What does seborrhoea mean?
Seborrhoea is a medical term for excessive production or accumulation of sebum, the natural oily substance produced by the skin. It most often affects the scalp and face, where it can produce greasy scales, itching, redness, or flaking. The condition is closely associated with seborrhoeic dermatitis, an inflammatory form of eczema characterized by oily, scaly patches. Seborrhoea can occur in several age groups, including infants and adults, and its appearance may resemble other scalp or skin disorders. The word is chiefly used by doctors, dermatologists, pharmacists, and other health professionals when describing oily skin, dandruff-like scaling, or a confirmed diagnosis. In British English it is spelled seborrhoea; American English normally uses seborrhea. Although the term is sometimes used informally for persistent dandruff, it should not be applied to every case of oily hair or minor flaking, since not all such symptoms indicate seborrhoeic dermatitis.
nounSeborrhoea is a condition involving excessive production or accumulation of sebum, especially on the scalp and face, often accompanied by greasy scaling or inflammation. It is also commonly associated with seborrhoeic dermatitis.
- Excessive production or accumulation of sebum, particularly on the scalp or face, sometimes accompanied by greasy scale and inflammation.
- By extension, seborrhoeic dermatitis, a common inflammatory skin condition associated with oily, scaly patches.
"The pharmacist recommended a gentle shampoo for the persistent seborrhoea affecting his scalp."
"Mild seborrhoea caused her scalp to become flaky between appointments."
"Dermatologists describe seborrhoeic dermatitis as a common form of seborrhoea."
The plural is grammatically possible but uncommon; medical writing often uses “cases of seborrhoea” instead.
"The clinic treats several different seborrhoeas each week."
Seborrhoea gets its name from a literal “flow” of sebum—the skin's natural oil.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does seborrhoea come from?
Seborrhoea is a New Latin formation built from Latin sebum, meaning “tallow” or “grease,” and a Greek-derived element meaning “flow.” It literally refers to an excessive flow of oily matter from the skin. Its component roots also appear in English words such as sebaceous and sebiferous, which describe the production, secretion, or conveyance of sebum.
Related word forms
How seborrhoea is actually used
The spelling seborrhoea is standard in British and Commonwealth English, while seborrhea is standard in American English. The term is primarily used in clinical or dermatological contexts and should not be used merely to describe ordinary oily hair.
Easily confused with seborrhoea
Seborrhea is the American spelling of the same medical term; seborrhoea is the traditional British spelling.
Sebaceous describes structures or tissue associated with sebum, whereas seborrhoea names a condition involving excess sebum.