Abstract
Summary
Squalene, an isoprene polymer occurring in normal human sebum, caused complete reversible local depilation in rabbits and guinea pigs after a single topical application. No hair loss was observed in mice. In vitro, squalene inactivated the free sulfhydryl groups of glutathione, human epidermis and mouse liver and inhibited succinic dehydrogenase activity of mouse liver. The depilatory and sulfhydryl inactivating effects of squalene are believed to be due to alkylation of the sulfhydryl group by the unsaturated double bonds in the molecule. The possibility is raised that squalene or a related unsaturated compound in sebum may influence human hair growth.
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