Seborrheic dermatitis: Who gets and causes
What causes seborrheic dermatitis?
Researchers are still studying what causes this common skin disease. From what they have learned, it appears that the cause is complex. Many factors seem to work together to cause seborrheic dermatitis. These factors may include the yeast that normally lives on our skin, our genes, living in a cold and dry climate, stress, and a person’s overall health.
By studying seborrheic dermatitis, researchers have learned the following:
It is not caused by poor personal hygiene
It is not an allergy
It does not harm the body
Who gets seborrheic dermatitis?
People of all colors and ages get seborrheic dermatitis. You have a higher risk if any of the following apply to you.
Age
People in these two age groups are most susceptible:
Infants 3 months of age and younger
Adults between 30 and 60 years of age
Medical conditions
Your risk increases if you have any of these medical conditions:
HIV (About 85% of people infected with HIV develop seborrheic dermatitis)
Acne, rosacea, or psoriasis
Parkinson’s disease
Epilepsy
Stroke or heart attack (recovering from)
Alcoholism
Depression
Eating disorder
Medical treatments
If you are taking any of the following medicines, your risk for seborrheic dermatitis increases:
Interferon
Lithium
Psoralen
References
Plewig G Jansen T. “Seborrheic Dermatitis.” In: Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, Katz SI, et al. editors. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine, 7th ed. United States of America, McGraw Hill Medical; 2008. p.219-25.