Barrier & Lipid ·
Linoleic Acid
What is it?
An essential omega-6 fatty acid and key structural component of skin barrier ceramides, commonly supplied via linoleic-acid-rich plant oils.
What does it do?
According to PubMed, a review of linoleic acid's role in skin and hair health found it is metabolized into ceramide components essential for barrier function, and that skin diseases including acne, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are associated with disordered linoleic acid metabolism -- topically applied linoleic acid or linoleic-acid-rich oils showed skin-barrier repair, wound-healing, photoprotective and anti-inflammatory activity in animal/cell-model studies, with clinical human trial data still an active research area.
Local suppliers (Coming soon)
We're building a directory of South African suppliers and manufacturers who stock this ingredient — check back soon.
Sources
This page provides general skincare information and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Ingredient interactions and evidence summaries reflect published, cited sources — not a personal assessment of your skin. For medical skin conditions, rashes, pregnancy/lactation questions or persistent concerns, please consult a licensed dermatologist or HPCSA-registered practitioner.