Methods for the treatment of a disorder characterized by excessive proliferation and/or lipid content of sebocytes are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a small molecule inhibitor targeted to galectin-12 or a nucleic acid-based inhibitor targeted to galectin-12 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein said inhibitor is a non-naturally occurring molecule and administration of said inhibitor produces a decrease in the proliferation and/or lipid content of the sebocytes. Methods for decreasing sebaceous gland size, inhibiting sebocyte proliferation, and/or inhibiting sebocyte lipid content are also disclosed.
