AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightProspectively designed, population- based studies that evaluate potential triggering factors will help to explain the full etiology and seasonal incidence more clearly.
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Abstract
Objective: Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by erythematous papulosquamous lesions in body regions that are rich in sebaceous glands, particularly the scalp, face, and intertriginous areas. Seasonal variation has been reported in different skin diseases; however, the results have been contradictory. The aim of this research was to analyze the demographic characteristics of patients with SD and to examine the impact of seasonality. Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with SD at an outpatient dermatology clinic between June 1, 2015 and June 1, 2020 were included in this retrospective, cross-sectional, single-center, hospital-based study. Both pediatric and adult dermatology outpatient cases were evaluated. Results: A total of 2656 patients with SD presented at the outpatient clinic during the study period. The mean age was 31.99±15.88 years (range: 0–87 years). Among these patients, 1540 (58%) were males and 1116 (42%) were females. SD was most common among those aged 20–30 years (29.9%). The mean age was 29.51±15.43 years in the female patients and 33.80±15.96 in males. Evaluation according to season revealed that 817 (31%) patients presented during the winter months, 615 patients in spring (23%), 452 in summer (17%), and 772 (29%) in the autumn. Conclusion: SD is a common, multifactorial skin disease. This study evaluated a wide patient profile and it was observed that middle-aged adults and men were the most affected. Patients presented most frequently during the cold weather season. Although the data obtained from this study are similar to others in the existing literature, these findings provide a new contribution to the epidemiological data of Turkey. Prospectively designed, population- based studies that evaluate potential triggering factors will help to explain the full etiology and seasonal incidence more clearly.