Disease directory
Sebaceous hyperplasia
Published: September 18, 2026Updated: September 18, 2026
Important: Informational content intended for healthcare professionals. It does not replace clinical evaluation or establish a doctor-patient relationship.
Overview
- Definition and synonyms
- Benign, localized proliferation of mature sebaceous glands, clinically manifesting as yellowish or skin-colored, umbilicated papules on sun-exposed skin (especially the face). Farci 2023
- Common synonyms: “sebaceous gland hyperplasia”, “senile sebaceous hyperplasia”. Farci 2023
- History
- Described since the beginning of the 20th century as a benign lesion associated with skin aging, the term “senile sebaceous hyperplasia” became popular in the second half of the 20th century (classic series of geriatric cases). Marques 1969 , Czarnecki 1986
- Today it is understood as a benign hamartomatous/adnexal lesion rather than a true neoplasm. Iacobelli 2017
- Epidemiology
- Very common in middle-aged and elderly adults; approximate prevalence in healthy controls 20–25%. Salim 2006 , Farci 2023
- Neonatal: very common transient forms (facial papules that resolve spontaneously). Farci 2023
- Higher frequency in fair skin types and photoaged skin; slight predominance in men in some studies. Farci 2023
- Prevalence is clearly increased in kidney transplant recipients and other immunocompromised individuals (up to ~30% in some series with cyclosporine). Salim 2006 , Pang 2005 , Levandoski 2017
- Codes
- ICD-10: L73.8 (Other disorders of hair follicles)
- ICD-11: ED91.1 (Sebaceous gland hyperplasia)
- Diagnostic checklist (quick)
- Essential clinic
- Adult (or transplanted/immunosuppressed) with one or multiple 2–4 mm, skin-yellow, soft papules.
- Located on the face or other classic area (eyelid, areola, external genitalia).
- Umbilicature/central depression, occasionally with sebum drainage.
- Without spontaneous ulceration or significant pain.
- Dermatoscopy (ideal)
- White-yellow lobules.
- Crown vessels surround the lesion without crossing the center.
- Laboratory / histology (only if in doubt)
- When BCC or another tumor is suspected, perform the following:
- High-quality dermatoscopy and, if available, RCM.
- Punch biopsy or deep shave including superficial dermis.
- Histology: enlarged sebaceous lobules with mature sebocytes around a dilated infundibular duct, without atypia.
- When BCC or another tumor is suspected, perform the following:
- If all items are met → diagnosis of HS is very likely; if there are doubts (atypical solitary lesion, rapid growth, ulceration) → biopsy is mandatory.
- Essential clinic
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