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Sebaceous Hyperplasia - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment For Sebaceous Hyperplasia

What is Sebaceous Hyperplasia ?

Sebaceous hyperplasia is a skin condition in which a person develops small, yellowish growths, usually on the face. Sebaceous hyperplasia is the term used for enlarged sebaceous glands seen on the forehead or cheeks of the middle-aged and elderly. A variant of this condition, known as Fordyce’s condition causes tiny yellow dots in groups and sometimes in sheets on the lips, inside the mouth, and sometimes on the genital skin.

If you look at these lesions very closely and very carefully, you will notice that there is a central depression. Some have even described them as looking like very tiny doughnuts. Generally speaking, these lesions will increase in number over time.

Sebaceous hyperplasia can be difficult to clinically differentiate from basal cell carcinoma. Often multiple lesions which are similar are present. They do not tend to bleed as easily as do basal cell carcinomas.

What are the causes of Sebaceous Hyperplasia ?

However, the extact cause of Sebaceous Hyperplasia is unknow. But some causes may includes :-

• These problems tend to run in families.
• Sebaceous hyperplasia is contagious.
• An overgrowth of the sebaceous glands (oil producing glands) on the face. Their growth is associated with exposure to different androgen hormones and sun.

Symptoms of Sebaceous Hyperplasia

Some of the common symptoms of Sebaceous Hyperplasia includes :-

• Commonly seen in the face as yellowish or yellowish white raised papules with central depression.
• Sebaceous Hyperplasia are multiple ranging from 2 – 10mm in size.

Treatment for Sebaceous Hyperplasia

Sebaceous hyperplasia is harmless and does not require any treatment. However, individual lesions may be removed by light cautery, diathermy or laser vaporization. Sebaceous gland hyperplasia can effectively be treated with a number of cosmetic procedures including minor surgery, liquid nitrogen freezing, and, most effectively, with laser therapy. If the lesions are becoming unsightly and you really feel something needs to be done, a powerful, expensive drug named Accutane will reverse sebaceous hyperplasia, but you will develop new lesions after you stop the medication unless you also use tretinoin cream regularly.

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