SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS, INSULIN RESISTANCE, AND METABOLIC SYNDROME: CURRENT EVIDENCE AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS - A NARRATIVE REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.4(52).2026.6742Keywords:
Seborrheic Dermatitis, Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Syndrome, HOMA-IR, Metabolic DysfunctionAbstract
Background: Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a common, chronic, and recurrent inflammatory skin condition. Available data increasingly suggest a possible association between SD and metabolic disorders, particularly insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic syndrome (MetS).
Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current evidence regarding the association between SD and IR and MetS, the potential biological mechanisms, and the clinical significance of these associations.
Methods: A narrative review was conducted of English-language literature published between 2005 and 2026, retrieved from the PubMed/MEDLINE database between July and September 2026.
Key findings: The most consistent findings concern insulin resistance (IR). Patients with SD were found to have higher fasting insulin levels and higher HOMA-IR values, as well as a higher prevalence of insulin resistance. Findings regarding metabolic syndrome are less consistent, although some studies report a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome and abnormalities in lipid profile, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Potential mechanisms linking SD to metabolic disorders include chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and abnormalities in insulin signaling and lipid metabolism. However, their direct role in the pathogenesis of SD has not yet been confirmed.
Conclusions: An analysis of the available data suggests a possible association between SD, IR and metabolic disorders. However, it does not allow conclusions to be drawn regarding causality. The results obtained underscore the importance of awareness of potential metabolic risk, but they do not justify routine screening. Therefore, larger, prospective, and methodologically standardized studies are needed.
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