Sebaceous gland blocked – What to do?

Definition

Sebaceous glands are small glands that are located in the skin. They are usually found in the company of hairs or also appear as free sebaceous glands. Free sebaceous glands are found on the eyelids, lips and in the anal and genital areas of both sexes.

They produce the protective sebum that is very important for maintaining a healthy skin barrier. The protective film rich in lipids ensures that the skin does not lose too much water and dries out. In some cases, however, the function of individual or multiple sebaceous glands can be disrupted, causing them to become clogged. One reason for this is excessive sebum production, for example.

Causes of an obstructed sebaceous gland

There are various causes that can lead to sebaceous glands becoming clogged. A common cause is excessive sebum production, also called seborrhea. Everyone experiences days when the skin looks better or even worse.

Care with excessively greasy products, poor skin hygiene or hormonal fluctuations can occasionally cause small sebaceous glands to become clogged. Another cause of clogged sebaceous glands is so-called hyperkeratosis. In this keratinization disorder of the skin, excess horn lamellae block the excretory duct of the sebaceous gland.

This results in blackheads. In most cases, hyperkeratosis is accompanied by excessive sebum production (seborrhea), so that both mechanisms ultimately lead to the congested sebaceous glands. In people who suffer to a particularly pronounced degree from these disturbed skin functions, a condition known as acne is present.

People who are prone to acne usually also have a genetic predisposition to this disease. Environmental factors, diet or the intake of various medications, such as cortisone preparations, also have a negative effect on the sebaceous glands and cause them to become congested. Clogging of the sebaceous glands can also lead to sebaceous cysts, so-called epidermoid cysts. Often such cysts develop without a recognizable cause.

Diagnosis of the obstructed sebaceous gland

Constipated sebaceous glands do not require special examinations such as blood tests or similar. They can already be seen with the naked eye and are diagnosed based on this clinical picture. The specialist in whose specialty sebaceous glands fall is the dermatologist.

He looks at the entire skin once and can thus determine whether it is a typical skin condition for acne, for example. He can also diagnose sebaceous gland cysts based on their appearance. To identify possible triggers, the patient interview (anamnesis) is particularly important. In particular, the patient’s skin care habits, medications to be taken and other factors that influence the skin condition are asked.