Deborah Tosline wrote and published “Skin Remodeling DIY: An Introduction to the Underground World of Do-It-Yourself Skincare” in 2015. Her approach to skin care is based on a scientific background, love of research and over 30 years of DIY skincare experience.

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Got skin bumps? Many folks have em. They may be Sebaceous Hyperplasia (SH) small shiny bumps on the skin’s surface. It’s important to have skin bumps checked by a dermatologist. If your bumps are SH, they are harmless. SH blemish the skin and may be difficult to prevent but they can be managed or removed.

I have a tendency to develop SH. While it’s not a health issue, it is a cosmetic one. I’ve found that my DIY skin care hobby minimizes the appearance of SH but I prefer to remove SH bumps.

In this article, I briefly describe SH, SH treatments and my personal SH treatment experience.

SH is a benign skin bump that results from overproduction of sebaceous gland sebum. SH typically occur later in life. Sebaceous glands are located beneath the surface of the skin. Damaged glands may become enlarged and blocked resulting in hard or soft, white or yellow bumps. SH have a characteristic indentation on their surface versus acne which has a lifted center. SH may form single or multiple bumps that primarily appear on the forehead, middle of the face or wherever sebaceous glands exist.

Androgens are groups of hormones present in women and men. As androgens decrease over time sebaceous gland activity is impacted; cell turnover decreases, the sebaceous gland becomes blocked and enlarged and voila a new SH develops. Estrogens have been found to decrease sebaceous gland secretions by minimizing blockages.

Standard treatments used to manage or remove SH include:

• Retinol – prescription vitamin A, effective at managing the appearance of SH

• Acid Peels – may cause SH if there is poor after care

• Laser Therapy – reduces the size of the SH, minimal scarring potential

• Cryotherapy – freezes SH, may change skin color

• Electrocautery – burns SH with electricity, may cause pigment change or indented scar

• Photodynamic Therapy – drug increases sun sensitivity, controlled light eliminates SH

• Surgery – surgically removes SH, may cause scarring

• Antiandrogen medications – balances hormones to shrink SH

• Cleanse – use salicylic acid to prevent clogged sebaceous glands

Based on my limited experience, I briefly describe my anecdotal results using DIY skin care methods to manage SH.

• Retinoids

I’ve used Retin-A (or generic) and DIY retinol creams on an almost daily basis for about 20 years. Retinoids are highly researched. Daily retinoid use has been shown to maintain smooth clear skin.

• Micro-needling

After completing about 65 DIY deep micro-needling treatments from 2008 to present, I noticed in recent years that I sometimes develop a new SH following a treatment. For me immediately after deep micro-needling, existing SH’s become enlarged and noticeable but retreat and flatten after the skin is healed. I’ve found that new SH’s that form during a micro-needling treatment remain. I’ve determined that overall, micro-needling greatly improves the condition of my skin and if I develop a new SH following a micro-needling treatment, I will remove the SH.

• Exfoliation

I use chemical and physical methods to exfoliate the skin. I’ve never developed a new SH from exfoliating.

I periodically remember to use a pumpkin acid peel and more often remember to use a 1 minute 70% glycolic acid peel. I find that existing SH may become irritated and larger immediately after the treatment but they subside and flatten soon after the treatment.

I am a huge proponent of physical exfoliation. I scrub rigorously using a gentle silk micro-fiber cloth. I use the micro-fiber cloth nightly and the Oil Cleansing Method periodically as facial cleansers.

• Removal - Electrocautery

In about 2019, I asked my dermatologist to remove SH from my forehead, I had quite a few. At that time, it cost $120 to remove 10 SH’s using electrocautery. Following the treatment, there were 10 tiny thick scabs that fell off after 4 to 5 days with no scarring. The one-time treatment results were permanent.

Over time, I developed new SH’s and was going to have them removed. I am a home body and try to minimize appointments especially during Covid 19. I decided to purchase a simple electrocautery machine.

I researched electrocautery and similar devices for several months. I chose a mid-level electrocautery device between the $20 and $600 price range. I purchased the ELI-912, Spot Remover Instrument from eBay (not affiliated).

When I received the device, I felt nervous about using it. I made time to study the device and it’s brief instructions. I realized that the device is not dangerously powerful and that I would not do much damage if I attempted to self-treat my SH. I watched a few YouTube videos and prepared for my DIY treatment.

I cleansed my skin with witch hazel and the device with alcohol. I tested the device at its lowest level and began zapping a SH. The lowest level had little power. I increased the intensity slowly, testing it on myself each time until I reached the highest setting.  It was settled, I would use the highest setting on the device. The process was simple. I gently zapped three SH’s. A small brownish mark was present on each treated SH. Not knowing what to expect, I chose to only lightly treat the SH and observe the healing response. I followed my normal skin care routine except that I did not exfoliate or do facial exercise and massage for about 3 days while the skin healed.

The treated SH’s formed a light scab and healed within 3 days. The SH’s were greatly diminished and there was no scarring. I completed another treatment where I re-treated two SH’s and newly treated two SH’s on my cheeks and a few on my forehead. Again, each treated SH formed a light scab and healed within 3 days.

A week after my DIY light electrocautery treatments, the larger SH’s that were treated are greatly diminished and the smaller SH’s are completely gone. I’ve read that it sometimes requires several treatments to completely eliminate an SH.

I feel comfortable using light electrocautery to self-treat my SH. I understand how my skin responds and heals after using various skin care treatments and I take this into consideration whenever I undertake a new advanced DIY skin care practice. Two weeks after my previous DIY treatments, I see no adverse effects.

I’ll wait a couple of weeks to re-treat previously treated SH that need it and newly treat additional SH. I will give myself a stronger treatment next time.  

• Light treatments

I’ve been giving myself Red Light Emitting Diode (LED) facials for about 15 years. I complete a 10-minute LED facial once a week. About 4 years ago, I constructed a DIY Near Infrared (NIR) Light spa and use the NIR spa once a week on my face and body for about 30 minutes. NASA conducted the initial investigations that showed that light treatments promote skin health. A subsequent study here provides before and after photos and scientific results that show that light therapy effectively increases collagen and smooths rough skin. This easy treatment promotes health and makes skin glow.

• Baths, saunas and humidity

Before Covid 19, I used a dry sauna or steam room weekly for about 30 years. During the past year and a half, I’ve taken weekly Epsom Salt bathes. For me, moisture causes SH to become temporarily enlarged. Once the effects of the sauna/steam/bath wear off, the SH shrink and flatten.

Have a dermatologist check bumpy skin. After you confirm that your skin bumps are SH, determine the best route for you, no treatment, self-treatment or external treatment. Educate yourself. Select SH treatment methods that fit into your budget, schedule, comfort zone and knowledge. Rest assured that there are a variety of treatment methods that may be used to minimize the appearance of or eliminate SH.

If you need more information, go to the library, search the Internet, read my past Blog articles, or get my book “Skin Remodeling DIY: An Introduction to the Underground World of Do-It-Yourself Skincare” 

Take good care of yourselves!

XO Deborah

This article is intended to be used as general information only and is in no way intended to replace medical advice, be used as a medical treatment program, diagnosis, or cure of any disease or medical condition. There are no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding the effectiveness of the practices described in this article. Products or substances discussed herein are for educational purposes only and are not intended as recommendations of the author.

Medscape - Sebaceous Hyperplasia, Updated: Oct 05, 2020, Author: David T Robles, MD, PhD, FAAD; Chief Editor: William D James, MD