The total sulfhydryl, the protein sulfhydryl and, by subtraction, the soluble sulfhydryl contents were determined after painting with anthracene, 1, 2, 5, 6-dibenzanthracene, 9, 10-dimethyl-1, 2-benzanthracene, or a combination of the 2 carcinogens. The anthracene and the solvent, acetone, had no effect on the sulfhydryl levels. In general the shape of the curve of the total sulfhydryl content of the epidermis and dermis was the same, although the dermis contained approximately half that of the epidermis. For the most part, the effect on the protein sulfhydryl paralleled the corresponding total sulfhydryl curve. The total and the protein sulfhydryl of the epidermis was depressed at the second hour by 1, 2, 5, 6-dibenzanthracene and the combination of the 2 carcinogens by the 2d hour. All carcinogens lowered the total and protein sulfhydryl of the dermis. Most changes in soluble sulfhydryl occurred in the epidermis of the skin.