Why do sebaceous glands secrete

Sebaceous glands are the oil secreting glands of your body. This is why they are also called the oil glands. They are a type of holocrine simple saccular alveolar gland. Their function is to secrete a substance called sebum, a mixture of fatty substances, entire sebum-producing cells, and epithelial cell debris. The sebaceous glands are located in the dermis, the middle layer of the skin, and they develop from the epithelial cells of the hair follicle itself the external root sheath of the hair follicle.

Sebaceous gland ducts thus usually open up into the upper part of a hair follicle, called the infundibulum. The infundibulum is part of the pilosebaceous canal, the one responsible for discharging sebum and one that is composed of the infundibulum and the short duct of the sebaceous gland itself.

However, some sebaceous gland ducts open directly onto our skin surface such as at the corner of the mouth and the glans penis. Regardless, the secretion of sebum out of the gland is helped along by the contraction of the arrector pili muscle.

Progesterone weakens the effect of the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase. Researchers have found that when progesterone levels spike, sebum production actually goes up. More research is needed to understand why. While in the womb, your sebaceous glands produce vernix caseosa. This white, paste-like coating protects and moisturizes your skin until birth.

From there, sebum production slows until you hit puberty. When you hit puberty, sebum production may increase up to percent. Male adolescents tend to produce more sebum than their female counterparts.

This often results in oily, acne-prone skin. This often results in dry, cracked skin. There are several medications, underlying conditions, and other outside factors that can make your sebaceous glands more or less active. Hormonal medications often increase sebum production. This includes testosterone, some progesterones, and phenothiazine. In many cases, pituitary, adrenal, ovarian, and testicular conditions can cause either an increase or decrease in production. Certain birth control pills, antiandrogens, and isotretinoin typically decrease sebum production.

As previously stated, pituitary, adrenal, ovarian, and testicular conditions can cause either an increase or decrease in production. You can typically use creams, soaps, and other topicals to help treat the symptoms associated with too much or too little sebum.

In severe cases, your doctor may prescribe hormonal medication or supplements to help balance your sebum production from within. You may consider talking to your doctor about combination birth control pills.

The combination of estrogen and progestin may help reduce your sebum production. They may be able to recommend a different pill that suits your needs.

This oral medication may lower sebum production by up to 90 percent. Certain foods have also been linked to excess oil production and acne. Avoiding foods that disrupt your blood sugar levels or are high in saturated fat might help to curb your oil production from within. If they become itchy or irritated, a doctor might prescribe a mild topical steroid to offer relief.

Dealing with acne can be frustrating. Our free guide provides expert tips to help you take control. Sign up and get yours today. Recent advances in the endocrinology of the sebaceous gland. Sebaceous gland lipids. An update on the role of the sebaceous gland in the pathogenesis of acne. Anatomy, skin sweat glands. Updated August 1, American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Fordyce spots.

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