Sebaceous glands

Sebaceous glands are holocrine glands of the body and have the task of producing sebum and protecting the skin from dehydration. They are located in the upper part of the dermis and can be found all over the body. Mostly they are located in the epithelium of a hair plant but they can also be found in isolation.

Sebaceous glands can be found almost everywhere on the body. Isolated sebaceous glands (i.e. without hair plant) can be found: parts of the body without sebaceous glands are: There are relatively many sebaceous glands:

  • Anus
  • Eyelids
  • Acorn (Glans Penis)
  • Inner labia (Labium minus)
  • Lips
  • Nose openings
  • Soles
  • Palms
  • At the so-called T-zone on the face
  • On the scalp
  • In the genital area
  • On the nipple

The sebum is produced to keep the horny layer of the skin and hair supple and also provides protection against pathogens and chemicals. There are different names for the different types of glands.

This is partly due to their different anatomy and location. For example, sebaceous glands on the eyelid are divided into so-called sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands in the oral mucosa are called Fordyce glands.

  • Zeis glands and
  • Meibom glands

Histology of the sebaceous glands

Sebaceous glands have multi-layered, piston-shaped glands. No interior space (lumen) is visible under the microscope. The wall of the gland consists of cubic and flattened cells.

In the middle of the gland, i.e. in the lumen, fine sebum can be seen under a light microscope. If the gland is associated with a hair, the gland does not have its own outlet, but releases its sebum to the hair, which carries it away. Sebum consists of fatty acids, wax esters and triglycerides.

The sebum is produced by cells called sebocytes. These cells die after sebum production when sebum is released (holocrine gland). Thus sebaceous glands themselves become part of the sebum.

Each person produces a different amount of sebum. This depends on various factors: The amount of sebum produced is on average about 1-2 g sebum per day.

  • Genetic predisposition
  • Hormone Production
  • Gender
  • Age
  • Environmental influences

If the amount of sebum produced is clearly above average, one speaks of seborrhea, which can lead to secretion congestion in the long run.

If bacteria then also penetrate, the so-called blackheads can occur. Acne is also caused by this mechanism. The opposite of seborrhoea is sebobaste.

Too little sebum is produced, so the skin is no longer protected against dehydration. In rare cases sebaceous glands can also degenerate. A sebaceous gland carcinoma develops and sebaceous glands are removedInterested readers will find more information on related topics at An overview of all dermatology topics can be found under Dermatology A-Z

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  • Oily skin
  • Oily skin Cause
  • Oily skin therapy
  • Sebaceous gland blocked – What to do?
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  • Oily hair home remedy
  • Fatty hair what to do
  • Dry scalp
  • Unclean skin
  • Impure skin Cause
  • Skin glands
  • Eyelid
  • Brittle hair
  • Pull Ointment