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Sebaceous glands are small glands in the skin which secretes an oily matter (sebum) in the hair follicles to lubricate the skin and hair of animals. In humans, they are found in greatest abundance on the face and scalp, though they are distributed throughout all skin sites except the palms and soles.1 The extreme use (up to 10 times doctor prescribed amounts) of anabolic steroids by bodybuilders for muscle gain and repartitioning effects tend to stimulate the sebaceous glands which can cause acne.2
Sebum composition
The composition of sebum varies from species to species; in humans, the lipid content is as follows:3
| Percent composition | Substance |
| 25% | wax monoesters |
| 41% | triglycerides |
| 16% | free fatty acids |
| 12% | squalene |
Additional images
 Pilosebaceous unit |
 Base of pilosebaceous unit |
 Insertion of sebaceous glands into hair shaft |
 A hair follicle with associated structures. |
References
- ^ James, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005) Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology (10th ed.). Saunders. Page 7. ISBN 0721629210.
- ^ Abuse Of Anabolic Steroids Causes Acne In Bodybuilders, by Medinda.com
- ^ Cheng JB, Russell DW (2004). "Mammalian wax biosynthesis. II. Expression cloning of wax synthase cDNAs encoding a member of the acyltransferase enzyme family". J. Biol. Chem. 279 (36): 37798–807. doi:. PMID 15220349, http://www4.utsouthwestern.edu/moleculargenetics/pdf/dr_cur_res/JBiolChem2004-II.pdf.
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