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VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS · GUIDE

Omega-3 for Skin, Hair and Nails: Dry Skin, Psoriasis, Acne and Hair Loss Evidence

What trials and reviews found for omega-3 supplements and psoriasis, eczema, acne, hair loss, dry skin and nails, and why combination-product results do not transfer to omega-3 alone.

Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.

Back to Omega Fatty Acids Explained: Omega-3, Omega-6 and Omega-9
Quick answer
Claims that omega-3 improves skin, hair or nails are well ahead of the research. For psoriasis, reviews found no clear effect of fish oil on its own, with a possible benefit when added to conventional treatment. For eczema and acne, the trials are small and results are mixed. For hair, the trials we found tested combination products, so they cannot show what omega-3 alone does. For dry skin and nails in healthy people, we did not find usable trials. This page is information only; a skin condition that is changing, painful, infected or spreading, or sudden hair loss, needs a clinician.

Evidence labels used here

"Mixed" means trials disagree. "Insufficient evidence" means too few or weak trials. "No good evidence of benefit" means trials did not show an effect. "Promising but limited" means small or short trials. "Marketing claim" means a statement made for products without trial support. Products differ (fish oil, omega-3 plus other ingredients), so each row names the product.

What the research found

9 items reportedMost serious first. The colour shows how severe each report was.

  1. Psoriasis, fish oil or omega-3 alone

    Unclear

    Review of 18 trials (927 people): no effect on PASI score, lesion area or itch. [1] A separate meta-analysis (3 usable trials, 337 people) also found no significant PASI change. [2]

    No good evidence of benefit

  2. Psoriasis, added to conventional treatment

    Unclear

    The 18-trial review found lower PASI (mean difference -3.92) when fish oil or omega-3 was combined with standard treatments. [1]

    Promising but limited

  3. Psoriasis, overall view

    Unclear

    A JAMA Dermatology review found most fish oil RCTs showed no significant improvement, while most uncontrolled studies showed benefit. [3]

    Mixed

  4. Established eczema, fish oil

    Unclear

    Cochrane review (11 studies, 596 people): two small studies suggest possible modest benefit, but the authors found no convincing evidence for supplements. [4]

    Insufficient evidence

  5. Children's eczema, a combined product

    Unclear

    A 52-child trial of omega-3 plus gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and vitamin D reported lower SCORAD scores. [5]

    Promising but limited; combination, small

  6. Acne, EPA plus DHA

    Unclear

    A 10-week trial in 45 people with mild to moderate acne: 2,000 mg a day of EPA and DHA, or borage oil (GLA), lowered lesion counts vs a control group. [6] A 2023 review of oral nutraceuticals listed omega-3 among those with possible benefit, from small studies. [7]

    Promising but limited

  7. Hair loss in women

    Unclear

    A 6-month trial of 120 women used a supplement of omega 3 and 6 plus antioxidants; hair density improved vs control. [8]

    Combination product; omega-3 effect not separable

  8. Pattern hair loss, network review

    Unclear

    19 trials of 16 supplements; "Omega 3&6" was one of several with higher blinded-doctor scores. [9]

    Combination product; omega-3 effect not separable

  9. Dry skin, nails

    Unclear

    Proper evidence not found. We searched PubMed for omega-3 or fish oil with skin dryness, hydration and nail terms and found no usable trial of omega-3 alone.

    Marketing claim

Related pages

See the Wellness Goals pages on psoriasis, acne and dry skin and the skin barrier.

Frequently asked questions

Does fish oil clear psoriasis?

Fish oil on its own had no effect on psoriasis severity in an 18-trial review. [1] Some trials that added it to standard treatment reported lower PASI scores, so talk to your dermatologist rather than substituting it. [1]

Can omega-3 help eczema?

A Cochrane review found two small fish oil studies suggesting a possible modest benefit, but concluded there was no convincing evidence for dietary supplements in eczema. [4]

Does omega-3 help acne?

One 10-week trial of 45 people found fewer acne lesions with EPA and DHA, and a review lists omega-3 among nutraceuticals with possible benefit. [6][7] The evidence is limited to small studies.

Does omega-3 make hair grow?

The hair trials we found tested supplements that also contained omega-6 fatty acids and antioxidants, so they do not show what omega-3 alone does. [8] Sudden or patchy hair loss should be evaluated by a clinician.

Is omega-3 good for dry skin or brittle nails?

Proper evidence not found: we found no usable trials of omega-3 alone for dry skin or nails in our PubMed searches.

More details: evidence, limits and cautions

The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.

Limits and uncertainty
  • A trial of a blend (omega-3 and omega-6, GLA, vitamin D or antioxidants) cannot be credited to omega-3. Do not transfer these results to a plain fish oil or algal oil capsule.
  • Many skin trials are small and short. The acne and child eczema trials above enrolled fewer than 60 people each. [6][5]
  • Hair shedding has many causes, some of which are found through blood tests and a clinical exam. Look at the pattern before choosing any supplement; see hair shedding and thinning and nutrition for skin and hair.
Safety and who should ask a clinician
NCCIH lists unpleasant taste, bad breath, bad-smelling sweat, headache and stomach upset as usual side effects. [10] Fish-based products carry fish and shellfish allergy warnings on prescription labeling. [11] Do not replace prescribed psoriasis, eczema or acne treatment with a supplement, and tell your dermatologist and pharmacist about omega-3 products, particularly if you take blood thinners. See omega-3 safety, medication interactions and skin and hair safety.
References
  1. Chen X et al. Efficacy of fish oil and its components in the management of psoriasis: a systematic review of 18 randomized controlled trials. Nutr Rev 2020. Read 2026-10-23.
  2. Yang SJ, Chi CC. Effects of fish oil supplement on psoriasis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC Complement Altern Med 2019. Read 2026-10-23.
  3. Gamret AC et al. Complementary and alternative medicine therapies for psoriasis: a systematic review. JAMA Dermatol 2018. Read 2026-10-23.
  4. Bath-Hextall FJ et al. Dietary supplements for established atopic eczema. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012. Read 2026-10-23.
  5. Niseteo T et al. Effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on clinical outcome of atopic dermatitis in children. Nutrients 2024. Read 2026-10-23.
  6. Jung JY et al. Effect of dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid and gamma-linolenic acid on acne vulgaris: a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial. Acta Derm Venereol 2014. Read 2026-10-23.
  7. Shields A et al. Safety and effectiveness of oral nutraceuticals for treating acne: a systematic review. JAMA Dermatol 2023. Read 2026-10-23.
  8. Le Floc'h C et al. Effect of a nutritional supplement on hair loss in women. J Cosmet Dermatol 2015. Read 2026-10-23.
  9. Zhou et al. Effects of dietary supplements on androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Front Nutr 2026. Read 2026-10-23.
  10. NCCIH, Omega-3 Supplements: What You Need To Know. Read 2026-10-23.
  11. US National Library of Medicine, DailyMed prescribing information for a prescription icosapent ethyl (EPA ethyl ester) product. Read 2026-10-23.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.