Seborrheic dermatitis, a condition marked by red, itchy, scaly skin, is not caused by allergies. It’s also not caused by poor hygiene. The exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis is unknown, but an overgrowth of a yeast called Malassezia generally plays a role.
In this video, learn some of the most common risk factors for seborrheic dermatitis, according to Lindsey Bordone, MD, Dermatologist at Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center.
Lindsey Bordone, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
References
Ludmann, P. (2022). Seborrheic dermatitis: Causes. American Academy of Dermatology Association.
MedlinePlus. (2023). Seborrheic dermatitis.
National Eczema Association. (n.d.). Seborrheic dermatitis.
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Written by:
Marisa Taylor KarasMarisa Taylor Karas is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn who has covered health, gender, and technology for 15 years. She previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera America, among other publications, and also served as managing editor of the Mellon Foundation in New York City.
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Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPHPatricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.
