Flaxseed for Skin: Are DIY Beauty Remedies Worth the Hype? Experts Weigh In

Flaxseeds are all over the internet. While health gurus are urging followers to add it to their diet, beauty influencers are smearing it all over their faces and hair. Some are claiming that these seeds are the ‘natural’ alternative to Botox, and others swear it is even better. Flaxseeds are hailed for their heart-healthy, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancerous properties, but are they really beneficial for your hair and skin? Is the hype around flax seeds real? Let’s take a look.

One tablespoon, which is 7 g of ground flaxseed, contains:

• Calories: 37

• Carbs: 2 g

• Fat: 3 g

• Fiber: 2 g

• Protein: 1 g

• Thiamine: 10% of the Daily Value (DV)

• Copper: 9% of the DV

• Manganese: 8% of the DV

• Magnesium: 7% of the DV

• Phosphorus: 4% of the DV

• Selenium: 3% of the DV

• Zinc: 3% of the DV

• Vitamin B6: 2% of the DV

• Iron: 2% of the DV

• Folate: 2% of the DV

Flaxseeds are an excellent source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, lignans, and antioxidants. According to Dr. Mokanalakshmi, a leading dermatologist based in Chennai, India, these seeds can hydrate the skin. “As it contains plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, it will help to keep your skin hydrated. It will also improve skin elasticity,” she said in a video shared on YouTube. Flaxseeds help reduce inflammation, balance sebum production, and fight free radicals, hence providing a glowing skin. But here’s the catch: you have to consume it, instead of applying it to your face.

“Any seed or any nut, for that matter; you crush it, soak it, and it's very rich in fatty acids. They are hydrating. But why would you want to apply it to the face? I don't know, you would rather eat it, wouldn't you?” Dr. Rashmi Shetty asks in a video shared on Instagram.
She explains that the flaxseed cream and serum currently available are created in a bioavailable form. “People extract it and give it to you in a way that the skin is able to use it,” she adds. However, grounding or soaking flaxseeds is not the same. She emphasizes that something that is edible, not mean your skin can use it. “There is bioavailability; it has to reach a certain layer in your skin, it has to work a certain way on your skin. All this is heavily scientific and engineered. It cannot be that you take some flaxseed and put it on your face,” she says. But can it be an alternative to cosmetic procedures, including Botox? “Come on, not happening!” she says.

Beauty influencers are raving about flaxseed masks, where they soak the seeds in water, and when they form a gel-like texture, it's applied on the face. But are these topical masks effective? And can they really produce the effects of Botox? Dr. Rashmi Shetty, a board-certified dermatologist who works with the top Indian actors, does not think so. She agrees that flaxseeds are a rich source of fatty acids; however, the flaxseed mask is not as effective as you think, according to her.

Well, that leaves us to the most important question. Then how do we harness the power of flaxseeds? Consuming them. Yes, eating the flaxseeds is better than smearing them on your face. Dr. Priyanka Reddy, a leading dermatologist and cosmetologist, also reveals the best way to consume them. She suggests consuming ground flax seeds instead of whole. “Whole flax passes undigested; grinding helps absorb omega-3s,” she explains in a video shared on Instagram. According to the dermatologist, consuming flaxseeds in the morning, either as a smoothie or mixed with yogurt, is ideal. She agrees that flaxseed masks for the face are overrated and ranks it 2 out of 10.

US health organizations don’t have specific dietary recommendations for flaxseeds. However, eating just 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds daily will be enough to get its health benefits. 1 to 2 tablespoons (7 to 14 g) of ground flaxseed daily is a healthy amount. Beyond that would drastically exceed the recommended fiber content when combined with a balanced diet.