Provided are a drug, a cosmetic, etc. for promoting production of ceramide.Provided is a ceramide production promoter including a compound represented by the formula (1) or salts thereof as an active ingredient (in the formula, R1 represents a phosphono group or a hydrogen atom, R2 represents an alkyl group having 8 to 24 carbon atoms or an acyl group having 8 to 24 carbon atoms, and R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms when R1 represents a phosphono group or represents a phosphono group when R1 represents a hydrogen atom, or a salt thereof as an active ingredient.