WHAT IS SEBULAR HYPERPLASIA?Sebaceous gland hyperplasiais an increase in sebaceous glands in the skin, in a single spot. The spots are usually on the face and range from a few millimeters to a centimeter in size. The spots are bumpy, and if you look closely (or with a magnifying glass), you can see small white or yellow round bumps under the skin. These are the sebaceous glands, which have increased in number and size. Often, small red blood vessels also run over them. Sebaceous hyperplasia is a harmless condition.
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| sebaceous gland hyperplasia |
sebaceous gland hyperplasia |
sebaceous gland hyperplasia |
HOW DOES SEBACCO GLAND HYPERPLASIA OCCUR?The cause of sebaceous gland hyperplasia is unknown. It is most commonly seen from the age of 40 onward. Skin aging due to sunlight may be related. The facial area is primarily affected by frequent sun exposure, but also because the facial skin contains a large number of sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands are connected to hair follicles. The sebaceous glands' function is to produce a type of oil (sebum) that keeps the skin supple and prevents dehydration.HOW IS SEBACCO HYPERPLASIA DIAGNOSED?The diagnosis is based on the clinical picture and its appearance. A magnifying glass with a light (a dermatoscope) can help visualize it more clearly. Sebaceous hyperplasia can resemble another common facial skin condition, basal cell carcinoma (see the leaflet on basal cell carcinoma ). Sometimes it's difficult to detect. In that case, a skin biopsy is taken.
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| dermatoscope |
image under dermatoscope |
HOW IS SEBACCO HYPERPLASIA TREATED?Sebaceous gland hyperplasia is a benign condition and does not require treatment. If it is cosmetically disturbing, it can be removed. This can be done for small areas by removing them with a biopsy and sutures, or with minor surgery. It can also be removed with a sharp spoon (scraping, curettage), burned away (electrocoagulation), or vaporized with a CO2 laser (with a conventional CO2 laser or a fractional CO2 laser). Because it is cosmetic, it is not covered by health insurance.WHAT CAN I DO TO PREVENT SEBACCO GLAND HYPERPLASIA?There's nothing you can do about this yourself. Avoiding the sun hasn't been proven to help with sebaceous gland hyperplasia, and it won't make it go away.WHAT ARE THE OUTLOOK?Sebaceous hyperplasia doesn't go away on its own. Over the years, new spots can appear. These spots can be removed if necessary. |
