Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
11:39
The Goeckerman Regimen for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis
Published on: July 11, 2013
[Stress and seborrheic dermatitis]
L Misery1, S Touboul, C Vinçot
1Groupe Psychodermatologie, Société Française de Dermatologie, Paris. laurent.misery@chu-brest.fr
Annales De Dermatologie Et De Venereologie
|November 23, 2007
Summary
This study confirms that stress frequently triggers seborrheic dermatitis flare-ups and indicates a poorer prognosis. It is the first to establish a link between stressful life events and seborrheic dermatitis episodes.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Seborrheic dermatitis episodes are widely believed to be stress-induced, yet empirical evidence has been lacking.
- This study addresses the gap by prospectively investigating the relationship between stress and seborrheic dermatitis.
- The research utilizes validated psychopathological scales to assess anxiety, depression, and perceived stress.
Purpose:
- To investigate the role of stress as a triggering factor for seborrheic dermatitis episodes.
- To explore the association between stress, anxiety, and depression in patients with seborrheic dermatitis.
- To identify predictors of disease recurrence or persistence.
Summary:
- 82 patients with seborrheic dermatitis completed questionnaires assessing triggers, stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Patients self-identified stress as the primary trigger for their episodes.
- Stressful events were associated with higher anxiety scores (STAI) but not depression scores (HAD, Beck).
- Identifying stress as a cause and higher STAI scores predicted future episodes.
Impact:
- This research provides the first empirical evidence supporting the link between stressful life events and seborrheic dermatitis.
- Findings suggest stress management may be crucial for patients with seborrheic dermatitis.
- Anxiety appears to be an aggravating factor, and depression is more prevalent in cases with facial involvement, suggesting targeted interventions.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Accessory Structures of the Skin: Sebaceous Glands
A sebaceous gland is a type of oil gland found almost all over the skin ( except palms and soles) and helps lubricate and waterproof the skin and hair. Most sebaceous glands are associated with hair follicles. They generate and excrete sebum, a mixture of lipids, onto the skin surface, thereby naturally lubricating the dry and dead layer of keratinized cells of the stratum corneum, keeping it pliable.
These glands that produce the oils on the skin and hair are holocrine glands. The mature...
These glands that produce the oils on the skin and hair are holocrine glands. The mature...
01:27The Skin Microbiota
The human skin serves as a complex ecosystem inhabited by a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health and defending against pathogenic invaders. The composition of microbial communities varies significantly across different regions of the body, influenced primarily by the local levels of moisture and sebum.Regional Variation in Skin MicrobiotaCutibacterium acnes predominantly colonizes sebaceous...
01:23Skin Diseases and Disorders
Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
01:19Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer
Chronic stress has been linked to both the onset and progression of serious health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes and cancer. Type 2 diabetes, a widespread chronic illness, is closely associated with obesity and insulin resistance, both of which often worsen under stress. Studies indicate that men experiencing high levels of chronic stress face a 45% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those with minimal stress. Stress triggers physiological responses that elevate blood...
01:27Acne Infection
Acne is a multifactorial skin condition primarily affecting adolescents and young adults, with a global prevalence estimated to exceed 75% in this demographic. The condition is characterized by the formation of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads), papules, pustules, nodules, and, in severe cases, cysts, particularly in areas rich in sebaceous glands such as the face, neck, chest, and back. The pathogenesis involves increased sebum production, follicular hyperkeratinization, colonization by...
01:29Staphylococcal Skin Infections
Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...