What is Sebaceous Hyperplasia?
Sebaceous hyperplasia is a completely harmless overgrowth of the oil glands in your skin that creates small, yellowish bumps on your face—think of it as your oil glands getting enlarged and more visible as you age, similar to how other parts of your body change over time.
Understanding Your Skin's Oil Glands
Your skin contains tiny oil glands (called sebaceous glands) that normally produce oils to keep your skin moisturized 1. As you get older, particularly after age 40, these glands can become enlarged and create small bumps that you can see and feel 1, 2.
What These Bumps Look Like
The bumps from sebaceous hyperplasia typically appear as 1, 2:
- Small, soft bumps (usually 2-4mm in size)
- Yellowish or skin-colored appearance
- Often have a tiny dimple or depression in the center
- Most commonly appear on your forehead, nose, and cheeks
- Usually multiple bumps rather than just one
Why This Happens
This condition is extremely common in adults, especially as you age 2. The oil glands simply become larger and more prominent—it's a natural aging change, not an infection or anything contagious 1. You cannot spread this to others, and it's not caused by poor hygiene 2.
The Most Important Thing to Know
These bumps are completely benign (non-cancerous) and pose no health risk whatsoever 1, 2. They are purely a cosmetic concern if they bother you. Many people choose to leave them alone since they cause no medical problems 2.
Treatment Options If You Want Them Removed
If the appearance bothers you, several effective treatments exist 3, 2:
- Electrodesiccation (using an electric current to remove them) is the most commonly used method, typically costing $200-400 and requiring 1-2 sessions 3
- Laser treatments can effectively remove these bumps with minimal scarring 4, 5
- Freezing (cryotherapy) is another option, though it may require 2-4 sessions 3
The key point: these treatments are elective and for cosmetic purposes only—there's no medical necessity to remove them 2.