An analysis of sebum excretion rate, bacterial population and the production rate of free fatty acids on human skin

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Abstract
Bacteria were sampled using a scrub technique from the skin surface of the faces of 49 female subjects aged 18-21 yr. The sebum excretion rate was determined by a gravimetric method and the level of free fatty acids by titration. The production rate of free fatty acids was calculated from the product of the concentration of free fatty acids in the sebum and the sebum excretion rate. The data was analyzed using Kendall''s rank correlation method. Positive correlations existed between the number of Micrococcaceae and the skin propionibacteria (P < 0.001) and between both groups of organisms and the production rate of free fatty acids (P < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between the size of the bacterial population and the sebum excretion rate. Free fatty acids are produced as a result of bacterial action. The Micrococcaceae and skin propionibacteria do no compete to the detriment of their respective populations. The size of the bacterial population is not dependent upon the sebum excretion rate.