Acne vulgaris is a well-recognized condition among adolescents and adults that adversely affects their quality of life. Local cryotherapy has long been reported to be effective in treating acne vulgaris, inducing a more rapid involution of acne than topical medications. However, the use of cryotherapy has been limited for acne treatment due to several drawbacks, including procedural pain and pigmentary alterations. Currently, newer cryotherapy devices are gaining attention in dermatology due to their ability to monitor and precisely control the target temperature. In this narrative review, a brief history and the latest update on acne cryotherapy will be presented. Additionally, a special emphasis is placed on the role of cryotherapy, alone or in combination with intralesional steroid injections for nodulocystic acne.

Sebaceous glands are sebum-secreting components of pilosebaceous units. The embryological development of the sebaceous gland follows that of the hair follicle and epidermal tissue, beginning between weeks 13 and 16 of fetal development. New sebaceous glands do not normally develop following birth, but their size increases with age. Sebocytes express a multitude of hormone receptors and are heavily regulated to secrete sebum by androgens. There is a large increase of sebum excretion at birth and again at puberty, until approximately age 17. In adulthood, sebum production remains stable and declines to zero in postmenopausal women and in men aged 60-70. Besides the production and release of sebum, sebaceous glands function to lubricate the skin and hair, provide thermoregulation, and exhibit antimicrobial activity. Research has shown sebaceous glands to possess the cellular capability to transcribe genes necessary for androgen metabolism. Dysfunction of the sebaceous gland can be seen primarily in steatocystoma simplex and multiplex, sebaceous gland hyperplasia, sebaceoma, sebaceous adenoma, sebaceous carcinoma, nevus sebaceus, and folliculosebaceous cystic hamartoma. Sebaceous glands are secondarily involved in acne vulgaris, seborrheic dermatitis, and androgenic alopecia.

Seborrheic Dermatitis (SD) and dandruff are of a continuous spectrum of the same disease that affects the seborrheic areas of the body. Dandruff is restricted to the scalp, and involves itchy, flaking skin without visible inflammation. SD can affect the scalp as well as other seborrheic areas, and involves itchy and flaking or scaling skin, inflammation and pruritus. Various intrinsic and environmental factors, such as sebaceous secretions, skin surface fungal colonization, individual susceptibility, and interactions between these factors, all contribute to the pathogenesis of SD and dandruff. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on SD and dandruff, including epidemiology, burden of disease, clinical presentations and diagnosis, treatment, genetic studies in humans and animal models, and predisposing factors. Genetic and biochemical studies and investigations in animal models provide further insight on the pathophysiology and strategies for better treatment.

Sebaceous gland carcinoma (SGC) is a rare tumour occurring at periocular and extra-ocular sites. SGC can be a challenging diagnosis for both clinicians and pathologists. High recurrence rates and a tendency for intra-epithelial spread, locoregional and distant metastases make it important for SGC to be suspected and be included in the differential diagnosis of an eyelid lesion. Early diagnosis, that may sometimes need ancillary testing, and prompt management using a multimodal approach can help reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with SGC.