Introduction
Sebaceous glands are very important for the human skin. The fat secreted by the sebaceous glands has an important function: the skin should be kept supple and must not dry out. In some cases, however, there is an overproduction of sebum, which can lead to blockages of the sebaceous glands, for example. In technical terminology, this overproduction of sebum glands is called seborrhea. Overactive sebaceous glands can have various causes and are in themselves only a symptom and not an independent disease.
Causes of an overactive sebaceous gland
The occurrence of increased seborrhoea is particularly common during puberty and adolescence. Here it is assumed that a hormonal change influences the productivity of the sebaceous glands. As a rule, the symptom of seborrhea appears for the first time at the beginning of puberty and recedes in the course of young adulthood.
During pregnancy, hormonal changes also occur, which is why an increased sebum flow can sometimes be observed during pregnancy. Especially the androgens (steroid hormone), i.e. the male sex hormones, are responsible for the increased activity of the sebaceous glands. In addition to the hormonal causes, exogenous (external) causes can also be responsible for seborrhea.
Skin care products with a strong oily effect or anabolic steroids are held responsible for the development of sebaceous gland hyperactivity. Unhealthy nutrition and stress are also said to have a negative influence on sebum production. In addition, increased sebum production can be a concomitant symptom of certain diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease. With the treatment of the disease, however, seborrhea also decreases.
Associated symptoms
In the case of sebaceous gland hyperactivity, the increased oil film on the skin, fungi and bacteria provide a good breeding ground. This can then promote other skin diseases. Due to the increased sebum flow, blockages of the excretory ducts of the sebaceous glands occur more frequently.
This causes the secretion to accumulate inside the gland. If bacteria then enter the blocked sebaceous gland, inflammation can occur. In acne vulgaris, this process is the cause of the disease.
The inflammation of blocked sebaceous glands leads to pustules (colloquially called pimples) and papules. If the sebaceous glands are not blocked and inflamed, the only accompanying symptom is usually an oily, shiny skin. In addition, fungi can also colonize the skin.
These are often Malassezia yeast fungi. The oily skin provides a good breeding ground for the fungi. The Malassezia fungi metabolize the sebum and release the metabolic products onto the skin. These metabolites can lead to skin rashes, which are called seborrhoeic eczema. The seborrheic eczema is often accompanied by scaling and redness.
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