The Relationship Between Nutrition Habits, BMI, Anxiety, and Seborrheic Dermatitis.

Background: Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a chronic, inflammatory disease characterized by unknown etiopathogenesis. It affects skin areas rich in sebaceous glands. There are strong data on the relationship between nutrition habits, body mass index (BMI), psychoemotional status, and sebaceous gland diseases such as acne, rosacea, and androgenetic alopecia. However, there are very little data on SD, nutrition habits, BMI, and psychoemotional status.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the nutrition habits, BMI, and psychoemotional status in patients with SD.

Methods: One hundred patients with SD and 110 healthy controls aged 18-65 years were included. Adolescents Food Habits Checklist (AFHC), a questionnaire form consisting information about nutrition habits and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) were completed by the participants, and BMI was calculated.

Results: Severity of SD was positively correlated with BMI (p = 0.018). Patients with SD consumed more bread and less fruits-vegetables (p = 0.001, p = 0.006). Margarine, animal fat, and sugar consumption was higher in patients with moderate to severe SD (p = 0.008, p = 0.050). AFHC score was lower in patients with SD (p = 0.009). DASS-21 anxiety subscale and DASS-21 total scores were higher in the moderate to severe SD group (p = 0.035, p = 0.049).

Conclusions: Nutrition habits, higher BMI, and psychoemotional status may play a critical role in the etiopathogenesis of SD. Healthy nutrition habits and psychoemotional status may prevent the occurrence and exacerbation of SD.