Some Observations on the Nature, Origin and Possible Function of the Squalene and Other Hydrocarbons of Human Sebum

Abstract

In a study of the general composition of the surface skin fat or sebum from the human forearm (MacKenna, Wheatley and Wormall (1)) it was found that this material contains a high proportion of hydrocarbons constituting about half the non-saponifiable matter or about one-sixth of the whole sebum. Squalene was identified as one of the major constituents, accounting for about one-third of the total hydrocarbons. At about the same time Sobel (2) showed that this substance was a normal constituent of human hair fat, ear wax and smegma, and Cmelik, Petrak-Longhino and Mihelic (3) established its presence in vernix caseosa. The presence of squalene in these sebum and sebum-like materials presents an interesting biochemical problem as to its origin and possible func- tions in the skin. Its role is even more significant as it appears to be a possible intermediary in the metabolism of cholesterol (Langdon and Bloch (4)). We have also found that paraffins are present in the hydrocarbon fraction of human sebum (5, 6) and we now report some investigations which have been made in an endeavour to elucidate the role played by the sebum hydrocarbons.