Blocked sebum gland - what to do?

definition

Sebum glands are small glands that are located in the skin. They are usually found in the company of hair or occur as free sebum glands. Free sebum glands are found on the eyelids, lips and in the anal and genital areas of both sexes. They produce the protective sebum, which is very important in maintaining a healthy skin barrier.

The greasy protective film ensures that the skin does not lose too much water and dry out. In some cases, however, the function of one or more sebum glands can be disturbed, causing them to become clogged. One reason for this is, for example, excessive sebum production.

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Causes of a blocked sebum gland

There are a number of different causes that can cause sebum glands to become clogged. A common cause is excessive sebum production, too Seborrhea called. Everyone experiences days when the complexion looks better or sometimes worse. Care with excessively greasy products, poor skin hygiene, or hormonal fluctuations can occasionally lead to clogged small sebum glands in every individual.

Another cause of blocked sebum glands is the so-called Hyperkeratosis. In this cornification disorder of the skin, excess horny lamellae clog the duct of the sebum gland. This creates blackheads. Usually one is Hyperkeratosis excessive sebum production (Seborrhea), so that both mechanisms ultimately lead to the blocked sebum glands. So-called acne is present in people who suffer from these impaired skin functions to a particularly high degree.

Find out more about the topic here: Blackheads - Causes and Treatment

People who are prone to acne continue to be genetically predisposed to the condition. Environmental factors, diet or the use of various medications, such as cortisone preparations, also have a negative effect on the sebum glands and cause them to become blocked. Due to a blockage of the sebum glands, sebum cysts, so-called Epidermoid cysts, arise. Such cysts often develop for no apparent cause.

Diagnosis of clogged sebum

Clogged sebum glands do not require special tests, such as blood tests or the like. They can already be seen with the naked eye and are diagnosed on the basis of this clinical picture. The specialist in charge, who specializes in sebum glands, is the dermatologist. He looks at the entire skin once and can thus determine whether it is a typical skin type for acne, for example. He can also diagnose sebum cysts based on their appearance.

In order to identify possible triggers, the patient interview (anamnese) important. Above all, the care habits, medication to be taken and other factors that influence the complexion are asked about.

Concomitant symptoms

Clogged sebum glands do not usually lead to symptoms at first. First of all, they are a cosmetic problem and therefore annoy many of those affected. However, the clogging of the sebum glands can lead to infection and inflammation. In this case, the surrounding skin may be reddened. The inflamed sebum itself is painful and overheated. The pressure on the affected area in particular can be painful.

In some cases, pus evacuates from the gland in response to pressure. One should refrain from expressing such an inflammatory gland as this can encourage abscessive infections. This is an infection that progresses deep into the skin and, in the worst case, can lead to blood poisoning.

Clogged sebum glands, also called stye, on the edge of the eyelid lead to painful eyelid closure. The pain has a throbbing quality. Pus can spontaneously evacuate from a stye.

Read more on the subject at:

• Inflammation of the sebum - this must be observed!
• Sebum hyperplasia

Treatment of a blocked sebum gland

Clogged sebum glands can be treated using a variety of methods. Everyone suffers from a blocked sebum gland from time to time, often you don't even notice it. As part of normal personal hygiene, the problem usually resolves itself. An inflamed or bacterially infected sebum, on the other hand, should be treated. Infected sebum cysts in particular should be surgically removed to prevent complications such as blood poisoning. You will first be treated with antibiotics, which are taken in the form of tablets. A common antibiotic is Ciprofloxacin.

The sebum cyst should then be completely removed in a small surgical procedure under local anesthesia so that it does not recur. If there are multiple sebum cysts on the body, they can be removed with laser treatment. Clogged sebum glands can be professionally cleaned by a dermatologist with the help of fruit acid peelings. Those who tend to have blemished skin benefit from regular peelings.

In the case of acne, special therapeutic measures with cleansing creams come into question. Ingredients such as azelaic acid, vitamin A acid or benzoyl peroxide serve to cleanse the skin. They have an anti-inflammatory effect and eliminate the excess horny lambs, which are significantly involved in the clogging of the sebum glands. Antibiotic ointments are also used. Women still have the option of using an anti-androgen pill as a contraceptive. This reduces the skin's sebum production and therefore has positive effects on the complexion. In very severe cases, vitamin A acid can be taken in tablet form.

Read more on the topic: Acne

Which home remedies help with a blocked sebum?

There are several home remedies that work well for treating clogged sebum glands. A very effective and good home remedy for blocked sebum glands is a homemade skin peeling. There are many different recipes for this. A simple and quick peeling is the sea salt peeling. For this you need coarse sea salt and a little honey. The salt and honey paste is applied to the affected areas and massaged into the skin with washed hands or a small sponge. Then wash the peeling off well with clear water.

The sea salt can severely dry out the skin, which is why you should apply a moisturizing day cream after the treatment. Oily skin creams or ointments are not recommended as they can clog the sebum glands again. The peeling can be repeated several times a week. Another very promising home remedy is the chamomile steam bath. It opens the pores and then makes it easier to clean the skin. The steam bath can be used alone or before a peeling. Fruit acid has also proven itself as a home remedy for combating blocked sebum glands. To do this, you can simply rub the sebum glands with a lemon or orange peel for a few minutes. The process can be repeated several times a week. Here, too, there is a risk of drying out the skin too much, so moisturizing care should be used.

Ultimately, healing earth from the health food store is a great way to treat blocked sebum glands. When mixed with water, it forms a thick paste that can be applied to the affected areas. The healing clay can act for up to 30 minutes. Then you wash them off with clear water. However, if a sebum gland is inflamed or bacterially infected, home remedies are not suitable for treatment. They can make the inflammation worse and even encourage complications. Sebaceous cysts should also not be treated with home remedies.

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Which homeopathic remedies help?

It is difficult to provide information on homeopathic remedies for clogged sebum glands, as homeopathy does not give clear recommendations. Nor are they conventional drugs that follow clear indications. Therefore, no binding recommendations can be issued at this point.

Often you will find information on homeopathic remedies in connection with blocked sebum glands petroleum and Thuja occidentalis. The information on the recommended potencies varies greatly. It is best to seek advice from a pharmacist or alternative practitioner for homeopathy with regard to the individual complaints if you are interested in homeopathic treatment.

Read more on the topic: Homeopathy for acne

Duration

Every now and then everyone is affected by a blocked sebum gland. The problem often resolves on its own as the body breaks down the excess sebum itself. Normal personal hygiene is usually sufficient to remove excess horny lamb. However, some people are repeatedly affected by blemished skin or away for a long period of time. With acne in particular, years of progression, with better and worse phases, are normal.

Localization of a blocked sebum gland

The clogged sebum on the earlobe

There are also sebum glands on the earlobe. There are a lot of small hairs here, which are mostly not clearly visible. There are sebum glands on this hair that can occasionally be blocked. Usually you can feel small nodules in the earlobe. Sebum gland cysts are also not uncommon in this area.

Wearing earrings can also help. In order to prevent this, one should not forget to clean the earlobes when exercising personal hygiene.

Sebaceous cysts, especially if they are prone to inflammation, should be removed by a doctor.

Read more on the topic: Ear lobe inflammation

The clogged sebum behind the ear

There are also many sebum glands behind the ears. These are often left out or simply forgotten in personal hygiene. Sweat and sebum collect at this point and can block the sebum glands. If the sebum becomes inflamed, it can become palpable as a painful lump.

The best measure one can take to prevent clogged sebum glands in this area is to cleanse the skin daily. When washing your hair, you should therefore always remember to clean the area behind the ears. Many flakes of skin, sweat and sebum collect there over the course of the day.

Read more on the topic: Swelling behind the ear

The blocked sebum on the areola

There are many relatively large sebum glands in a circular arrangement on the areola. These glands can be seen as skin-colored dots and are particularly prominent during erection. They are all natural and do not need to be removed. Occasionally, these sebum glands can become blocked and cause discomfort, in which case a gynecologist should be consulted. There may be a bacterial infection behind it.

Avoid expressing the glands yourself, as this will encourage abscessive infections.

The clogged sebum on the lip

Most of the sebum glands are located near a hair follike. But there are also free sebum glands. These do not accompany hair. Such sebum glands can be found on the lip, among other things.

Unfortunately, they can also be clogged every now and then. The sebum glands are mainly located near the transition between the red lips and the skin and can look like small, whitish-yellow dots. They are harmless, but pose a cosmetic problem for many sufferers. In this case, treatment with a laser is possible.

The clogged sebum in the armpit

There are also many sebum glands in the armpits. Due to the high production of sebum and sweat in this part of the body, these tend to be constipated. Those affected can counteract this by depilating their armpits and cleaning them thoroughly. Skin scrubs and drying powders can also help keep the sebum glands intact.

However, if infected and inflamed sebum glands occur, removal by a doctor often makes sense.

Read more on the topic: Inflammation of the armpit - How dangerous is it?

The clogged sebum in the genital area

The genital area is permeated by many free sebum glands. They produce the protective sebum that is very important for the sensitive skin of the genital area. Unfortunately, blocked sebum glands can occasionally occur here as well. Regular cleaning of the skin in the genital area can counteract this.

However, caution should be exercised. Women in particular are very sensitive to aggressive shower gels and cleaning products. This unbalances the pH of the genital area and fungal infections are common. Therefore, pH-neutral cleaning products should be used. Inflamed sebum glands can also be removed in this area.

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The blocked sebum on your back

The back is a typical area of ​​skin where blocked sebum glands appear. The V-shaped area of ​​the chest as well as the back and the T-zone of the face are places where a lot of sebum is often produced. Excessive sebum production leads to blocked sebum glands in these areas. Also in the context of acne these are the typical places of annoying blackheads. Skin peelings and cleansing products can be used liberally on the back, since, unlike the face, it is not a particularly sensitive area of ​​the skin.