A new article published in Dermatologic Therapy discussed that sebaceous glands are sebum-secreting components of pilosebaceous units. Pathologies of sebaceous glands include – steatocystoma simplex and multiplex, sebaceous gland hyperplasia, sebaceoma, sebaceous adenoma, sebaceous carcinoma, nevus sebaceus and folliculosebaceous cystic hamartoma.

The authors further informed that sebaceous glands are secondarily involved in acne vulgaris, seborrheic dermatitis and androgenic alopecia. Sebaceous gland hyperplasia is characterized by yellow, telangiectatic papules with a central dell, and it can be treated with topical retinoids or surgical excision. Surgical excision is the preferred treatment for sebaceoma, sebaceous adenoma and sebaceous carcinoma. Patients with acne vulgaris commonly present with papules of closed and open comedones displaying hypercornification. Seborrheic dermatitis presents as sharply demarcated yellow or red patches or plaques—antifungal agents, corticosteroids, and combination antifungal/anti-inflammatory therapies are common treatment modalities. 

Source: Dermatologic Therapy. 2021 Feb 11;e14862. doi: 10.1111/dth.14862.