Quantification of n-alkanes in stratum corneum in the hereditary ichthyoses.

Chromatographic assay of n-alkanes in skin showed detectable levels in normal controls and in patients with various forms of hereditary ichthyosis. Raised n-alkanes were found in some, but not all, patients with non-bullous and bullous ichthyosiform erythroderma and in individual patients with lamellar ichthyosis, ichthyosis vulgaris and Netherton's syndrome. The finding of elevated scale n-alkanes is neither consistent in ichthyosis, nor specific to any one type of ichthyosis, and n-alkane assay is not helpful in distinguishing one type of hereditary ichthyosis from another. The source of n-alkanes in ichthyotic scale and their role, if any, in the pathogenesis of ichthyosis remain obscure.