Soy milk suppresses cholesterol-induced inflammatory gene expression and improves the fatty acid profile in the skin of SD rats

► Soy milk suppressed cholesterol-induced expression of IL-1β and COX-2 in the skin. ► Soy milk suppressed macrophage marker gene expression in the skin. ► Soy milk increased skin n-3/n-6 fatty acid ratio lowered by dietary cholesterol. ► Fermented soy milk increased DGLA proportion in skin fatty acids.