Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon CausesGeneticsLifestyle Risk FactorsA Word From VerywellFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Seborrheic Dermatitis GuideCoping With Seborrheic Dermatitis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Common Causes
Genetics
Lifestyle Risk Factors
A Word From Verywell
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Seborrheic Dermatitis Guide
While there is no specific cause ofseborrheic dermatitis, a variety of risk factors have been identified.
Specifically, it’s possible that age and gender, preexisting medical conditions, drug regimes, or even a person’s genetics may play a role in developing the condition.
Additionally, a factor frequently linked to seborrheic dermatitis is a yeast species calledMalassezia.
This article will highlight the causes and risk factors behind seborrheic dermatitis.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealandwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealandwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Most experts theorize that there are likely multiple factors working together that ultimately make a person vulnerable to manifesting this inflammatory skin condition.
Malassezia Yeast
One factor frequently linked to the pathogenesis behind seborrheic dermatitis involves a yeast species calledMalassezia.This organism normally lives on the skin, but experts suspect that for some reason, those with seborrheic dermatitis mount an abnormal inflammatory or irritative response to its presence.
Despite the scientific evidence pointing towards a connection between seborrheic dermatitis andMalassezia, experts still debate about the strength of the link, and whether it’s a direct or indirect one.
In the end, it’s possible that the link betweenMalasseziaand seborrheic dermatitis may simply be an incidental finding. Regardless, the fact that seborrheic dermatitis responds to antifungal drugs, suggests some sort of connection.
Age and Gender
Besides the presence of or a person’s reaction to theMalasseziaorganism on their skin, research has found that age and gender may affect who is more susceptible to developing seborrheic dermatitis.
Seborrheic dermatitis is slightly more common in men, which suggests a possible association with sex hormones, like androgens. Seborrheic dermatitis is also more common in people within these two age groups:
Medical Conditions
While seborrheic dermatitis generally affects healthy individuals, people with certain underlying medical conditions are more prone to manifesting the rash.
Examples of these medical conditions include:
Medications
Similar to having a certain medical condition, people who take these medications are also more susceptible to developing seborrheic dermatitis:
Interestingly, the connection between genetics and the development of seborrheic dermatitis is receiving more and more attention.
In fact, scientists have found 11 gene mutations or protein deficiencies linked to seborrheic dermatitis. The majority of these genes or proteins play a role in the functioning of the immune system or how cells in the outer layer of the skin mature (called epidermal differentiation).
By understanding how genes play a role in the development of seborrheic dermatitis, researchers can better target therapies to ultimately treat this benign, yet potentially burdensome, skin disease.
Besides your genes, age, gender, and health-related factors, various lifestyle-related factors have been linked to seborrheic dermatitis. These factors include:
Seborrheic dermatitis, while harmless, can be a frustrating, if not a distressing disease for some people. In adults, particularly, seborrheic dermatitis tends to be chronic and relapsing. This means that having a good treatment plan in place is key to keeping the disease at bay.
If you think you have seborrheic dermatitis, be sure to make an appointment with your primary care physician ordermatologist.
Seborrheic dermatitis is not contagious and cannot be spread from person to person. While its exact cause is still unknown, it does appear to run in families.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology.Seborrheic dermatitis: who gets and causes.Borda LJ, Wikramanayake TC.Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review.J Clin Investig Dermatol. 2015;3(2): doi:10.13188/2373-1044.1000019Clark GW, Pope SM, Jaboori KA.Diagnosis and treatment of seborrheic dermatitis.Am Fam Physician. 2015;1;91(3):185-90.Dessinioti C, Katsambas A.Seborrheic dermatitis: etiology, risk factors, and treatments: facts and controversies.Clin Dermatol. 2013 Jul-Aug;31(4):343-51. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2013.01.001Berk T, Scheinfeld N.Seborrheic Dermatitis.P T.2010 Jun;35(6):348-52.Karakadze MA, Hirt PA, Wikramanayake TC.The genetic basis of seborrhoeic dermatitis: a review.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018 Apr;32(4):529-36. doi: 10.1111/jdv.14704University of Rochester Medical Center.Seborrheic dermatitis.Sanders MGH, Pardo LM, Ginger RS, Kiefte-de Jong JC, Nijsten T.Association between diet and seborrheic dermatitis: A cross-sectional study.J Invest Dermatol. 2019;139(1):108-114. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2018.07.027Additional ReadingDessinioti C, Katsambas A.Seborrheic dermatitis: etiology, risk factors, and treatments: facts and controversies.Clin Dermatol. 2013 Jul-Aug;31(4):343-51. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2013.01.001National Eczema Association. (2002-2019).Seborrheic Dermatitis.Sasseville D MS, FRCPC. Seborrheic dermatitis in adolescents and adults. In: UpToDate, Fowler J, (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham MA.Schwartz JR et al.A comprehensive pathophysiology of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis - towards a more precise definition of scalp health.Acta Derm Venereol.2013 Mar 27;93(2):131-7. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1382
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology.Seborrheic dermatitis: who gets and causes.Borda LJ, Wikramanayake TC.Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review.J Clin Investig Dermatol. 2015;3(2): doi:10.13188/2373-1044.1000019Clark GW, Pope SM, Jaboori KA.Diagnosis and treatment of seborrheic dermatitis.Am Fam Physician. 2015;1;91(3):185-90.Dessinioti C, Katsambas A.Seborrheic dermatitis: etiology, risk factors, and treatments: facts and controversies.Clin Dermatol. 2013 Jul-Aug;31(4):343-51. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2013.01.001Berk T, Scheinfeld N.Seborrheic Dermatitis.P T.2010 Jun;35(6):348-52.Karakadze MA, Hirt PA, Wikramanayake TC.The genetic basis of seborrhoeic dermatitis: a review.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018 Apr;32(4):529-36. doi: 10.1111/jdv.14704University of Rochester Medical Center.Seborrheic dermatitis.Sanders MGH, Pardo LM, Ginger RS, Kiefte-de Jong JC, Nijsten T.Association between diet and seborrheic dermatitis: A cross-sectional study.J Invest Dermatol. 2019;139(1):108-114. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2018.07.027Additional ReadingDessinioti C, Katsambas A.Seborrheic dermatitis: etiology, risk factors, and treatments: facts and controversies.Clin Dermatol. 2013 Jul-Aug;31(4):343-51. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2013.01.001National Eczema Association. (2002-2019).Seborrheic Dermatitis.Sasseville D MS, FRCPC. Seborrheic dermatitis in adolescents and adults. In: UpToDate, Fowler J, (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham MA.Schwartz JR et al.A comprehensive pathophysiology of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis - towards a more precise definition of scalp health.Acta Derm Venereol.2013 Mar 27;93(2):131-7. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1382
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Dermatology.Seborrheic dermatitis: who gets and causes.Borda LJ, Wikramanayake TC.Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review.J Clin Investig Dermatol. 2015;3(2): doi:10.13188/2373-1044.1000019Clark GW, Pope SM, Jaboori KA.Diagnosis and treatment of seborrheic dermatitis.Am Fam Physician. 2015;1;91(3):185-90.Dessinioti C, Katsambas A.Seborrheic dermatitis: etiology, risk factors, and treatments: facts and controversies.Clin Dermatol. 2013 Jul-Aug;31(4):343-51. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2013.01.001Berk T, Scheinfeld N.Seborrheic Dermatitis.P T.2010 Jun;35(6):348-52.Karakadze MA, Hirt PA, Wikramanayake TC.The genetic basis of seborrhoeic dermatitis: a review.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018 Apr;32(4):529-36. doi: 10.1111/jdv.14704University of Rochester Medical Center.Seborrheic dermatitis.Sanders MGH, Pardo LM, Ginger RS, Kiefte-de Jong JC, Nijsten T.Association between diet and seborrheic dermatitis: A cross-sectional study.J Invest Dermatol. 2019;139(1):108-114. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2018.07.027
American Academy of Dermatology.Seborrheic dermatitis: who gets and causes.
Borda LJ, Wikramanayake TC.Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review.J Clin Investig Dermatol. 2015;3(2): doi:10.13188/2373-1044.1000019
Clark GW, Pope SM, Jaboori KA.Diagnosis and treatment of seborrheic dermatitis.Am Fam Physician. 2015;1;91(3):185-90.
Dessinioti C, Katsambas A.Seborrheic dermatitis: etiology, risk factors, and treatments: facts and controversies.Clin Dermatol. 2013 Jul-Aug;31(4):343-51. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2013.01.001
Berk T, Scheinfeld N.Seborrheic Dermatitis.P T.2010 Jun;35(6):348-52.
Karakadze MA, Hirt PA, Wikramanayake TC.The genetic basis of seborrhoeic dermatitis: a review.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018 Apr;32(4):529-36. doi: 10.1111/jdv.14704
University of Rochester Medical Center.Seborrheic dermatitis.
Sanders MGH, Pardo LM, Ginger RS, Kiefte-de Jong JC, Nijsten T.Association between diet and seborrheic dermatitis: A cross-sectional study.J Invest Dermatol. 2019;139(1):108-114. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2018.07.027
Dessinioti C, Katsambas A.Seborrheic dermatitis: etiology, risk factors, and treatments: facts and controversies.Clin Dermatol. 2013 Jul-Aug;31(4):343-51. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2013.01.001National Eczema Association. (2002-2019).Seborrheic Dermatitis.Sasseville D MS, FRCPC. Seborrheic dermatitis in adolescents and adults. In: UpToDate, Fowler J, (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham MA.Schwartz JR et al.A comprehensive pathophysiology of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis - towards a more precise definition of scalp health.Acta Derm Venereol.2013 Mar 27;93(2):131-7. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1382
National Eczema Association. (2002-2019).Seborrheic Dermatitis.
Sasseville D MS, FRCPC. Seborrheic dermatitis in adolescents and adults. In: UpToDate, Fowler J, (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham MA.
Schwartz JR et al.A comprehensive pathophysiology of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis - towards a more precise definition of scalp health.Acta Derm Venereol.2013 Mar 27;93(2):131-7. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1382
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