Composition of the unsaponifiable matter of vernix caseosa

Abstract

Detailed examination of the unsaponifiable material from the skin wax of newly born babies has shown that the saturated aliphatic alcohols contain a high proportion of branched-chain compounds, and the aliphatic α,β-dials consist almost entirely of branched-chain compounds. The sterol fraction consists of cholesterol, and a minor amount of an unidentified sterol. The hydrocarbon fraction consists entirely of squalene.