LOCAL DEPILATORY ACTION OF UNSATURATED COMPOUNDS - THE EFFECT OF HUMAN SEBUM ON HAIR GROWTH

[摘要] Workers in the synthetic neoprene rubber industry suffer from reversible loss of nair. Chloroprene polymer and dimers painted on the skin of mice, guinea pigs, rabbits and chicks produced in two weeks a reversible total alopecia at the site of application. The loss of hair is accompanied by a thickening of the epidermis and other signs of local irritation. The depilating effect is probably due to inactivation of free sulfhydryl compounds, especially succinic dehydrogenase, probably due to the -C=C grouping in the molecules. Other compounds with the same grouping, such as allyl laurate, allyl benzoate and allyi diphenyl acetate had similar in vivo and in vitro activity as the chloroprene dimers. Vitamin A, also an isoprene polymer, had reversible local depilatory effect but no effect on sulfhydryl compounds in vitro. Squalene, another isoprene polymer, a natural component of human sebum, caused reversible hair loss without inflammation. Contrary to Vitamin A, it inactivates sulfhydryl compounds and succinic dehydrogenase. The same action had complete human sebum. The possibility is discussed that human sebum may play a role in the etiology of common male baldness.