Sebaceous hyperplasia: what is it & how do you get rid of it?

Have you had oily or combined skin for years? And have you found more small, persistent bumps with a whitish rim as you've aged? Then you might want to read more about sebaceous hyperplasia – a tricky but not impossible skin concern.

What you can expect:

What is sebaceous hyperplasia?

Sebaceous hyperplasia is the Latin name for a benign bump on the skin. If the skin is damaged, the sebaceous gland overproduces sebum and often then becomes enlarged or blocked with it. This turns them into soft and hard bumps with a white or yellow surface. They appear to have an indented centre which is characteristic of sebaceous hyperplasia. It has nothing to do with milia or old spots.

You can get multiple bumps or sebaceous spots at the same time and they can be either spread out or close together. Sebaceous hyperplasia on the nose is common, as well as on the forehead and in the middle of the face. You can also get blocked sebaceous glands under your eyes. It can happen wherever there are many sebaceous glands under the skin, so it can be a facial skin concern as well as a body concern.

Sebaceous hyperplasia causes

Sun damages the skin, including the sebaceous glands, so long-term exposure to the sun is a cause of sebaceous hyperplasia. A good method of preventing this skin concern is wearing SPF 30 or higher every day and protecting your skin from sun damage.

Retinol for sebaceous hyperplasia & other ingredients

Studies have shown that retinoids (vitamin A) are effective in fighting sebaceous hyperplasia. It tells the cells to act ‘normally’ again so that they can return to their original shape, resulting in improved skin structure.

Addressing sebaceous hyperplasia with salicylic acid can also be effective. The maximum permissible dose of salicylic acid in cosmetic skincare products is set at 2% in the EU, but your skin will greatly benefit from it as part of your daily facial skincare routine.

Another ingredient that helps is niacinamide. This cell-communicating ingredient helps regulate excessive sebum production and repairs the skin’s protective barrier.

The combination of salicylic acid, retinol and niacinamide helps visibly reduce sebaceous hyperplasia. It is most effective if you use the skincare products once or twice daily after cleansing your face.

Another tip is to avoid scrubs because sebaceous hyperplasia occurs deep in the sebaceous gland and a scrub can only work on the surface of your skin. What is more, if you scrub away at the bumps too hard, you may damage your skin and cause other skin concerns such as dryness and irritation.

How to get rid of sebaceous gland hyperplasia with in-clinic treatments?

Sebaceous gland hyperplasia removal can be carried out by a dermatologist, but there are also skincare products you can use at home to keep the bumps under control.

A dermatologist may select one of the following options or a combination of them to help reduce the skin concern:

• A facial peel with salicylic acid
• A treatment with a prescribed retinoid (vitamin A) or azelaic acid as a short-term method to make the concern less visible
• Laser treatment to shrink the bump, break down the sebum and form a crusty layer that falls off after a week
• Several appointments of photodynamic therapy to treat the skin with a gel that reacts to light
• Liquid nitrogen (which can be risky as there's a chance the nitrogen will penetrate the skin deeply and cause a scar or topical reduction in pigment)
• A prescription of anti-androgen medicine to reduce the production of testosterone & other hormones (which is often seen as a last treatment option)
• Surgery to remove the bump (which can cause scarring so also used as a last stage of treatment)

Please note: Some sebaceous hyperplasia bumps look like a form of skin cancer known as basal cell carcinoma so always see a dermatologist first for the correct diagnosis.

References for this information:

The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, November 2011, pages 22-29, and July 2010, pages 32-43
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, March 2011, pages 328-333
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, April 2004, pages 88-93