What Are Essential Fatty Acids and What Do They Have to Do With Skin Care?

Though you've probably heard the word "fats" and associated it with bad health, there are some essential fatty acids (EFAs) that are necessary for your survival. Without them, you could cause serious damage to different systems within the body.

EFAs

The body can synthesize (create) most of the fats it needs through a variety of nutrients. However, two essential fatty acids, linolenic and linoleic acid, cannot be created in the body and must be obtained directly from food through diet. Skin cells receive EFAs through diet as well, but can also acquire them topically. Deficiencies in these fatty acids lead to a host of symptoms and disorders including abnormalities in the liver and the kidneys, reduced growth rates, decreased immune function and depression. EFA deficiencies in the skin can cause various skin maladies including dry skin, acne, pre-mature aging, psoriasis and a variety of other skin ailments.

With respect to the skin, the body needs essential fatty acids to manufacture and repair cellular membranes enabling the skin to acquire nutrients delivered through blood flow and expel waste products. These fats are crucial in building cell walls that are supple and flexible!

EFAs are a vital part of every cell in the body. In skin cells, they are a necessary component of the fluid lipid film coating the cell’s surface. This film maintains moisture, softness and elasticity in the skin as well as providing a protective barrier against the entry of disease-causing organisms and harmful bacteria. The body’s normal secretion of EFAs decreases with age, leaving less protected and dry skin. As we age, we need to make sure our skin retains the required level of essential fatty acids through diet, supplements and feeding the skin directly through topical additives. Topical EFAs also have the benefit of directly adding the type of hydration to the skin that is easily absorbed into epidermal and dermal layers of skin tissue.

Facial oils have become very popular in skin care, and for good reason. They use a simple and elegant technology that protects the skin’s moisture mantle. However, this technology could be improved through the addition of essential fatty acids. Traditional facial oils work by resting on top of the skin, which helps the skin retain its moisture. It's not rocket science, but it's still effective. Adding EFAs improves this technology.

Modern Skin Care Technologies

Scientist on the cutting edge of skincare have been experimenting with fermenting oils traditionally used in facial applications. The fermentation process is natural and leaves no harmful byproducts. Fermenting the oil increases the production of free fatty acids in the oil – the same fatty acids needed for healthy, youthful skin.

Fermented oil technology added to traditional oil technology provides a powerful anti-aging improvement to traditional facial oil technology alone. Look for this technology in all three of our Extraordinary Facial Oil products:

• -Jacqueline's Blend for anti-aging
• -Nancy's Blend for sensitive skin and post aggressive treatments
• -Wooshie's Blend for problematic/Acneic skin