ABSTRACT
By convention, the nails and hair follicles and their sebaceous glands are considered as ‘appendages’ or derivatives of the skin. Sebaceous glands are associated with hair follicles and are not found in non-hairy sites. They are formed from epidermis-derived cells and become active at puberty, producing sebum, the exact function of which is not yet fully understood. The pilosebaceous unit consists of the hair shaft (pilo), the sebaceous gland and the infundibulum, or duct (pore), which leads to the skin surface. Light exfoliation assists in the shedding of cells from the stratum corneum, including cells from the pilosebaceous duct. It is essential that exfoliation is not done excessively nor with abrasive agents as overstimulation of the epidermis may lead to an aggravation of the hypercornification of the pilosebaceous duct and further inflammatory changes. The disease is chronic, persistent and in some cases there may be periods of remission, followed by relapse.
