← JOURNALVOL. 112026.10.19Health

Why does seborrheic dermatitis flare up every season change?

In short

Seborrheic dermatitis is described in the literature as a chronic condition that comes and goes, so the goal is to keep it down rather than make it disappear. The data linking it to seasons are hospital statistics from other countries and do not apply directly to Korea’s climate.

Key points

(1).
A 2024 meta-analysis of 121 studies and 1.26 million people found a global prevalence of 4.38%: 5.64% in adults and 3.70% in children.
(2).
A 2021 systematic review of 12 studies (706 samples from patients) found a higher share of Malassezia yeast and a different bacterial makeup, but this only shows they were observed together, not which came first.
(3).
Two years of outpatient records at an Istanbul hospital (5,316 patients) showed peaks in December (7.3%) and February (7.1%) and a low in June (3.8%), and Iranian hospital data (3,120 patients) also clustered in winter, but both are single-hospital observations from climates unlike Korea’s.
(4).
An international consensus states there is no approved treatment for moderate-to-severe cases, but it covers the scalp and cannot be read directly onto the face.
(5).
A 2024 systematic review of 13 studies (13,906 people) linked low zinc and vitamins D and E, and alcohol use, to the condition, but most were observational, so it should not be read as “eat this and it will clear up.”

When to see a doctor

See a dermatologist if there is no change after 2 weeks of adjusting moisturizing and cleansing, if it returns in the same season every year and lasts over 1 month each time, or if scalp flaking comes with hair loss or oozing.

FAQ

If a fungus is involved, is it contagious?

The yeast involved normally lives on human skin. The literature looks at changes in its proportion, not at it as a contagious disease.

Is it the same as dandruff?

The literature often groups the two together, treating dandruff as a mild form limited to the scalp.

If it comes back every winter, can I apply treatment in advance?

Whether to use medication in advance depends on your condition and the area. It is better to see a doctor once before the season changes.

REFERENCES

Written and reviewed by Dr. Kevin Kim, M.D.Last reviewed October 2026

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