Seborrheic Dermatitis Linked to Systemic Epithelial Barrier Diseases: Analysis
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Adults with seborrheic dermatitis are more likely to have other epithelial barrier diseases such as rosacea, alopecia areata, and celiac disease.
New research suggests potential shared mechanisms across skin, gastrointestinal, and ocular disorders.
Findings from a new retrospective cohort suggest individuals living with seborrheic dermatitis are more likely to have other epithelial barrier diseases such as rosacea, alopecia areata, and celiac disease.
Investigators publishing in JAMA Dermatology analyzed administrative claims data from more than 20 million adults in the U.S. between 2016 and 2022 for associations between seborrheic dermatitis and other epithelial barrier diseases (EBDs).
The study population included 733,776 patients with seborrheic dermatitis (3.62% of the total cohort). The authors reported significant associations between seborrheic dermatitis and numerous skin, gastrointestinal, and ocular conditions. The strongest associations were observed with rosacea (OR = 4.52), alopecia areata (OR = 4.02), psoriasis (OR = 3.26), and atopic dermatitis (OR = 3.21). Other conditions with an elevated risk included contact dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and bullous disorders. The analysis also went beyond skin and identified elevated risks of ocular allergy (OR = 1.39), dry eye (OR = 1.48), irritable bowel syndrome (OR = 1.32), and celiac disease (OR = 1.36). Seborrheic dermatitis was negatively associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR = 0.72) and pulmonary hypertension (OR = 0.70).
"These findings suggest that there are shared drivers in the pathogenesis of seborrheic dermatitis and EBDs that may be explained by the epithelial barrier theory and promote additional research into the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis," the authors concluded.
Source: Meng S, et al. JAMA Dermatology. Doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2025.4313