Background: Fatty acids are common raw materials in cosmetics and also are an important component of skin surface lipids, and their composition and amount affect the skin condition.
Aims: The purpose of this article was to review the results of basic research on fatty acids as skin surface lipids.
Methods: An extensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and other databases for articles on fatty acids from 1993 to 2020.
Results: This article provides an overview of the mechanisms of fatty acid synthesis and its metabolic pathways as skin surface lipids in the context of sebaceous and intercellular lipids. The three mechanisms by which fatty acids affect the skin condition are also reviewed.
Conclusions: This information will aid further understanding of the mechanism of the fatty acid role in skin function maintenance and provide new perspectives for the management of skin health.
Keywords: anti-inflammatory; fatty acid; metabolism; skin condition; skin micro-ecological balance; skin surface lipid.
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