noun
seborrhea
seb-uh-REE-uh/ˌsɛbəˈriə/
Excessive secretion of oil by the skin’s glands.
Seborrhea makes the skin on her face look unusually oily.
Etymology
The pieces describe a “flow of grease”: sebum is the oily secretion of the skin’s sebaceous glands. The condition’s name points to excessive discharge of that material.
More examples
- The dermatologist checks his oily scalp for signs of seborrhea.
- Gentle washing removes excess oil but does not always control seborrhea.
- Her seborrhea affects her forehead more than her cheeks.
Forms
seborrhea
seborrheic adjective — Relating to excessive secretion of skin oil.
Similar words
- oiliness
- Describes a greasy quality, not necessarily excessive gland secretion.