Determination of free glycerol on human skin surface

In water soluble substances obtained by water extraction from human skin surface, free glycerol was detected by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. A selected ion monitoring method was employed to measure low concentration of free glycerol and the mean amounts were found to be about 0.7 microgram cm-2 on the cheek and 0.2 microgram cm-2 on the forearm and sole.