Hair Loss From Sebum

The document discusses a group of unsaturated compounds that cause temporary hair loss in laboratory animals by affecting hair shafts, follicles, and keratinization. These compounds include synthetic dimers of chloroprene, allyl laurate, allyl benzoate, allyl diphenyl acetate, and naturally occurring vitamin A2 and squalene. Except for vitamin A, these substances inhibit free sulfhydryl groups in tissue proteins, with the depilatory effect attributed to the -C=C- groups in the molecules. Chloroprene dimers and vitamin A have also been shown to cause hair loss in humans. Squalene, an unsaturated hydrocarbon, is highlighted for its unique position among these compounds.