•Marine macroalgae derived compounds are potential therapeutic agents in dermatology.•Seaweed extracts has been shown to protect skin from photo-damage.•Antibacterial compounds derived from macroalgae can fight acne and chronic wounds.•Anti-tumor activity of macroalgae extracts can be exploited to treat melanoma.•Skin whitening and anti-pigmentation properties of seaweed extracts are also discussed. Functional components extracted from algal biomass are widely used as dietary and health supplements with a variety of applications in food science and technology. In contrast, the applications of algae in dermal-related products have received much less attention, despite that algae also possess high potential for the uses in anti-infection, anti-aging, skin-whitening, and skin tumor treatments. This review, therefore, focuses on integrating studies on algae pertinent to human skin care, health and therapy. The active compounds in algae related to human skin treatments are mentioned and the possible mechanisms involved are described. The main purpose of this review is to identify serviceable algae functions in skin treatments to facilitate practical applications in this high-potential area.