Comparison of Quality of Life of Patients with Seborrheic Dermatitis and Healthy People: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and purpose: Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a chronic skin condition that is accompanied by scaling and itching. Stress and mental rumination followed by the disease affect the quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of seborrheic dermatitis on the quality of life and to compare it with the quality of life of healthy people. Materials and methods: This study was a cross-sectional study. The study sample included 60 randomly selected patients with seborrheic dermatitis who referred to Bouali and Tooba dermatology clinics in Sari during 2019-2020. Two questionnaires (DLQI and SF-36) were used to assess general quality of life in patients. Results: The relationship between the disease and occupation was statistically significant. There was a significant relationship between smoking and seborrheic dermatitis. We also found a significant relationship between the frequency of recurrences and quality of life. The mean of physical and social function in the healthy group was higher than its value for the patient group, but the difference was not significant. Conclusion: Our study showed that age, education, occupation, and smoking are factors that contribute to seborrheic dermatitis. Moreover, the findings revealed that physical and mental health as well as quality of life were less affected in the married group compared to the single group.