Structure and Function of Sebaceous Glands

Abstract

Sebaceous glands synthesize sebum and secrete it to the skin surface through hair follicular canals. The abnormalities of the functions of the sebaceous glands are closely related to the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris, seborrhea, seborrheic dermatitis, sebaceous gland hyperplasia, and so on. In this article, scientific features of human sebaceous glands and sebum are overviewed; namely, the morphological characteristics of the glands, the biochemical features of sebum, the change of sebum contents during ageing, the biological roles of sebum, and so on. Finally, the pathogenesis of sebaceous gland hyperplasia is discussed; the extreme enlargement of some sebaceous glands is caused neither by an oncogenic factor nor by a hamartomatous condition, but it may be due to a malfunction of the control mechanisms of the cell production from germinal sebocytes, although the cell differentiation of the generated daughter sebocytes is still preserved normal.