DISORDERS OF THE SCALP 253 space pins or blades to combine large size with effective agglomerate break- down. The experience on which I base these observations does not all come from cosmetic applications, of course. Some of your problems are special ones. But the general rules that apply in such fields as pharmaceuticals, foods, plastics, ceramics, powder metallurgy, chemicals and others provide a pretty sound platform on which to work. TOPICAL AGENTS FOR TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF DISORDERS OF THE SCALP By I•twiN W. LvBowE, M.D.* Presented November $, 1960, Seminar New England Chapter, Storrs, Conn. THE EAR•,•EST humans with whom we are acquainted, namely, the cave men and their apish forebears, possessed hair which covered the en- tire surface of the body. It protected them from the cold, the heat, the sun of the day, the rain and the wind, and also acted as a protective padding against traumatic injury. With the evolution and civilization of man, tie has been shedding his natural hairy covering to become increasingly hairless but with the maintenance of scalp hair. Because of the diminished need for scalp hair it is becoming sparse with the passing of time. The in- cidence of dermatological disturbances of the scalp hair has been increasing during the past decade. The relative increase in the incidence of seborrhea capiris and alopecia has been reported both in the male and in the female. The pathogenesis particularly of' seborrhea capitis is related to altera- tions of the physiology and function of the pilo-sebaceous apparatus. The related causes pertain to a combination of internal or constitutional varia- tions and contributing external or local factors. The internal causes are: (1) hormonal imbalance--disturbance of the relation of hormone secre- tion between androgen and estrogen. (2) impaired metabolism and nutrition. (3) dietary indiscretion such as excessive carbohydrate and lipid intake. (4) increased nervous tension. The external causes are: (l) biochemical changes of the cutaneous tissues of the scalp. (2) increased activity of the resident bacterial and fungal flora. * Assistant Professor, New York Medical College, Metropolitan Hospital Center, New York, N.Y.

DISORDERS OF THE SCALP 253 space pins or blades to combine large size with effective agglomerate break- down. The experience on which I base these observations does not all come from cosmetic applications, of course. Some of your problems are special ones. But the general rules that apply in such fields as pharmaceuticals, foods, plastics, ceramics, powder metallurgy, chemicals and others provide a pretty sound platform on which to work. TOPICAL AGENTS FOR TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF DISORDERS OF THE SCALP By I•twiN W. LvBowE, M.D.* Presented November $, 1960, Seminar New England Chapter, Storrs, Conn. THE EAR•,•EST humans with whom we are acquainted, namely, the cave men and their apish forebears, possessed hair which covered the en- tire surface of the body. It protected them from the cold, the heat, the sun of the day, the rain and the wind, and also acted as a protective padding against traumatic injury. With the evolution and civilization of man, tie has been shedding his natural hairy covering to become increasingly hairless but with the maintenance of scalp hair. Because of the diminished need for scalp hair it is becoming sparse with the passing of time. The in- cidence of dermatological disturbances of the scalp hair has been increasing during the past decade. The relative increase in the incidence of seborrhea capiris and alopecia has been reported both in the male and in the female. The pathogenesis particularly of' seborrhea capitis is related to altera- tions of the physiology and function of the pilo-sebaceous apparatus. The related causes pertain to a combination of internal or constitutional varia- tions and contributing external or local factors. The internal causes are: (1) hormonal imbalance--disturbance of the relation of hormone secre- tion between androgen and estrogen. (2) impaired metabolism and nutrition. (3) dietary indiscretion such as excessive carbohydrate and lipid intake. (4) increased nervous tension. The external causes are: (l) biochemical changes of the cutaneous tissues of the scalp. (2) increased activity of the resident bacterial and fungal flora. * Assistant Professor, New York Medical College, Metropolitan Hospital Center, New York, N.Y.