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Sebaceous hyperplasia is a common, benign condition caused by enlarged sebaceous glands—the glands in your skin that produce oil. It often appears as small, soft, flesh-colored or yellowish bumps, most commonly on the forehead, cheeks, nose, and other areas of the face where sebaceous glands are abundant. The bumps are harmless, but they can become increasingly noticeable over time and may be frustrating when they affect the smooth appearance of your skin.
Sebaceous hyperplasia often develops gradually and becomes more common with age. Individual bumps are usually only a few millimeters in size and may have a small central depression or opening. Some people develop only a few lesions, while others develop many across the face. Because the enlarged gland sits within the skin rather than simply on its surface, skincare products generally cannot make established sebaceous hyperplasia disappear.
The first step is assessing the lesion and determining a diagnosis of sebaceous hyperplasia. Not every small, flesh-colored or yellow bump on the face is an enlarged sebaceous gland. Other benign growths can look similar, and sebaceous hyperplasia can occasionally resemble basal cell carcinoma or another skin lesion that requires excision/biopsy. A growth that has an unusual appearance, changes, repeatedly bleeds, ulcerates, grows rapidly, or does not have the typical characteristics of sebaceous hyperplasia is then we prepare for excision and the specimen is sent to a pathology for diagnosis.
Sebaceous hyperplasia treatment is cosmetic when the lesions are the lesions are not causing problems. Treatment is elective and appropriate when the bumps are cosmetically bothersome or become irritated.
At Hagen Health & Absolute Aesthetics, I can use electrocautery/electrodesiccation to precisely treat appropriate sebaceous hyperplasia lesions. Controlled electrical energy is applied to the enlarged sebaceous tissue while minimizing unnecessary treatment of the surrounding skin. The treated area typically develops a small crust as it heals, which gradually separates as new skin develops underneath. Depending on the size and depth of the gland, more than one treatment may occasionally be necessary.
Removing an existing lesion does not prevent other sebaceous glands from enlarging in the future. New areas of sebaceous hyperplasia can develop over time, and previously treated lesions can sometimes recur. Treatment should therefore be approached with realistic expectations about both the cosmetic improvement that can be achieved and the possibility of future lesions.
At Hagen Health, I approach these small lesions with the same principle I use for other skin growths: identify what we are treating before deciding how to treat it. If a lesion does not have the expected appearance of benign sebaceous hyperplasia, I will change the treatment plan to address the suspicious lesion.
The goal is to determine diagnosis of the lesions that bother you, protect the surrounding skin, and achieve a smoother appearance while preserving the natural character of your skin.
