Sebaceous Glands

The sebaceous glands are microscopic glands in the skin that release an oily or waxy matter, called sebum, to lubricate or moist the skin and hair of mammals. The sebum mainly comprises a mixture of fats (triglycerides, wax esters, squalene, and cholesterol) and cellular debris. In humans, they are found in huge abundance on the face and scalp and are also distributed throughout the skin, except on the palms and soles.

Sebaceous glands are usually found in hair-covered regions, where they are connected to hair follicles. The glands keep sebum on the hair, and take it to the skin surface with the hair shaft. This structure basically comprises hair, hair follicle, arrector pili muscle, and sebaceous gland and is known as a pilosebaceous unit. The number of pilosebaceous units is more on the face, upper neck, and chest than other areas of the skin. They are also found in non-haired regions (glabrous skin) of eyelids, nose, penis, labia minora, and nipples where the sebum passes over the ducts and terminates in sweat pores on the skin surface.

Overactive Sebaceous Glands

During adolescence, sebaceous glands enlarge and become overactive, hence they secrete more sebum. This is mainly due to production of hormones called androgens, that stimulate the sebaceous glands and cause them to enlarge. The production of androgen is usually is more in young boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 20. Most people consider overactive sebaceous glands simply as acne, no doubt sebaceous glands and acne go hand in hand, but there are various other types of problems associated with this disorder.

Some of the diseases include, comedones (blackheads), milia (whiteheads), acne, seborrhea, rosacea, steatoma, asteatosis, seborrheic dermatitis, and furuncle. Acne, pimple, comedones, etc., can occur on the face, back, neck, chest, and even shoulders, causing discomfort and inevitable changes in a person's appearance like itchiness and redness of the skin, formation of large lump filled with pus, scaly skin, etc. Although overactive sebaceous glands and bumps, acne, and other skin disorders due to hormonal changes are more common in an adolescent's skin, they can also be found in adults, both men and women.

Treatment Options

These produce oil, dirt and grime that block the skin pores and cause various skin problems. Benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel, a mild bactericidal (anti-bacterial) compound is quite effective in treating mild acne. It lessens the bacteria concentration and the amount of free fatty acids present on the surface of the skin. Medications like tretinoin or retin A containing trans-retinoic acid with some topical or oral antibiotics such as clindamycin or tetracycline, for overactive sebaceous glands cure work by decreasing the stickiness of skin cells, hence minimizing the new acne formation.

Some of other treatments may include a change in diet i.e. avoiding oil and spicy foods, application of ointments, creams, or lotions, or other topical medications, or even injections. However, since skin type varies from person to person, before trying any medication for oily skin, do consult your dermatologist to avoid any further complications.

Beside these, wearing light clothes especially while doing sport activities or during summers, keeping yourself hydrated by drinking enough water, and bathing properly with soap to keep your skin oil free will help in preventing skin problems and infections due to overactive sebaceous glands. Well, this was all about sebaceous glands. I hope this information proves to be helpful to you all. Take care.