Prevalence and determinants of seborrhoeic dermatitis in a middle‐aged and elderly population: the Rotterdam Study. (1st January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sanders, M.G.H.; Pardo, L.M.; Franco, O.H.; Ginger, R.S.; Nijsten, T.
• Is Part Of: British journal of dermatology. Volume 178:Number 1(2018)
• Page Start: 148
• Page End: 153
• Publication Date: 2018-01-01
• Subjects: Dermatology -- Periodicals; Skin -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/bjd.15908
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-0963

Abstract

Summary: Background: Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease with unclear pathophysiological mechanisms. Objectives: To establish which lifestyle and physiological determinants are associated with seborrhoeic dermatitis. Methods: Seborrhoeic dermatitis was diagnosed by a trained physician during a full‐body skin examination within the Rotterdam Study, a prospective population‐based cohort study in middle‐aged and elderly people. The current design is a comparative cross‐sectional study embedded in the Rotterdam Study. Potential factors were identified from the literature and analysed in a multivariable logistic regression, including: age, sex, obesity, skin colour, stress, depression, education level, hypertension, climate, xerosis cutis, alcohol and tobacco use. Results: Of the 5498 participants, 788 participants were diagnosed with seborrhoeic dermatitis (14·3%). We found associations between seborrhoeic dermatitis and male sex [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2·09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·77–2·47], darker skin (adjusted OR 0·39, 95% CI 0·22–0·69), season (summer vs. winter: adjusted OR 0·63, 95% CI 0·48–0·82) and generalized xerosis cutis (adjusted OR 1·41, 95% CI 1·11–1·80). Conclusions: Seborrhoeic dermatitis is one of the most common inflammatory dermatoses in middle‐aged and elderly individuals, especially during winter. Men, and people with a light and dry skin were most likely to have seborrhoeic dermatitis.