[Effects of various solvents on skin surface lipid composition]

1. Samples of cutaneous sebum were taken from different skin regions, according to the method of Herrmann and Prose. 2. Some samples were removed from the skin using diethyl ether, while others were removed under similar conditions, with cyclohexane. 3. As a rule, thin-layer chromatography revealed darker, clearer and more numerous bands after the use of diethyl ether, than after the use of cyclohexane. However, some exceptions were seen. 4. The chromatograms showed individual differences while the differences between the samples taken from different skin regions of one and the same person were less considerable. 5. Despite the individual differences, the samples taken from persons without skin diseases showed some characteristic features.