Sebaceous glands on the head

In addition to the eyelid, sebaceous glands are also found on the lips and the oral mucosa in the head area. Although a sebaceous gland is usually connected to a hair, since this is not the case in the mouth and on the lips, however, these sebaceous glands are called “free sebaceous glands” or “fordyce glands”. They can be recognized as small, white-yellowish spots that stand out from the otherwise reddish lips.

They have no disease value and can be removed if necessary. The remedy of choice is either a CO2 laser or acid. However, this is a purely cosmetic procedure. In the so-called T-zone in the head area (between the right eye, left eye and lips), blocked glands and pus-filled pimples should not be squeezed out, as there is a risk that the pus will reach the brain via the venous outflow. Instead, cooling and disinfecting therapy is indicated; if there is no improvement, antibiotics may be used.

Sebaceous glands in the face

Two different types of sebaceous glands appear on the face. The hair follicle glands are sebaceous glands that are always associated with a hair. They appear on the entire body on the hairy skin, including the face.

A reduced sebum production in the glands leads to dry facial skin (sebostasis). On the other hand, excessive sebum production takes place mainly during puberty due to hormonal imbalances. This occurs mainly in areas where the sebaceous glands are densely grouped, the so-called T-zone (forehead, nose, chin).

The consequences are blackheads (comedones) and acne. Free sebaceous glands, on the other hand, are located in hairless areas, on the face on the eyelids, the lips and the oral mucosa. Sebaceous glands are found on the head in the area of the eyes and the lips.

There are a total of five glands on the eyelid, two of which are responsible for sebum production: The so-called Zeis glands (named after the German surgeon Eduard Zeis) open at the eyelashes and together with the Meibom glands form the so-called “eye butter”.This is a fatty substance that prevents the tear fluid from overflowing from the eye. The Meibom glands (after the German doctor Heinrich Meibom) are located on the inside of the eyelid. There are about 30 Meibom glands on the upper eyelid and about 20 on the lower eyelid.

Typical diseases of the sebaceous gland in the eye area are the barley grain (hordeolum) and in its chronic form the hailstone. The cause is almost always a blockage in the excretory ducts of the sebaceous gland, which causes the sebum produced to accumulate and swell to a plug. Infections caused by bacteria such as staphylococci can also cause inflammation.

Patients usually suffer from an impairment of the field of vision and an unpleasant throbbing sensation of heat on the eyelid. Here, antibiotic and disinfectant therapy can provide quick relief. Sebaceous glands can also appear on the lips; these are not associated with hair follicles, but are free.

They are also called fordyce glands and have no disease value whatsoever. They can occur both individually and in groups and are often located at the transition from the red of the lips to the skin of the face. They are tiny, mostly grouped yellowish spots that are not painful or itchy.

Their appearance is mainly described at the beginning of puberty. Sebaceous glands on the lip are not a disease, but a normal variant that occurs in an estimated 30-60% of the population. Removal is therefore not necessary, but can be performed for cosmetic reasons in case of pronounced findings. Tried and tested methods of removal are CO2 laser therapy or acid treatment.