RESEARCH ARTICLE


Therapeutic Implications of Chemically- and Biologically-Altered Sebum Being One Cause of Seborrheic Dermatitis



Craig G. Burkhart*, 1, Craig N. Burkhart2
1 University of Toledo School of Medicine, Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, 5600 Monroe Street, Suite 106B, Sylvania, Ohio 43560, USA
2 Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA


Article Metrics

CrossRef Citations:
1
Total Statistics:

Full-Text HTML Views: 399
Abstract HTML Views: 1222
PDF Downloads: 1622
Total Views/Downloads: 3243
Unique Statistics:

Full-Text HTML Views: 261
Abstract HTML Views: 788
PDF Downloads: 1107
Total Views/Downloads: 2156



Creative Commons License
© 2008 Burkhart and Burkhart

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, 5600 Monroe Street, Suite 106B, Sylvania, Ohio 43560, USA; Tel: 419-885-3403; Fax: 419-885-3401; E-mail:cgbakb@aol.com


Abstract

Background:

Seborrheic dermatitis affects approximately 2 to 5% of the populace. Interestingly, the term ‘seborrheic dermatitis’ is somewhat a misnomer as there is no direct quantitative relationship between the degree of sebaceous activity and susceptibility to seborrheic dermatitis.

Method:

A pilot study was performed to initiate assessment of patient satisfaction with oral minocycline and topical ketoconazole for seborrheic dermatitis, and in so doing, set a stage for discussion for a novel assessment on the pathophysiology of this condition.

Results:

Clinical improvement of seborrheic dermatitis occurred with oral minocycline and topical ketoconazole. In terms of all parameters studied, the condition improved with therapy and all patients desired to continue with the treatment regimen.

Conclusions:

One could speculate that the clinical benefit of seborrheic dermatitis with antibiotics is likely via its effect on the microbiology within the sebaceous unit as well as on the alterations which thereby occur to the composition of the sebaceous secretions as they pass through the pilosebaceous unit. After being secreted, human sebum can be altered by various factors including secretion of hyaluronidase, proteases, and lipases by P. acnes. A closer examination of the alteration in sebum content both in the seborrheic condition and in treatment therapies warrants further investigation.