On the influence of an external therapy with dexamethasone-21-sodium-m-sulfobenzoate on the amount of free fatty acids in the skin surface lipids.

A lipid-free preparation containing 0.076% dexamethasone-21-sodium-m-sulfobenzoate (corresponding to 0.05% dexamethasone) has been applied to the right side of the back and the same vehicle without the agent to the left side of the back of 16 male subjects without any skin diseases. The applications were made twice daily over a period of 26 days. Two days after the final application the skin surface lipids were analysed quantitatively by means of the direct extraction method and the paper absorption method. Thin layer chromatograpical analyses were also carried out. The sum of skin surface lipids is not altered by dexamethasone-21-sodium-m-sulfobenzoate. This agent does, however, induce a significant increase in the free fatty acids at the expense of the triglycerides. The importance of this result is discussed with reference to the pathogenesis of steroid acne.