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Original poster

sebaceous hyperplasia

20 replies

Mokok · 14/04/2018 08:14

Hi there,

The bumps on my face are apparently sebaceous hyperplasia. There are almost ten of them, some of them on my cheeks and forehead and since my son has declared that I had "chickenpox" I've decided to.do something about them. Has anyone had these and got them removed? If so how? Any help is much appreciated!

OP posts:
thefirstmrsdewinter · 14/04/2018 10:49

Oh god, nothing to add except I've got them too and would get rid tomorrow if only I knew what could be done. I saw a dermatologist about something else and when I asked about the SH she said she'd advise me not to touch them, even if I went private.

Op do they run in your family? I don't know anyone else who has them. They seemed to come up five at a time in my late 40s and if I look closely I can see more brewing.

LadyOfTheCanyon · 14/04/2018 14:01

I have them and this has worked for me. Your mileage may vary.

Paula's Choice or The Ordinary 2% Salicylic acid applied twice a day on all bumps. Don't put other skincare on top. ( To be honest I ended up just doing this at night as I needed moisturiser etc during the day.)

After a week of this - gentle squeeze. You should find that your bumps will express the stuff inside them. They should then lay a little flatter.

Maintain the salicylic acid a couple of times a week going forward. Squeeze occasionally.

They won't go completely - they will never go according to my research. But this will make them lay flatter to your skin.

Ultimately you need a specialist treatment that burns them off but that can result in loss of pigmentation, so I'm finding this works at this point for me.

Good luck!

goose1964 · 14/04/2018 15:03

Thank you you've just identified the pumps on my face.

missbonita · 14/04/2018 16:12

I got rid of mine!

I washed with a cleanser containing salicylic acid morning and night, used an incredibly strong, smelly and disgusting toner called P50 that was like a miracle, then lactic acid on the bumps. I used Eve Lom Rescue Mask which I smoothed over them at night and left on overnight. They disappeared over a 2 week period and my skin is now totally smooth. I've kept up the stinky P50 once every 2 days as a precaution to stop them returning.

missbonita · 14/04/2018 16:12

PS - I was told that a goof facialist can extract them at the Eve Lom counter but it was too expensive for me so I went DIY :)

missbonita · 14/04/2018 16:15

Sorry, me again - I used Isotrex from the Dr the first time I had them and it worked very quickly but it isn't available at the moment without added antibiotics which I don't like using unless absolutely necessary.

LadyOfTheCanyon · 14/04/2018 16:59

Oo I was going to get some P50 but there was a terrifying man in Liberty who wouldn't let me buy any without a detailed interrogation, so I ran away. Angry

missbonita · 14/04/2018 20:00

Haha first they interrogate you. Then they sell you the smelliest and most revolting cosmetic known to man kind for the price of a slap u 3 course meal for 2. But it really works!

Original poster
Mokok · 15/04/2018 21:37

Thank you! This is fantastic stuff. I am now making lists to buy the products that have been mentioned. I am slightly obsessed with it now Smile. I'd be very happy with a less bumpy face - kind of gave up on the all other aging and gravity related changes.

OP posts:
BigStripeyBastard · 15/04/2018 23:12

I had one of these on my cheek, just tl the left of my nose, so in an area with reasonably thick skin.
I'm afraid I basically ground it down, using a combination of harsh exfoliation in that one patch with a particularly rough muslin cloth and a massive onslaught of all the acids I own. It worked quite well and there is no trace left now.
Legal disclaimer....please do not try that at home...I cannot vouch for the safety of my method.

thefirstmrsdewinter · 15/04/2018 23:42

@BigStripeyBastard that's exactly what the dermatologist recommended I do for seborrheic keratoses too near my eye to freeze off ('if you really scrub that it might scab and come off'). Hasn't worked yet, but maybe I need to apply myself.

mrsrhodgilbert · 16/04/2018 08:50

I have these too, I hate them but they are multiplying. The trouble is if you are rough with them they bleed a lot and my skin doesn't heal as quickly as it used to, I'm 54. I'm quite interested in the acid approach though couldn't get my hands on P50 very easily.

Original poster
Mokok · 16/04/2018 09:09

Mine started around pregnancy number 2. I knew it was hormone related and didn't want to mess around with them then. They didn't stop and have been multiplying sinceSad. Now I also have a coil fitted - sorry, too much info- and I can see an obvious change in the amount of sebum (sounding like a dermo obsessed person now) produced by my skin. I'll arm myself with various acid based products and launch a die heart style attack. That seems to be the only DIY way.

OP posts:
lurkingfromhome · 16/04/2018 14:51

I got them dealt with at the beauty salon. This was years ago and I can't remember what the treatment was called (it's the same as they use for milia) but it involved heat - sort of like cauterising them with a hot contraption - then the facialist squeezed them.

It was not hideously expensive and was more or less successful but the only thing that made them go away completely and for good was the Roaccutane I went on a few years later for acne.

BartonHollow · 18/01/2019 00:56

Just placemarking as I have this and want to go over the tips

Movingonup41 · 18/01/2019 11:20

Does anyone have a link to work out the beat regime for you?

I have 2 different acids in a basket and am not sure which one to get or if both can be used together?

LadyOfTheCanyon · 18/01/2019 12:02

BHA ( so Salicylic) acid works best for SH I have found. The logic is that the molecules are small enough to get inside the 'spot' so can clean it out from the inside. After a week or so of BHA if I give the lump a squeeze it normally expresses its contents and lies flatter. It's a recurring cycle though Angry

BartonHollow · 18/01/2019 12:48

I have had cryotherapy on mine but there are still some left

Unfortunately the skincare routine to manage it seems very expensive

Chelseahelen · 07/05/2021 16:59

Has anyone found a cure for this? I bought so many lotions and potions over the years and nothing seems to work. Has anyone found anything that is a miracle cure. I pray I find something soon as it is really upsetting me and stops me meeting friends on occasions. Sebaceous hyperplasia is definitely a thorn in my side 😪

RochelleGoyle · 02/06/2021 00:44

@Chelseahelen I very recently saw a private dermatologist about my SH. She said laser surgery can get rid of them but they tend to come back, so once you start you might want/need annual top ups. They can be excised but that won't stop new ones coming. She said salicylic and glycolic acids are good for keeping them under control. And wear sunscreen on your face daily because they're the product of sun damage. Wish I had better news!

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