The Fatty Acids and the Skin: A Focus on the N-6 Family of Unsaturated Fatty Acids
November 2012
TLDR Linoleic acid is essential for healthy skin, and while deficiency is rare in Western societies, it can cause dry, scaly skin and hair loss.
Linoleic acid (18:2(n-6)) was identified as an essential fatty acid crucial for maintaining skin health, with deficiency leading to symptoms like increased trans-epidermal water loss, scaly skin, hair loss, and poor growth due to its role in the lipid structure of the skin's barrier. A dietary intake of 1 energy% of linoleic acid was deemed sufficient to prevent these symptoms, and it was noted that Western diets typically exceed this requirement, making deficiency rare. Additionally, metabolites of linoleic and arachidonic acids were suggested to play roles in skin inflammation, sebum production, and cell processes, though the scientific understanding of these functions was incomplete, preventing specific therapeutic recommendations.
