Evaluation of Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome Components in Patients with Seborrheic Dermatitis

Objective: Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a common inflammatory skin disorder. There is scarce data regarding SD and metabolic syndrome. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with seborrheic dermatitis. Methods: Sixty-six patients with seborrheic dermatitis and 52 healthy controls were enrolled. Subjects’ height, weight, waist circumference, smoking status, and comorbidities were recorded. Blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, HDL, total cholesterol, and insulin levels were measured. Seborrheic dermatitis area and severity index (SASI) score, body mass index (BMI), and Homeostatic Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated. The presence of metabolic syndrome was evaluated. Results: BMI, waist circumference, glucose, HOMA-IR, and C-reactive protein (C-RP) were significantly higher in the SD group. The prevalence of hypertension and type II diabetes was significantly higher in the SD group than in the controls. There was no difference between the patient and control groups regarding metabolic syndrome. However, the duration of SD was significantly higher in SD with metabolic syndrome than those of SD without metabolic syndrome. There were no significant differences in age and SASI score between seborrheic dermatitis patients with and without metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: SD patients may have an increased risk of metabolic syndrome development and may have higher inflammation and insulin resistance status compared with controls.