The invention concerns fatty acid uninterrupted by a methylene as anti-inflammatory agents in superficial tissues of mammals, more particularly a pharmaceutical or cosmetic topical composition comprising, as active principle, at least one fatty acid non-interrupted by a methylene corresponding to formula (I), in which the fatty acid uninterrupted by a methylene is in the form of an acid, a salt or an ester, and R is a C1-C5 alkyl group and R is a C2-C6 alkyl group, preferably wherein the fatty acid uninterrupted by a methylene is the 20:3(5,11,14). Said fatty acids uninterrupted by a methylene are used for preparing a composition for modulating the metabolism of lipids in the superficial tissues of mammals.