Sebaceous Gland Hyperplasia (SGH)

Diagnosing SGH

Sebaceous gland hyperplasia is a benign skin condition and generally does not require treatment. However, lesions can be unsightly and bothersome.

Sebaceous gland hyperplasia is a common skin condition where the glands that make oil for the skin are bigger than usual and become clogged. It can cause bumps on the skin that are usually flesh-colored and smooth or slightly uneven and coarse to the touch.The bumps are often caused by blocked hair follicles.

Sebaceous gland hyperplasia usually does not go away without treatment, but the bumps are also harmless and don’t necessarily need to be treated. The main concern is the clinical resemblance with other neoplastic lesions such as sebaceous adenoma and basal cell carcinoma. Sebaceous hyperplasia is not contagious.

What does it look like?

Sebaceous gland hyperplasia appears as small whitish-yellow bumps, 1 to 3 mm in diameter. The bumps have a centrally placed tiny pit and, in some cases, visible blood vessels. The central pit is surrounded by white-yellow tiny lumps.

Treating SGH

Your dermatology professional may recommend removing sebaceous gland hyperplasia bumps by electrocauterization. Your doctor uses an electrically charged needle to heat and vaporize each individual bump. You’ll develop a scab following the treatment, but once the scab falls off, the spot should be gone. You may develop a faint scar from this type of treatment.

Outcome

Sebaceous hyperplasia tends to persist for many years. It does not grow into skin cancer.