Written by Dr Godmi Tresa Sunny

Medically reviewed by Dr Neethu

Updated on July 29, 2025

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

All those ugly eruptions on the skin need not be acne. If you take a closer look, you can find that some of them are different. We are going to discuss here about the second common type of eruption on the skin, i.e., sebaceous hyperplasia. To put it in simple words, they are oily lumps due to hyperactivity of the oil-producing glands (sebaceous glands).

Sebaceous hyperplasia occurs in clogged hair follicles as a result of increased secretion of oil glands under the skin due to various reasons, about which we will discuss here. This condition is harmless, but it can be bothersome as it can affect your self-confidence.

Read more as we discuss various easy treatments available for this condition. This blog deals with how sebaceous hyperplasia can be differentiated and treated using various home remedies.

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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 actually a blend of oil and cell debris. This is engineered to provide lubrication and basic 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 aggravate these innocent glands heavily, causing them to produce more sebum than needed:

  • Age - Though this can happen at any age, babies and older adults are more prone due 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 above 25 years of age and notice an oily skin suddenly, 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, it stimulates excessive secretion of sebum, as per a clinical study.
  • Sweet truth - Clinical studies have proven excessive consumption of sugary foods and processed foods with sweeteners can shoot up production of IGF-1 peptide in the body that ends up bulldozing the sebaceous glands. This can clog hair follicles near the gland, and as the sebum accumulates, it enlarges into shiny lumps.
  • Medications after surgeries - Immunosuppressants are shown to increase the production of sebum in certain surgeries. If you have a few suspicious lumps on the face, and you have a history of any surgery, contact our Nirva health experts for a complete consultation.

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

And these shiny lumps can also occur due to familial history. Usually, they can be seen over the forehead or over the nose and predominantly on the face.

If it has set in, let us discuss various treatment options for sebaceous hyperplasia.

Treatment Options for Sebaceous Hyperplasia

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

  • Cryotherapy - This trending treatment is extremely effective in bringing out unwanted fat components 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 simply burn off the fat cells locally with an electric tip. This can be mildly painful and may be done under a local or topical anaesthesia.
  • Medications - Medications, including topical applications that contain isotretinoin, androgen regulators, and trichloroacetic acid, can be effective to subdue the lumps.
  • Laser skin resurfacing - Fractional lasers that can locally regulate skin glands and

Ayurveda for Sebaceous Hyperplasia

Ayurveda considers skin as the abode of pitta dosha. If you are an individual with 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.  

Through Ayurvedic principles, sebaceous hyperplasia can be diagnosed well ahead of time. And following the same, through early detection of sebaceous hyperplasia, Ayurvedic experts will be able to give a heads-up about any upcoming serious illnesses like hypothyroidism.

Certain Ayurvedic herbs that can help in sebaceous hyperplasia are:

  • Boerhavia diffusa - This is called Punarnava in Ayurveda and has potent lipid-regulating properties. It is also anti-inflammatory and can help in correcting the underlying cause of the lipid lumps. Can consume this as a powder or juice as per advice
  • Vitex negundo - This is Nirgundi in Ayurveda and is the first choice for balancing doshas in the body. It calms down pitta and improves cellular digestion in the body.
  • Ginger - Scientifically called Zingiber officinale is a common yet powerful healing herb. It balances pitta and vata in the body and is effective in controlling 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 the 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 useful 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 on the areas of lumps and 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. Contains gooseberry, chebulic myrobalan, and Indian laurel, which is considered an all-around formulation by Ayurvedic experts. Triphala fine powder, with 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 on the shiny lumps as a spot application. It evaporates excess fat and subsides the lumps. This ideally should be done early in the morning.

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

7 Best Foods for Sebaceous Hyperplasia

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

  • Water - To be hydrated enough is the key to regular detox of the body. Studies have shown that adequate water intake can aid in shedding excess lipids from the skin.
  • Cucumber - This vegetable is rich in electrolytes and certain vitamins that can improve the healing of the oily lumps. You can include this liberally in your daily salad.
  • Citrus fruits - A lot 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 good 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 minerals.

While changing food habits, proper consultation can support further healing of the sebaceous lumps. Let us take a look at the same.

Need of the Skin - Effective Consultation and More

Prevention of skin problems can take you miles in 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 consultation, including a team of Ayurvedic experts at Nirva Health, dietitians, yoga experts, and clinicians, can help to consolidate your lifestyle, its impact on your body, your original body type, preferences, and other medical conditions. The recommendations based on this can perhaps be the most effective for you.

Our skin care experts can give you the best solution for taking care of your skin and getting rid of the oily lumps on your skin.

Wrapping Up

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

Before treatments get customised, a consultation should be personalised with our Nirva health experts. Skin consultation with our Nirva health experts can offer you a detailed interaction and clear all your assumptions about skin health and handling oily lumps.

Get your tailored skin care routine today with us.

“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.”

-Dr Godmi Tresa Sunny

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Dr Godmi Tresa Sunny

Dr Godmi Tresa Sunny is an Ayurveda practitioner specialising in chronic diseases, gut health, women's health, and stress management. Her practice blends traditional Ayurvedic methods with scientific analysis, advocating for an integrative approach to wellness. She believes in the power of food as medicine and emphasises preventive care, supporting the body's natural healing processes. Dr. Sunny skillfully combines ancient wisdom with modern scientific insights in her work, offering practical, evidence-based advice on nutrition, lifestyle, and herbal remedies.