Studies of sebum. 5. The composition of some sebum-like materials of human origin

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Abstract
Certain substances thought to be related to sebum (ear wax, vernix caseosa, dermoid and epidermal cyst lipids) were examined and their composition compared with that of sebum. It is concluded that ear wax and vernix caseosa are related to sebum and originate from true or modified sebaceous glands, that epidermal cyst lipid is not related to sebum and that dermoid cyst lipid represents a "sebum" produced by a pathological process. The unsaponiflable matter from the contents of 2 dermoid cysts was examined in detail. The presence of straight- and branched-chain alcohols was established. Some saturated sterol (probably beta-cholestanol) is present and a number of other sterol or sterol-like substances which form insoluble digitonides were found.