392 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS Figure 5. SEM photograph of hair treated with high-molecular-weight TSA emulsion. •xg of Si. Reproducibility of mg/kg data, between replicate samples and between oper- ators during sample preparation, was within instrumental measurement error when careful attention was paid to accurately weighing the hair sample. Applications of this method show a trend between atomic absorption-determined Si deposition and deposi- tion as visually determined by SEM. REFERENCES (1) C. R. Robbins, Chemical and Physical Behavior of Human Hair (Van Nostrand Reinhold and Co., 1979), p. 39- (2) A. W. Holmes, Degradation of human hair by papain, Part I: The pattern of degradation, Text. Res. J., 34, 706-712 (1964).

j. Soc. Cosmet. Chem., 39, 393-396 (November/December 1988) Abstracts The Annual Scientific Meetings and Seminars of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists are important venues for informing the participants about the state of the art and recent technical advances in the field of Cosmetic Science. To provide broader dissemination of that information, the Publi- cations Committee has decided to publish abstracts of the technical presentations made at these Meetings and Seminars in the Journal.--The Editor. Society of Cosmetic Chemists Annual Seminar May ! 1-12, 1989 Buena Vista Palace, Orlando, Florida Program arranged by the Society's Committee on Scientific Affairs, James Akerson (Clairol, Inc.), Chairman, 1989 The 1989 Annual Seminar is a joint meeting with the American Academy of Dermatology. SESSION A ACNE Acne vulgaris: An overview Peter E. Pochi, M.D., Department of Derma- tology, Conte Medical Research Center, 80 E. Con- cord Street, Boston, MA 02118-2394 Acne vulgaris, the most common skin disorder treated by physicians, affects susceptible pilo-seba- ceous follicles of the face and upper trunk. The pri- mary defect is an altered follicular epithelium, ef- fected by increased epithelial proliferation and by retention hyperkeratosis. The endogenous follicular microflora, predominantly the anaerobic diphther- oid, Propionibacterium acnes, which derives its nu- trient source from the triglyceride moiety of seba- ceous gland secretion (sebum), is, because of the keratinizing abnormality, capable of chemoat- tracting neutrophils to the follicular site. Subse- quent phagocytosis of these organisms by the neu- trophils releases a variety of hydrolytic enzymes re- sulting in follicular wall breakage with ensuing inflammation, manifested clinically as erythema- tous papules, pustules, nodules, or cysts. Therapeutic approaches are thus directed toward (a) reversal of the faulty keratinizing process (b) re- duction of P. acnes and/or its substrate, sebum and (c) inhibition of inflammation. SESSION B SKIN CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS Interactions between dermatologists and cos- metic companies regarding patients with spe- cial skin care needs Myra O. Barker, Ph.D., Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc., 1330 Regal Row, Dallas, TX 75247 Dermatologic patients want to be able to use color cosmetics, skin care and hair care products, fra- grances, and functional products such as antiper- spirants and sunscreens, to allow them to groom themselves attractively and be "like everyone else." Cosmetic company scientists are in an excellent po- sition to assist dermatologists in treating patients with allergic or photoallergic contact dermatitis, atopic eczema, vitiligo, acne, or other skin condi- tions. Cosmetic scientists can offer advice about in- 393