History

Patients may be concerned for cosmetic reasons or may be worried about possible malignancy. Lesions are usually described as asymptomatic, soft, discrete, and yellow, with a surface that ranges from smooth to slightly verrucous. Patients may report one or multiple lesions at various locations on the face. Lesions may become red and irritated and bleed after scratching, shaving, or other trauma.

Physical Examination

Sebaceous hyperplasia is often found incidentally upon examination. The classic appearance of facial sebaceous hyperplasia on physical examination reveals whitish-yellow or skin-colored papules that are soft and vary in size from 2-9 mm. These papules have a central umbilication from which a very small globule of sebum can sometimes be expressed. Some papules may be associated with characteristics similar to basal cell carcinoma, such as telangiectasia.

Typical distribution of sebaceous hyperplasia on the forehead in a middle-aged male.

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Close-up of typical sebaceous hyperplasia on the face (red arrows).

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Depending on the variant, sebaceous hyperplasia may be found singularly, grouped (as in the nevoid and linear form), diffuse, or extensive. Juxtaclavicular beaded lines are an additional variant characterized by closely placed papules arranged in parallel rows within the skin of the neck and overlying the clavicle.^[27]

Juxtaclavicular beaded lines, a variant of sebaceous hyperplasia, in an elderly man.

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Dermoscopy may be useful as a noninvasive tool to aid in the clinical diagnosis and in distinguishing between nodular basal cell carcinoma and sebaceous hyperplasia, reducing unnecessary surgery.^{[28, 29, 30, 31]}

Complications

Irritation or bleeding may occur if lesions are in an area prone to trauma (eg, friction by a comb or brush).

Differential Diagnoses

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Salim A, Reece SM, Smith AG, et al. Sebaceous hyperplasia and skin cancer in patients undergoing renal transplant. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006 Nov. 55(5):878-81. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
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Dupre A, Bonafe JL, Lamon P. Functional familial sebaceous hyperplasia of the face and premature sebaceous gland hyperplasia: a new and unique entity. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1983 Nov. 9(5):768-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
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Wilken R, Fung MA, Shi VY, Cheng MY, Patel F, Sultani H, et al. Cyclosporine-induced sebaceous hyperplasia in a hematopoetic stem cell transplant patient: delayed onset of a common adverse event. Dermatol Online J. 2016 Jan 15. 22 (1):[QxMD MEDLINE Link].
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Boschnakow A, May T, Assaf C, Tebbe B, Zouboulis ChC. Ciclosporin A-induced sebaceous gland hyperplasia. Br J Dermatol. 2003 Jul. 149(1):198-200. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Engel F, Ellero B, Woehl-Jaegle ML, Cribier B. [Diffuse sebaceous hyperplasia of the face induced by cyclosporine]. Ann Dermatol Venereol. 2005 Apr. 132(4):342-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
McDonald SK, Goh MS, Chong AH. Successful treatment of cyclosporine-induced sebaceous hyperplasia with oral isotretinoin in two renal transplant recipients. Australas J Dermatol. 2011 Aug. 52(3):227-30. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Kanada KN, Merin MR, Munden A, Friedlander SF. A prospective study of cutaneous findings in newborns in the United States: correlation with race, ethnicity, and gestational status using updated classification and nomenclature. J Pediatr. 2012 Aug. 161(2):240-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
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Bader RS, Scarborough DA. Surgical pearl: intralesional electrodesiccation of sebaceous hyperplasia. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000 Jan. 42(1 Pt 1):127-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Rosian R, Goslen JB, Brodell RT. The treatment of benign sebaceous hyperplasia with the topical application of bichloracetic acid. J Dermatol Surg Oncol. 1991 Nov. 17(11):876-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Aghassi D, Gonzalez E, Anderson RR, Rajadhyaksha M, Gonzalez S. Elucidating the pulsed-dye laser treatment of sebaceous hyperplasia in vivo with real-time confocal scanning laser microscopy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000 Jul. 43(1 Pt 1):49-53. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
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Media Gallery

Normal sebaceous gland histology. Courtesy of Cooper Heard, MD.
Histology of sebaceous hyperplasia; enlarged sebaceous gland with multiple lobules grouped around a central dilated sebaceous duct. Courtesy of Cooper Heard, MD.
Typical distribution of sebaceous hyperplasia on the forehead in a middle-aged male.
Close-up of typical sebaceous hyperplasia on the face (red arrows).
Juxtaclavicular beaded lines, a variant of sebaceous hyperplasia, in an elderly man.
Close-up of facial sebaceous hyperplasia.

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Author

David T Robles, MD, PhD, FAAD Dermatologist, Oak Tree Dermatology

David T Robles, MD, PhD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Kristin Mickelson, PA-C Dermatology Physician Assistant, Chaparral Medical Group

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Steven R Feldman, MD, PhD Professor, Departments of Dermatology, Pathology and Public Health Sciences, and Molecular Medicine and Translational Science, Wake Forest Baptist Health; Director, Center for Dermatology Research, Director of Industry Relations, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Steven R Feldman, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, North Carolina Medical Society, Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Received honoraria from Amgen for consulting; Received honoraria from Abbvie for consulting; Received honoraria from Galderma for speaking and teaching; Received consulting fee from Lilly for consulting; Received ownership interest from www.DrScore.com for management position; Received ownership interest from Causa Reseasrch for management position; Received grant/research funds from Janssen for consulting; Received honoraria from Pfizer for speaking and teaching; Received consulting fee from No.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: Elsevier; WebMD<br/>Served as a speaker for various universities, dermatology societies, and dermatology departments.

Additional Contributors

Daniel J Hogan, MD Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine (Dermatology), Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Investigator, Hill Top Research, Florida Research Center

Daniel J Hogan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Contact Dermatitis Society, Canadian Dermatology Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Stephen H Mason, MD

Stephen H Mason, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Surgery, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Women's Dermatologic Society, Skin Cancer Foundation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Arash Taheri, MD Research Fellow, Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

R Walker Jones, MD Harris M Blackman, MD, LLC

R Walker Jones, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Chemical Society, American Medical Association, American Medical Student Association/Foundation, and Louisiana State Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.