GLA and LA are the most important essential fatty acids for skin health.
Essential fatty acids are a particular kind of polyunsaturated fatty acid our skin needs for maximum health and youthfulness.
GLA stands for gamma-linolenic acid. It's an Omega-6 fatty acid that our bodies can derive from linoleic acid (LA), the Omega-6 parent compound.
GLA is essential for your skin to have moisture, suppleness, and smoothness to maintain your youthful beauty.
It's found naturally only in a few seed oils, most notably including evening primrose oil, black currant oil, borage seed oil, and hemp seed oil.
It is not found in fish oil, flaxseed oil, or common vegetable oils.
Plus, your body makes it from the more common LA.
Most people in the developed world get enough LA from their diets.
GLA is an anti-inflammatory even though it's an Omega-6 oil.
GLA is Potent for Skin Health and Beauty
Whatever the value of GLA in the diet, it greatly benefits your skin. It helps with dryness, wrinkles, eczema, scleroderma, inflammation, wounds, and dermatitis.
It also slows down the aging of the skin, making it thicker, more moisturized, more elastic, and tighter.
Some experts believe a deficiency of GLA is at the root of all skin disorders.
Lower GLA is One of the Perils of Aging
Increased age can result in the body not making or using enough essential fatty acids. That includes a reduction in how much GLA our bodies can make from the LA in the foods we eat - especially, for women, after menopause. After menopause, the enzyme that converts dietary LA into GLA stops working.
You Can Apply GLA Topically to Your Skin
Applying LA and GLA directly onto your skin can help keep it healthy.
They keep your epidermis strong and well-functioning. This helps it retain moisture within your skin, regulating water loss.
The topical application of GLA has helped relieve a large number of skin disorders such as dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, acne, sunburn, and erythema due to UV radiation. It can also improve wound healing.
Basically, it helps with problems stemming from dry skin and inflammation.
In beauty oils, black currant oil contains the most GLA.
However, borage oil is the major source of taking GLA as a food supplement. Because it's 24% GLA, it contains the highest concentration of the essential fatty acid.
Evening primrose oil contains 8-10% GLA, and black currant oil 15-17%.
In cosmetics, GLA is often used as an antioxidant and emollient. That means it's a moisturizer that smoothes and softens rough, dry skin.
How to Use GLA
Apply borage oil to your face and all problem areas of your skin - especially rashes, rough spots, and wrinkles - right before going to bed.
You should see the difference within a few weeks.
Taking GLA Internally
Many people, especially women concerned about the health and beauty of their aging skin, take borage oil as a supplement - you just swallow a spoonful of the oil every day. Women report it has a nutty, pleasant flavor.
Keep the oil in your refrigerator so it remains fresh.
Some allege it will stop the pain in your breasts and from periods. I can't say this has been proven, but if you suffer from such pain, it's worth trying.
Cautions
Internal consumption of GLA is considered safe for most adults at small doses, such as a spoonful.
However, nobody knows if it affects women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, so avoid it at those times.
It may slow down blood clotting. Therefore, it could increase your risk of bruising or excessive bleeding from wounds.
That also means you should stop taking GLA supplements at least two weeks before any scheduled surgery.
That also means you should not combine GLA with blood-thinning prescription medications such as Plavix and Coumadin - or with any of the many pain medications that incidentally thin your blood. These include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.
Also, do not use GLA if you're taking any of the phenothiazine medications for mental issues, such as Thorazine and Prolixin.
Applying liquid GLA or borage oil directly onto your skin should be safe for nearly everybody. But if you experience any redness or soreness, discontinue use.
https://www.paulaschoice.com/ingredient-dictionary/antioxidants/gamma-linolenic-acid-%28gla%29.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58tHJqgRrZ8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyjeI7HAfw8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=misBnGpWlZA
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-805/gamma-linolenic-acid-gla
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbVv23XufuU
https://www.bioriginal.com/the-effectiveness-of-gla-in-tropical-formulations-for-the-skin/