How do I get fish oil smell off my skin?

Q: Does fish oil cause body odor?

Adverse Effects and Contraindications Taking fish-oil supplements can cause the skin, breath, and urine to have a fishy smell.

Table of Contents Show

Fish Odor Removal
Reduce Fish Oil Side Effects
Fish Oil Benefits
References
About This Article
Reader Success Stories
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How do you get rid of oil smell on skin?
How do you get rid of the smell of fishy oil?
Does fish oil smell go away?
Does fish oil cause body odor?

Vinegar and lemon juice often help remove fish oil odor.

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One of the unpleasant aspects associated with taking fish oil pills is the odor they can leave on your skin, hair and clothing. You can get rid of this fish oil smell using vinegar and lemon juice.

Tip

Vinegar and lemon juice often help remove fish oil odor.

Fish Odor Removal

To get rid of a fish oil smell from in the hair, usually a simple shampooing will do the trick. If this doesn't work, shampoo a second or third time. Another method is to rub lemon juice through the hair, and then allow it to soak in for 10 minutes. Afterwards, shampoo the hair.

If you get the odor on your hands, you can remove it with lemon juice. This involves cutting a lemon into wedges, squeezing the juice on your hands, and then rinsing with water. An alternative method consists of rubbing your hands with toothpaste and then washing them with soap and water. A third way to remove the smell is to rub vinegar on your hands.

Getting the fish oil smell out of clothes is a process that can start with letting the garments dry in direct sunlight before putting them in the washing machine. A second method involves putting the garments in a mixture of 20 parts water and one part vinegar. Soak them for 15 minutes and then launder.

Reduce Fish Oil Side Effects

The National Institutes of Health reports that the common side effects of fish oil supplements are usually mild. These include gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, odorous perspiration, headache, heartburn, bad breath and an unpleasant taste.

When taken as directed, fish oil is generally safe. Higher doses can cause bleeding and possibly increase the risk of stroke, warns the Mayo Clinic.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, the following tips can make taking fish pills less unpleasant:

Keep the pills in the freezer, so the oil will break down more slowly in the stomach. This should decrease the aftertaste.
Choose pills with an enteric coating, which delays their digestion until they reach the intestine.
Take the pills with a meal.
If you take one dose per day, divide it into two doses, so the stomach has a smaller amount to handle with each ingestion.
Choose a supplement made by a well-known, reputable company. In other words, avoid the cheaper pills.
Look for a product with a formula that includes lipase, an enzyme that breaks down fat.

Fish Oil Benefits

Fish oil contains docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, omega-3 fatty acids associated with an array of positive wellness effects. Harvard Health says that foods with these nutrients are very healthy, but evidence of benefits from taking the supplements is inconsistent for cardiovascular disease.

Studies on fish oil for cancer are mixed, with some indicating a possible anticancer advantage and others showing no benefit. Strong evidence indicates that the supplement decreases triglycerides, but the effect on cholesterol is mixed, states the Mayo Clinic. No research suggests that it helps with sexual functions.

The Mayo Clinic notes that multiple studies show modest reductions in blood pressure from taking fish oil pills. This advantage may be greater for people with moderate to high blood pressure than for those with mildly elevated blood pressure.

Research indicates that a fish oil supplement may reduce the morning stiffness, pain and joint tenderness of people with rheumatoid arthritis. The benefit is usually modest, but it may lessen the need for anti-inflammatory drugs, all of which have more serious side effects.

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While fish is a delicious and healthy meal, it usually leaves behind an unpleasant odor. Whether you've handled fish while cooking dinner or on a fishing trip, the smell can stay on your hands for hours. Luckily, there are many home remedies for removing fishy odors from your hands. You can mix up homemade cleaners using vinegar and lemon juice or baking soda and water. You can also scrub your hands with toothpaste. Finally, you can rub your hands on stainless steel appliances to absorb the smell from your skin. Any of these methods can help remove fishy odors and leave your hands smelling fresh.

1
Pour 2 tbsp (28.6 g) of baking soda into a bowl and add 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of water. Baking soda is used in many household cleaners and air fresheners because it naturally absorbs odors. Take advantage of this quality by making a baking soda wash for your hands. Start by mixing the baking soda and water together with a spoon until it forms a paste. [1]
- If the baking soda is still too powdery, add a little more water. Don't dump in so much that the mixture is mostly liquid. This won't stay on your hands and the smell will remain.
2
Rub the paste all over your hands. Scrub your hands and get the mixture in all the places the fish touched. This allows the baking soda to neutralize the odors from the fish. Remember to scrub between your fingers and the backs of your hands as well. Then let the paste sit on your hands for about a minute.[2]
- Scrub well so you get rid of all the remaining scales and remnants of the fish. Any particles left behind might still smell.
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3
Rinse your hands with water. When you’ve scrubbed your hands with the baking soda paste, rinse your hands under the faucet. This should remove any remaining baking soda residue as well as the fish odor.[3]
- If your hands still feel sticky or there is baking soda residue on them, wash your hands normally with soap and water.

1
Pour 1 cup (240 mL) of vinegar and 1⁄4 cup (59 mL) of lemon juice into a bowl. Vinegar binds with odors and removes them from the air, while the citric acid in lemon juice neutralizes the smelly ammonia in fish. Combine these 2 ingredients in a bowl. Then add a drop of dish soap. Mix the contents together with a spoon and let it sit for 30 minutes.[4]
- The lemon juice can be freshly-squeezed or from a store-bought bottle. It will have the same effect.
- If you have sensitive skin, you should skip this solution. Undiluted vinegar can burn and irritate your skin. Consider another solution if you're prone to skin irritations.[5]
2
Scrub your hands with the mixture. After the contents have been sitting for 30 minutes, put your hands into the bowl and scrub them. Rub the mixture on all the places where the fish touched. Remember to scrub in between your fingers as well.[6]
- Do this over a sink to avoid spilling the contents on your table.
- If you have any cuts on your hand, be prepared for this mixture to sting a bit.
3
Wash your hands with soap and water after. After scrubbing your hands with the vinegar and lemon mixture, wash your hands normally. Use soap and warm water, and rinse your hands thoroughly afterward. This should remove the fish odor and leave behind a citrusy smell.[7]

1
Wet your hands with warm water. Toothpaste is designed to neutralize bacteria and improve your breath. The same mechanism helps combat odors from fish. Start by running your hands under the faucet and getting them wet. If your hands are dry, the toothpaste won’t spread well. Rub them together so the water spreads over the front and back of your hands.[8]
2
Squeeze a dab of toothpaste onto your hands and rub it around. You can use the same amount you would use to brush your teeth. Rub the toothpaste all over the front and back of your hands. If the fish touched anywhere besides your hands, like on your arms, rub toothpaste here as well.[9]
- All types of toothpaste should work for this method because toothpaste is designed to scrub bacteria off your teeth. The same mechanism can scrub the smelly fish bacteria off your skin.
- For the best results, use a toothpaste that contains baking soda. Baking soda naturally removes smells, so the combination will work well for fish smells.
3
Rinse the toothpaste off with warm water. After you’ve spread the toothpaste all over, wash it off with warm water. Rinse your hands well so no sticky residue stays behind. The fish smell should come off and your hands will have a new, minty aroma.[10]
- If your hands still feel sticky or clammy after the toothpaste scrub, wash your hands normally with soap and water.

1
Rinse your hands off with water. Stainless steel can absorb the fishy smell, but not the solid fish pieces. Start by rinsing off your hands under the faucet to remove any remaining fish pieces.[11]
- While there are proponents of using hot water or cold water to remove odors, there is no official difference between the two. Just make sure the water is clean and flowing.[12]
2
Rub your hands on a stainless steel faucet for one minute. Proponents say that certain molecules in stainless steel bind with odor molecules and reduce smells. Rub your hands on the faucet or another stainless steel appliance in your kitchen. Remember to rub the front and back of your hands on the steel so it absorbs all the smell.[13]
- There are also special stainless steel bars designed for removing odors. If you don’t have a stainless steel faucet in your home, you could try ordering one of these. Keep in mind that they can be fairly expensive and cost up to $30.
3
Wash your hands normally with soap and water.[14] After rubbing your hands on the stainless steel, remove any remaining fish pieces with a thorough hand washing. Rinse your hands completely when you’re finished.[15]
- Wipe down your faucet well after rubbing your hands on it. Although stainless steel absorbs odors, any fish remnants left behind can start smelling again. Use a cleaning wipe to wash off the faucet when you're done.
- If the faucet still smells after this, try one of the other methods for removing fish smell on it.

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If you’re cooking fish, leave a bowl of vinegar next to the pan. The vinegar will absorb smells from the air and prevent a lingering odor.

As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!

References

About This Article

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 364,763 times.

Reader Success Stories

Carol Roberts
Jun 6, 2016
"I used the toothpaste tip and it worked! Thank you."

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How do you get rid of oil smell on skin?

After the job wash your hands with handwash soap as clean as possible. Go to the fridge and get a small piece of butter and use it like a hand cream. Cover your hands, finger nails and arms in butter. Wait for about 2-3 minutes and after that wash everything off with normal soap.

How do you get rid of the smell of fishy oil?

How to Get Rid of a Fish Smell in Frying Oil.

A slice of ginger root helps remove fishy taste. Cut a good-sized slice of unpeeled ginger. ... .

Heat the oil over low heat, taking care not to get it too hot. Add the slice of ginger to the heated oil..

Allow the ginger to simmer in the oil for about 15 minutes..

Does fish oil smell go away?

These oxidation byproducts are what gives off the unpleasant smell and taste of spoiled fish. The rate at which the omega-3 molecules oxidize depends on a number of factors, including how the fish were harvested and the oil processed. But once an oil has started to oxidize, there is no going back.