Seborrhoeic Dermatitis
Pronunciation: seb-oh-REE-ik der-mah-TY-tis
A chronic relapsing inflammatory skin condition characterised by greasy scales and erythema in sebum-rich areas such as the scalp and nasolabial folds.
Full Definition
Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory disorder caused by an abnormal immune response to Malassezia yeast colonisation in sebaceous gland-rich regions of the skin. It manifests as yellowish, greasy scales on erythematous skin of the scalp, face (especially nasolabial folds, eyebrows, and ears), and chest. In infants, the scalp form is called 'cradle cap.' Editors must note the British/Australian spelling 'seborrhoeic' (with 'oe') versus the American spelling 'seborrheic' (without the 'o'), and should standardise throughout a document. The condition name is not hyphenated.
Usage
Usage note: Standardise spelling to house style: British 'seborrhoeic' vs American 'seborrheic.' Never hyphenate. Distinguish from atopic dermatitis and scalp psoriasis in clinical copy.
In Context
- "Seborrhoeic dermatitis was managed with a ketoconazole 2% shampoo applied twice weekly." — GP clinic letter
- "The journal uses British spelling conventions; 'seborrheic' was changed to 'seborrhoeic' throughout the manuscript." — Copy-editing instruction