A comparative study of refatting kinetics on the scalp and forehead.

A modified photometric technique has shown considerable differences between the refatting kinetics of the scalp and forehead. The refatting on the forehead occurs rapidly, probably due to the large follicular reservoir. The follicular reservoir of the scalp, which bears a large terminal hair, is much smaller and so the refatting time is longer. Thus, sebum excretion and sebum production rates probably correlate better on the scalp than on the forehead, and we suggest that the scalp may be a better site than the forehead for investigating sebaceous gland physiology.