The skin is the first line of defense against a multitude of external pathogens and plays an important role in protecting the body from their harm. Psychological stress refers to the emotional and psychological reactions people exhibit when confronted with various stressors and challenges, with a variety of factors serving as potential triggers. Long-term psychological stress can cause an imbalance in body homeostasis, and even result in diseases. Clinical and experimental evidence shows that psychological stress may lead to the dysfunction of skin cells through neuroendocrine reactions, thus profoundly affecting the local physiological functions of the skin, causing significant changes in the skin barrier function, and leading to skin health problems. In this article, we provide an updated overview of the effects of psychological stress on the skin barrier function.