormalities (p < 0.001) and dysgeusia (p = 0.011); no definite serious adverse event
Certainty: Prescription doses (often 2-4 g/day); rate differences not given in abstract.
Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids, 2018 · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the abstract
ev-fosk-13 · Position of an expert body · agency scientific opinion (news summary) · n = —
It concludes that supplemental intakes of EPA and DHA combined at doses up to 5g a day do not raise safety concerns for adults.
Who: adults in the EU
Effect: EPA+DHA up to 5 g/day supplemental: no safety concern; no upper limit set
Certainty: Skin trials above used 1-5 g/day; the UV trial sat at the 5 g ceiling.
EFSA, 2012, news: EFSA assesses safety of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (Scientific Opinion EFSA Journal 2012;10(7):2815) · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the section
ev-fosk-14 · Position of an expert body · agency clinical digest citing a dermatology guideline · n = —
there is inconsistent to no evidence to recommend the use of fish oils, evening primrose oil, borage oil, multivitamin supplements, zinc, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamins B12 and B6 for the treatment of atopic dermatitis
Who: people with atopic dermatitis
Effect: not recommended for lack of evidence
Certainty: T2 summary; matches the Cochrane result (ev-fosk-03).
NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Skin Conditions and Complementary Health Approaches: What the Science Says (Clinical Digest) · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the section
ev-fosk-15 · Position of an expert body · agency clinical digest · n = 13 trials, 625 participants (cited review)
fish oil supplementation did not significantly reduce the severity of psoriasis when assessed by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score
Who: people with psoriasis
Effect: conflicting reviews; most recent meta-analysis null
Certainty: Points back to ev-fosk-01.
NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Skin Conditions and Complementary Health Approaches: What the Science Says (Clinical Digest) · checked 2026-10-07 · we read the section

How this page was made. Evidence was extracted from primary sources into cards, every number was re-checked against the source, and the text was written from those cards. Bioma Learn has no human medical reviewer at this time, and we say so rather than invent one. Methodology. This is information, not medical advice.