SKIN TREATMENTS
Sebaceous hyperplasia
Sebaceous hyperplasia causes small, benign facial bumps from enlarged oil glands.
- Common on the forehead, cheeks and nose
- Radiofrequency can reduce visible bumps
- Treated bumps can recur and new ones may develop
What causes sebaceous hyperplasia?
Sebaceous hyperplasia occurs when sebaceous glands become enlarged. These glands normally produce oil for the skin. When they enlarge, they can form small bumps with a central dip or opening.
Sebaceous hyperplasia becomes more common with age and is more often seen in people with oily skin. It can appear as a single bump or as multiple small bumps on the face.
Why assessment matters before treatment
Sebaceous hyperplasia can resemble other facial lesions, including some skin cancers. A nurse assesses the bumps before treatment, with doctor review if the diagnosis is uncertain. Biopsy, monitoring or referral may be recommended instead of treatment.
How sebaceous hyperplasia may be treated
Where treatment is suitable, sebaceous hyperplasia may be treated in clinic using precision radiofrequency treatment or another method selected after assessment.
The aim is to reduce the visible bump, not to permanently stop oil glands from forming new lesions. Some patients have only one or two spots treated, while others may need a staged approach if there are multiple bumps.
Can sebaceous hyperplasia be removed at home?
No. Sebaceous hyperplasia should not be squeezed, picked, pierced or treated with home removal devices. This can cause inflammation, infection, pigment change or scarring, and may delay proper diagnosis if the lesion is not sebaceous hyperplasia.
Healing and possible risks
After treatment, the area may be red, crusted, swollen or tender while it heals. Healing varies depending on the treatment method, the area treated and individual skin type.
Possible risks include redness, swelling, crusting, pigment change, scarring, textural change, incomplete clearance and recurrence. Your clinician will explain what to expect before treatment proceeds.
Can sebaceous hyperplasia come back?
Treated bumps can recur, and new bumps can develop elsewhere over time.
Related skin conditions
Spot Check Clinic also assesses and treats a range of other small skin lesions where suitable, including milia, xanthelasma, syringomas, skin tags, cherry angiomas and seborrhoeic keratoses.
Sebaceous hyperplasia image by Klaus D. Peter, Wiehl, Germany, licensed under CC BY 3.0 DE. Cropped and edited from original.
MBBS, MA (Virtual Comm), Grad Cert Hlth Info, Grad Dip Comp Inf Sci
Book a skin treatment assessment with a nurse
Discuss treatment for sebaceous hyperplasia with a nurse.
Book a skin treatment assessment with a nurse