What does seborrhea mean?
Seborrhea is a medical term for excessive production or discharge of sebum, the oily substance secreted by the skin’s sebaceous glands. It most often refers to the scalp, where abundant oil can lead to scaling and flaking, or to similar changes on the face and other oily areas. In contemporary usage, seborrhea is often discussed alongside seborrheic dermatitis, the inflammatory form in which greasy scales accompany redness and itching. Although the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, the former more precisely names excessive sebaceous activity, while the latter identifies a dermatologic condition and its symptoms. Seborrhea is not a synonym for steatorrhea, a separate digestive disorder marked by excess fat in the stool. The word belongs mainly to clinical and dermatological contexts, but it is familiar because oily, flaky scalp conditions are common. Its construction is especially revealing: the name combines Latin sebum, “oil or tallow,” with a Greek element meaning “flow,” giving the condition a precise literal label.
nounA condition marked by excessive production or discharge of sebum, the oily secretion of the sebaceous glands, especially on the scalp or face.
- Excessive production or discharge of sebum by the sebaceous glands, especially on the scalp, face, or other oily areas of skin.
"The clinician diagnosed scalp seborrhea and recommended a treatment for the persistent flaking."
"The clinician diagnosed scalp seborrhea and recommended a treatment for the persistent flaking."
"The condition was initially mistaken for a fungal rash before it was recognized as seborrhea."
The plural is occasionally used for separate cases or forms of the condition, but seborrhea is also commonly treated as an uncountable noun naming a skin condition.
"The review discussed several infantile seborrheas requiring different forms of treatment."
Seborrhea literally means “flow of oil”: Latin sebum supplies “oil,” while the Greek-derived ending means “flow.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does seborrhea come from?
The modern medical term developed in the 19th century from Latin sebum, meaning “oil” or “tallow,” and a Greek-derived element associated with rhein, “to flow.” The combination reflects the word’s original sense of an oily discharge from the skin. Related English terms include sebaceous, sebiferous, sebology, and sebum, all of which belong to the same lexical family.
Related word forms
How seborrhea is actually used
Primarily a clinical and dermatological term, not a general synonym for oily hair. In everyday use, it is sometimes applied loosely to oily scalp scaling or seborrheic dermatitis.
Easily confused with seborrhea
Seborrhea is excessive oily secretion from the skin, whereas steatorrhea is excess fat in the stool.
Dandruff specifically denotes superficial scaling of the scalp, while seborrhea more precisely refers to excessive sebaceous secretion and can affect other oily areas.
Seborrhea names excessive sebum production, while seborrheic dermatitis specifically identifies the associated inflammatory, scaly skin condition.