What Is the First Treatment for Sebaceous Hyperplasia?

Sebaceous hyperplasia causes small, flesh-coloured or yellowish bumps, often on the face. They are enlarged oil glands rather than an infection. Treatment is usually optional when the appearance or repeated irritation is bothersome. Electrosurgery uses controlled heat to treat a selected bump; the area then heals as the surface settles.

A clinician should confirm the diagnosis before removal because some other skin growths can resemble these bumps. The number, size, location, and skin tone influence the technique and the chance of temporary redness or pigment change.

Book a skin examination before arranging cosmetic removal. Ask how the area will be numbed, how to care for the treated skin, and whether a mark may remain while it heals. Do not squeeze, pierce, or burn the bumps at home. If several lesions are present or recurrence is a concern, the clinician can discuss whether CO2 laser resurfacing is suitable instead of treating each bump separately.

Read more about [Electrosurgery](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/electrosurgery/) and [CO2 Laser Resurfacing](/treatments/laser-and-energy/co2-laser-resurfacing/).

Arrange assessment for a bump that bleeds without being rubbed, forms a persistent sore, changes noticeably, or does not resemble your other lesions. After a procedure, seek advice for increasing pain, pus, spreading redness, or delayed healing rather than applying unprescribed products.

Ask how certain the diagnosis is, why electrosurgery is recommended, what healing changes to expect, and whether another procedure would better suit the location or number of bumps.