Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Sebaceous hyperplasiais a harmless skin disorder in which the oil gland (sebaceous gland) that surrounds a hair follicle gets bigger, forming a bump. If these glands produce too much oil, skin issues like clogged pores, acne, and sebaceous hyperplasia can result.
Stress, age, certain medications, sun exposure, hormones, and/or genetics may all play a part in the over-production of oil. The exact cause is unknown.
Sebaceous hyperplasia typically doesn’t go away without treatment, which many people elect to do for cosmetic reasons.
LumiNola / Getty Images
What Causes Sebaceous Hyperplasia?
Sebaceous hyperplasia bumps are not rashes, growths, or cancer. They are enlargedsebaceous glandsthat produce an oil calledsebum. This oil keeps the skin lubricated and healthy.
Several factors are thought to contribute to sebaceous hyperplasia.
Hormones
Androgens are male sex hormones. These hormones, especiallytestosterone, stimulate sebaceous glands to produce more oil. Their role is very evident during puberty when a large increase in androgens leads many teens to have very oily skin.
With age, androgens decrease. This slows sebaceous gland activity and oil production. Cell turnover (the rate at which dead cells are replaced with fresh ones) also slows down. These dead cells back up within the sebaceous gland, causing it to enlarge.
Risk Factors
Sebaceous hyperplasia is more commonly seen in:
Among healthy people, about 1% develop sebaceous hyperplasia.
Seborrheic Keratosis vs. Sebaceous HyperplasiaSeborrheic keratosis typically appears as rough, tan to brown growths on the skin that may bleed or be itchy.Sebaceous hyperplasia looks like small flesh-colored to yellowish bumps and does not itch or bleed.
Seborrheic Keratosis vs. Sebaceous Hyperplasia
Seborrheic keratosis typically appears as rough, tan to brown growths on the skin that may bleed or be itchy.Sebaceous hyperplasia looks like small flesh-colored to yellowish bumps and does not itch or bleed.
Sebaceous Hyperplasia Symptoms
Sebaceous hyperplasia can appear as a single bump or multiple bumps in a cluster or line. The bumps range from 1 or 2 mm to several millimeters in size. They are often the same color as your skin but may also look white to slightly yellow.
The bumps don’t hurt or itch. They may bleed if you knock them or shave over them, though.
Sebaceous hyperplasia most often develops on the face. The most common places to find them are the forehead, cheeks, and nose. Babies often have bumps on the upper lip.
Uncommonly, the bumps can appear in other places, such as:
Sebaceous hyperplasia bumps don’t usually go away on their own, except in newborns. Their bumps usually disappear within a few months.
Acne or Sebaceous Hyperplasia?Because the bumps look similar tonon-inflamed acne breakouts, the condition is sometimes confused withcomedonal acne.If you look closely, though, you may see a depressed or pitted area in the center of the bump. You may also be able to see tiny blood vessels inside. These are clues you’re not dealing with acne.
Acne or Sebaceous Hyperplasia?
Because the bumps look similar tonon-inflamed acne breakouts, the condition is sometimes confused withcomedonal acne.If you look closely, though, you may see a depressed or pitted area in the center of the bump. You may also be able to see tiny blood vessels inside. These are clues you’re not dealing with acne.
Because the bumps look similar tonon-inflamed acne breakouts, the condition is sometimes confused withcomedonal acne.
If you look closely, though, you may see a depressed or pitted area in the center of the bump. You may also be able to see tiny blood vessels inside. These are clues you’re not dealing with acne.
Diagnosing Sebaceous Hyperplasia
Your healthcare provider can usually diagnose sebaceous hyperplasia with a simple visual inspection. If there’s any question about the diagnosis, though, they may order askin biopsy. This will help rule out other conditions, like skin cancer.
Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between sebaceous hyperplasia and a skin cancer calledbasal cell carcinoma.Basal cell carcinoma often appears on thehead or neck. It looks like a shiny, raised, and round pimple, scar, or sore.
Basal cell carcinoma.Science Photo Library / Getty Images
Science Photo Library / Getty Images
A biopsy can also help rule out sebaceous gland carcinoma. This rare, slow-growing cancer appears as a firm, yellowish lump. It often appears on the eyelid, and it may bleed and look like a pimple or sore that doesn’t heal. It may also heal and then reappear.
Muir-Torresyndromeis a rare inherited disease. It is a variant ofLynch syndrome. Patients with this condition are at higher risk for developing sebaceous gland carcinoma.
How to Get Rid of Sebaceous Hyperplasia
There is no medical need to treat sebaceous hyperplasia. Adults may choose to treat the bumps for cosmetic reasons.
Squeezing sebaceous hyperplasia bumps is ineffective. This is because there isn’t anything inside that can be extracted. However, squeezing can cause the bumps to become inflamed or bleed.
There are treatment options available. Treatment results will depend on factors such as:
Prescription Medications
Prescription medications may help keep new bumps from forming. Options include:
These medicines speed up the skin’s natural cell turnover rate. They may also make existing bumps appear smaller. These topical treatments probably won’t get rid of all your bumps, though.
If you have a severe case, your healthcare provider may prescribe isotretinoin. This is an oral medication that shrinks sebaceous glands.This treatment is effective, but bumps may return after the medicine is stopped. Isotretinoin cannot be used during pregnancy.
Finally, women with sebaceous hyperplasia can try antiandrogen medications that block the effect of testosterone on the skin. These include:
Procedures
Several in-office procedures treat sebaceous hyperplasia. These treatments often provide faster and more obvious improvement. However, there is a risk of skin discoloration or scarring, and the condition may recur after the procedure. Options include:
OTC Medications
Over-the-counter (OTC) skin care products that contain the following may help:
Products that contain retinol orsalicylic acidare used to fight acne and unclog pores. They may help to shrink sebaceous glands, although there is no scientific evidence that these products work for sebaceous hyperplasia. When used as directed, though, there is no harm in trying.
Sun exposure is theorized to play a role in the development of sebaceous hyperplasia. Daily application of sunscreen with an SPF of a least 30 may help prevent the onset or worsening of the condition.
Home Remedies
Home remedies frequently touted to improve sebaceous hyperplasia include applying the following:
There is no research supporting anecdotal accounts of sebaceous hyperplasia benefiting from any of these remedies. If you want to try one of these options, discussing it with your healthcare provider first is best.
Summary
This harmless skin condition can usually be diagnosed with a simple visual inspection. Sometimes a biopsy is performed to rule out skin cancer.
Treatment for sebaceous hyperplasia is for cosmetic purposes only.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Australasian College of Dermatologists.Sebaceous hyperplasia.Tagliolatto S, Dos Santos ODH, Alchorne MM, Enokihara MY.Sebaceous hyperplasia: Systemic treatment with isotretinoin.An Bras Dermatol. 2015;90(2):211-5. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20153192Kutlubay Z, Tanakol A, Engýn B, et al.Newborn skin: common skin problems.Maedica (Bucur). 2017;12(1):42-47.Higgins JC, Maher MH, Douglas MS.Diagnosing common benign skin tumors.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(7):601-7.Hou X, Wei Z, Zouboulis CC, Ju Q.Aging in the sebaceous gland.Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022;10:909694. Published 2022 Aug 17. doi:10.3389/fcell.2022.909694Ranasinghe GC, Friedman AJ.Eruptive Sebaceous Hyperplasia: A Rare Consequence of Systemic Corticosteroids.J Drugs Dermatol. 2018;17(1):118-120.Wilken R, Fung MA, Shi VY, et al.Cyclosporine-induced sebaceous hyperplasia in a hematopoietic stem cell transplant patient: related onset of a common adverse event.Dermatol Online J. 2016;22(1). doi:10.5070/D3221029785Yale Medicine.Seborrheic Keratosis.National Library of Medicine.Sebaceous hyperplasia.American Academy of Dermatology.Skin cancer types: basal cell carcinoma signs and symptoms.American Academy of Dermatology.Skin cancer types: sebaceous carcinoma signs & symptoms.National Institutes of Health, Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Muir-Torre syndrome.Simmons BJ, Griffith RD, Falto-Aizpurua LA, et al.Light and laser therapies for the treatment of sebaceous gland hyperplasia a review of the literature.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol.2015;29(11):2080-7. doi:10.1111/jdv.13066Dermascope.Sebaceous Hyperplasia: Gaining the Upper Hand on those Little Lesions.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Australasian College of Dermatologists.Sebaceous hyperplasia.Tagliolatto S, Dos Santos ODH, Alchorne MM, Enokihara MY.Sebaceous hyperplasia: Systemic treatment with isotretinoin.An Bras Dermatol. 2015;90(2):211-5. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20153192Kutlubay Z, Tanakol A, Engýn B, et al.Newborn skin: common skin problems.Maedica (Bucur). 2017;12(1):42-47.Higgins JC, Maher MH, Douglas MS.Diagnosing common benign skin tumors.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(7):601-7.Hou X, Wei Z, Zouboulis CC, Ju Q.Aging in the sebaceous gland.Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022;10:909694. Published 2022 Aug 17. doi:10.3389/fcell.2022.909694Ranasinghe GC, Friedman AJ.Eruptive Sebaceous Hyperplasia: A Rare Consequence of Systemic Corticosteroids.J Drugs Dermatol. 2018;17(1):118-120.Wilken R, Fung MA, Shi VY, et al.Cyclosporine-induced sebaceous hyperplasia in a hematopoietic stem cell transplant patient: related onset of a common adverse event.Dermatol Online J. 2016;22(1). doi:10.5070/D3221029785Yale Medicine.Seborrheic Keratosis.National Library of Medicine.Sebaceous hyperplasia.American Academy of Dermatology.Skin cancer types: basal cell carcinoma signs and symptoms.American Academy of Dermatology.Skin cancer types: sebaceous carcinoma signs & symptoms.National Institutes of Health, Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Muir-Torre syndrome.Simmons BJ, Griffith RD, Falto-Aizpurua LA, et al.Light and laser therapies for the treatment of sebaceous gland hyperplasia a review of the literature.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol.2015;29(11):2080-7. doi:10.1111/jdv.13066Dermascope.Sebaceous Hyperplasia: Gaining the Upper Hand on those Little Lesions.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Australasian College of Dermatologists.Sebaceous hyperplasia.Tagliolatto S, Dos Santos ODH, Alchorne MM, Enokihara MY.Sebaceous hyperplasia: Systemic treatment with isotretinoin.An Bras Dermatol. 2015;90(2):211-5. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20153192Kutlubay Z, Tanakol A, Engýn B, et al.Newborn skin: common skin problems.Maedica (Bucur). 2017;12(1):42-47.Higgins JC, Maher MH, Douglas MS.Diagnosing common benign skin tumors.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(7):601-7.Hou X, Wei Z, Zouboulis CC, Ju Q.Aging in the sebaceous gland.Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022;10:909694. Published 2022 Aug 17. doi:10.3389/fcell.2022.909694Ranasinghe GC, Friedman AJ.Eruptive Sebaceous Hyperplasia: A Rare Consequence of Systemic Corticosteroids.J Drugs Dermatol. 2018;17(1):118-120.Wilken R, Fung MA, Shi VY, et al.Cyclosporine-induced sebaceous hyperplasia in a hematopoietic stem cell transplant patient: related onset of a common adverse event.Dermatol Online J. 2016;22(1). doi:10.5070/D3221029785Yale Medicine.Seborrheic Keratosis.National Library of Medicine.Sebaceous hyperplasia.American Academy of Dermatology.Skin cancer types: basal cell carcinoma signs and symptoms.American Academy of Dermatology.Skin cancer types: sebaceous carcinoma signs & symptoms.National Institutes of Health, Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Muir-Torre syndrome.Simmons BJ, Griffith RD, Falto-Aizpurua LA, et al.Light and laser therapies for the treatment of sebaceous gland hyperplasia a review of the literature.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol.2015;29(11):2080-7. doi:10.1111/jdv.13066Dermascope.Sebaceous Hyperplasia: Gaining the Upper Hand on those Little Lesions.
Australasian College of Dermatologists.Sebaceous hyperplasia.
Tagliolatto S, Dos Santos ODH, Alchorne MM, Enokihara MY.Sebaceous hyperplasia: Systemic treatment with isotretinoin.An Bras Dermatol. 2015;90(2):211-5. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20153192
Kutlubay Z, Tanakol A, Engýn B, et al.Newborn skin: common skin problems.Maedica (Bucur). 2017;12(1):42-47.
Higgins JC, Maher MH, Douglas MS.Diagnosing common benign skin tumors.Am Fam Physician. 2015;92(7):601-7.
Hou X, Wei Z, Zouboulis CC, Ju Q.Aging in the sebaceous gland.Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022;10:909694. Published 2022 Aug 17. doi:10.3389/fcell.2022.909694
Ranasinghe GC, Friedman AJ.Eruptive Sebaceous Hyperplasia: A Rare Consequence of Systemic Corticosteroids.J Drugs Dermatol. 2018;17(1):118-120.
Wilken R, Fung MA, Shi VY, et al.Cyclosporine-induced sebaceous hyperplasia in a hematopoietic stem cell transplant patient: related onset of a common adverse event.Dermatol Online J. 2016;22(1). doi:10.5070/D3221029785
Yale Medicine.Seborrheic Keratosis.
National Library of Medicine.Sebaceous hyperplasia.
American Academy of Dermatology.Skin cancer types: basal cell carcinoma signs and symptoms.
American Academy of Dermatology.Skin cancer types: sebaceous carcinoma signs & symptoms.
National Institutes of Health, Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Muir-Torre syndrome.
Simmons BJ, Griffith RD, Falto-Aizpurua LA, et al.Light and laser therapies for the treatment of sebaceous gland hyperplasia a review of the literature.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol.2015;29(11):2080-7. doi:10.1111/jdv.13066
Dermascope.Sebaceous Hyperplasia: Gaining the Upper Hand on those Little Lesions.
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