Quantitative thin layer chromatography for the analysis of skin surface lipids. A time-saving method using a new TLC plate.

Recently a new thin layer chromatography plate (Whatman LK 6D) became available which is extremely easy to handle and permits highly reproducible qualitative and quantitative analysis. This plate proved to be of great value for the investigation of skin surface lipids. The use of a fatty acid methyl ester as an internal standard makes it unnecessary to employ additional gravimetrical or photometrical methods for quanitative lipid analysis. The method presented in this paper is simpler and requires much less time than alternative procedures and allows a large number of lipid samples to be processed simultaneously.