A modified photometric technique for measuring sebum excretion rate.

Accurate measurement of sebum excretion is necessary to evaluate drugs such as anti-androgen and the new retinoic acid derivatives. Existing techniques are good, but some are inaccurate at high levels of sebum and are time-consuming for technicians. We have therefore, re-examined sebum excretion methodology and have developed a modified photometric technique. This technique, which utilizes a robust, portable machine gives data which are accurate at all levels of sebum production and reduces the technician time of analysis without loss of accuracy or reproducibility.