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Introduction
Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory dermatosis affecting different age groups with a prevalence rate of 1–5% among Asian adults. Due to its immune-modulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, vitamin D has been correlated with inflammatory dermatoses such as seborrheic dermatitis.
Objectives
To determine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency, deficiency and severe deficiency among Filipino adult patients with moderate to severe seborrheic dermatitis.
Methods
A single-center, analytical, cross-sectional study at Makati Medical Center, which included Filipino patients aged 18–60 years, diagnosed with moderate-to-severe seborrheic dermatitis based on Investigator’s Static Global Assessment (ISGA) with serum vitamin D levels classified as normal, insufficient, deficient and severely deficient.
Results
We included 61 patients, 5 patients (8%) of whom presented with normal Vitamin D levels. Twenty-one patients (34%) presented with vitamin D insufficiency, 32 patients (52%) presented with vitamin D deficiency, while 3 patients (5%) presented with severe deficiency. Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were more prevalent among patients in the younger age group (p = 0.001), with predominant scalp lesions (p = 0.006), and those who are single (p = 0.015). There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and/or deficiency based on seborrheic dermatitis severity as per ISGA scale (p = 0.126).
Conclusion
Seborrheic dermatitis in Filipinos has been associated with vitamin D insufficiency, deficiency and severe deficiency. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is seen in almost half of patients while vitamin D insufficiency is seen in almost one-third of patients with seborrheic dermatitis. While topical and oral medications have been the treatment of choice for seborrheic dermatitis, the role of oral vitamin D supplementation as adjunct treatment may be studied.
