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How Can You Treat Sebaceous Hyperplasia? Expert Advice and Home Remedies 

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medically reviewed by Dr Naveen Chandran

Dr Godmi Tresa Sunny

Updated on July 11, 2024

All those stubborn eruptions on your skin need not always be acne. If you look closely, you can find that some of them are different. What can they be? There is a second type of typical eruption on the skin known as, "sebaceous hyperplasia". Simply put, they are oily lumps due to hyperactivity of the oil-producing glands (sebaceous glands). 

Sebaceous hyperplasia occurs in clogged hair follicles due to increased secretion of oil glands under the skin, which we will discuss here. This condition is harmless, but it can be unpleasant and affect self-confidence. 

Read more in-depth as we discuss various easy treatments available for this condition. This blog discusses how various home remedies can differentiate and treat sebaceous hyperplasia. 

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Causes and Occurrence of Sebaceous Hyperplasia 

Sebaceous glands, in simple terms, oil glands, are present under the skin and almost spread along most of it for a purpose. They secrete sebum, which is a blend of oil and cell debris. These glands are engineered to provide lubrication and essential protection to the skin. So, if this is intact, you don't see dry skin or dull skin; it is naturally glossy. 

However, the following reasons can badger these innocent glands heavily, causing them to produce more sebum than necessary!

  • Age 

Though this can happen at any age, babies and older adults are more prone to hairpin turns in their hormonal levels. 

  • Hormonal Imbalance

Especially imbalances of other hormones that drive metabolism, like thyroid, can coerce sebaceous glands. So, if you are over 25 years of age and suddenly notice oily skin, you can get your thyroid levels checked.

  • Androgens

These oil glands are very sensitive to the circulating sex hormones in the body. Typically, when sex hormones are reduced, they stimulate excessive sebum secretion, as per a clinical study

  • Sweet Truth

Clinical studies have proven that excessive consumption of sugary foods and processed foods with sweeteners can shoot up the production of IGF-1 peptide in the body, which ends up bulldozing the sebaceous glands. This can clog hair follicles near the gland, and as the sebum accumulates, it enlarges as shiny lumps. 

  • Medications After Surgeries

Immunosuppressants are shown to increase sebum production after certain surgeries. If you have a few suspicious lumps on the face and a history of surgery, contact our Nirva health experts for a complete consultation. 

These shiny lumps can also occur due to familial history. They are usually seen over the forehead or the nose and predominantly on the face. 

You can get an Ayurvedic analysis done with our Nirva team for advanced early detection to understand what your skin indicates. 

Let us see various treatment options for sebaceous hyperplasia you can choose from, according to your requirement.

Treatment Options for Sebaceous Hyperplasia 

If you see those shiny lumps on your face one fine day, your healthcare provider may consider the following treatments: 

  • Cryotherapy

This trending treatment is extremely effective for removing unwanted fat from any part of the body. The instrument contains ice tips that can freeze and destroy lipid (fat) cells. 

  • Electrocauterisation 

Burning away the fatty lumps. This can burn off the fat cells locally with an electric tip. This can be mildly painful and may be done under local or topical anaesthesia. 

  • Medications

Medications, including topical applications containing isotretinoin, androgen regulators, and trichloroacetic acid, can be effective in subduing the lumps.

  • Laser Skin Resurfacing 

Fractional lasers that can locally regulate skin glands and 

Ayurveda for Sebaceous Hyperplasia 

Ayurveda considers the skin the abode of pitta dosha. If you have a pitta-kapha predominant body type and an imbalanced lifestyle, this can aggravate the pitta and kapha dosha on the skin, leading to sebaceous hyperplasia.   

Ayurvedic principles allow sebaceous hyperplasia to be diagnosed well ahead of time. By detecting it early, Ayurvedic experts can give a heads-up about any upcoming serious illnesses, like hypothyroidism. 

Certain Ayurvedic herbs that can help in sebaceous hyperplasia are: 

  • Boerhavia diffusa  (Red Spiderling)

This is called Punarnava in Ayurveda and has potent lipid-regulating properties. It is also anti-inflammatory and can help correct the underlying cause of the lipid lumps. You can consume this as a powder or juice as per advise

  • Vitex negundo (Chinese Chaste Tree)

In Ayurveda, this is Nirgundi, the first choice for balancing doshas. It calms down pitta and improves cellular digestion.

  • Ginger 

Scientifically called Zingiber officinale, a familiar yet powerful healing herb. It balances pitta and vata in the body and effectively controls sebaceous hyperplasia. This can be liberally used in all the dishes.

  • Honey

 Medication honey, especially with long pepper, is useful for skin health and can treat oily lumps on the skin. Can be consumed along with milk or warm water as per preference 

Many clinical studies mention the use of tea tree oil, thyme oil, basil, and mint in the treatment of oily skin and excess oily lumps. Since the choice of herb is highly specific to one's body type, you can begin with a detailed consultation with our Ayurvedic experts today. 

Let us look into 4 helpful natural home remedies that you can try before approaching a healthcare expert. 

Home Remedies for Sebaceous Hyperplasia

Here are a few come-at-able herbs that you can find effortlessly to manage sebaceous hyperplasia:

  • Turmeric Face Pack

Turmeric, along with 4 to 5 drops of tea tree oil, can be mixed into a paste and applied to the areas of lumps. It can be washed off after 15 to 20 minutes. In case of severe lumps, it can be done daily. 

  • Triphala Face Pack

This is a step ahead of the turmeric pack. It contains gooseberry, chebulic myrobalan, and Indian laurel, which Ayurvedic experts consider an all-rounder formulation. Triphala fine powder, a spoonful of lime, and 5 drops of tea tree oil can be applied as a pack on the lumps for best results. 

  • Tea Wash 

Tea is potentially anti-inflammatory. It has been clinically proven to treat various skin issues. Filtered decoction of tea can be used as a daily after wash on the skin. 

  • Cider Skin Toning

Apple cider Vinegar can be applied to the shiny lumps as a spot application. It evaporates excess fat and subsides the lumps. This should be done early in the morning. 

External applications can be more successful if diet complements the same.

7 Best Foods for Sebaceous Hyperplasia

Here are 7 of the best foods that can help reduce the appearance of sebaceous hyperplasia. 

  • Water—Being hydrated enough is the key to regular body detox. Studies have shown that adequate water intake can aid in shedding excessive lipids from the skin. 
  • Cucumber—This vegetable is rich in electrolytes and certain vitamins that can improve the healing of oily lumps. You can include it liberally in your daily salad. 
  • Citrus fruits—Many of these fruity acids are highly effective in pulling out accumulated oil on the skin and calming down the sebaceous glands. 
  • Dark Chocolate -This contains several flavonoids and antioxidants that can heal the sebaceous glands on the skin. This is a suitable replacement for sugary foods. 
  • Coconut water - Ayurvedic experts recommend coconut water for kidney and bladder health. This tasty water is naturally medicated with several compounds that can treat the cause of sebaceous hyperplasia. 
  • Carrots - These are rich in Vitamin A which is very important for controlling the skin glands. This gives the best results when consumed as a juice on an empty stomach in the morning. 
  • Bananas - This is the best fruit for acne-prone skin as it is rich in Vitamins A, B, C, E, and several other minerals.

Proper consultation can support further healing of the sebaceous lumps while changing food habits. Let's examine this. 

Need of the Skin - Effective Consultation and More 

Preventing skin problems is equal to preventing several serious illnesses. This is possible because skin is the index of internal organ health. Anything wrong inside reflects outside on the skin; even a bad mood can be seen on the skin. 

Holistic health consultation, including a team of Ayurvedic experts at Nirva dietitians, yoga experts, and clinicians, can help consolidate your lifestyle, its impact on your body, your body type, preferences, and other medical conditions. The recommendations based on this may be the most effective for you. 

Our skin care experts can provide you with the best solution for caring for your skin and getting rid of oily lumps. 

Final Take Away

Sebaceous hyperplasia is becoming increasingly common due to the impact of lifestyle on hormones and metabolism. These lumps can be harmless but are a definite sign of something unusual inside the body. 

Before treatments are customized, Nirva health experts will make sure to understand your body type and skin type. They will offer you a detailed interaction and clear all your assumptions about skin health and handling oily lumps. 

Get your tailored skincare routine today with us. 

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