Does depression cause seborrheic dermatitis?

Depression and seborrheic dermatitis are two conditions that can be associated with one another. Depression is a common psychological disorder that is characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and diminished interest in life. Seborrheic dermatitis can be aggravated by depression and vice versa, SD can be a cause for depressive symptoms.

This video isn’t about depression but it’s about the biggest mental change you can make to prevent your rash from coming back. Let me know if you agree in the comments:

Let’s take a deep dive:

What is depression?

Depression is a mental disorder that causes feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and lack of interest. Depression can be caused by a number of factors, including genetics, environment factors such as excessive stress or trauma, and even some medications. In recent years, studies have found that depressive symptoms can be worsened by poor nutrition and a dysbiosis in the gut microbiome.

Can depression cause skin problems?

Depression is often closely associated with skin problems. Whether depression itself causes skin manifestations or that skin diseases lead to depression is hard to say. It’s very likely that each fans the other’s flame, causing both conditions to be worse.

Seborrheic dermatitis almost always worsens with emotional stress. We don’t need clinical trials to tell us this. We see it in our own situations every day. Psoriasis, eczema, atopic dermatitis and allergies can all be aggravated by depressive symptoms as well.

What is the connection between depression and seborrheic dermatitis?

Depression and seborrheic dermatitis are two conditions that are often related. Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin disorder caused by an overgrowth of the yeast fungi, Malessezia. The condition typically flares and clears, though it may become chronic if left untreated.

Depression is a mood disorder that causes feelings of sadness and hopelessness that can last for weeks or months at a time. Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. About 1 in 10 people will experience depression at some point in their lives.

Seborrheic dermatitis isn’t a psychosomatic disorder. There has been some research to suggest that there may be a connection between depression and seborrheic dermatitis. In fact, a seborrheic dermatitis flare is often a result of stress or illness. I had a major SD flare right after I recovered from COVID-19.

A study showed that people with seborrheic dermatitis scored higher on depression, anxiety and somatization scores. Another small study showed that seborrheic dermatitis occured more commonly in people with depression. However, more studies are needed to confirm this link.

We know that stress, anxiety or depression can worsen SD symptoms. However, the converse is also true. People with seborrheic dermatitis may feel embarrassed, ashamed, or hopeless about their condition. In fact, seborrheic dermatitis often worsens depression.

Further reading: Does your skin rash have a spiritual meaning?

How to manage depression?

Now that we know how depression can affect seborrheic dermatitis and cause a multitude of other skin and health problems, what can we do about it?

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating depression. However, there are many ways to improve your symptoms. With the right approach, most people can recover and lead fulfilling lives.

Some effective treatments include medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes. Try to get enough exercise, sunlight and good nutrition. Quality sleep is essential for mood regulation. Lack of sleep can cause depression and is even a known trigger for seborrheic dermatitis flares.

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The most important thing is to get help if you think you may be suffering from depression. A healthcare professional or mental health specialist can recommend an appropriate treatment plan for you.

Further reading: How to treat your own depression naturally?

To wrap up

It is evident that there is a link between depression and seborrheic dermatitis. More research is needed to determine the exact nature of this relationship and to develop better treatments for both conditions.

In the meantime, if you are struggling with depression and also have seborrheic dermatitis, rather than focus on external treatments, you may find when you treat your depression, your skin condition will improve as well.