NEW INSIGHT INTO THE TOPICAL MANAGEMENT OF EXCESSIVE SEBUM FLOW AT THE SKIN SURFACE

The sebum flow dynamics at the skin surface results from a multistep p rocess starting with sebocyte proliferation, intracellular lipid synth esis, cell lysis in the sebaceous duct, storage of sebum in the follic ular reservoir, discharge through the follicular opening and spreading over the stratum corneum. A handful of topical products may decrease the sebum output, most of them acting at the level of the follicular r eservoir function. Among them, elubiol exhibits a clinically relevant effect on oily skin.