Second-to-fourth digit ratio and seborrheic dermatitis in males: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Seborrheic dermatitis is a common disease characterized by the erythematous plaques with oily-yellow desquamation. Increased sebaceous gland activity by androgenic hormones has played a role in the etiology of the disease. The second-to-fourth digit (2D:4D) ratio is thought to be a marker of prenatal androgen exposure. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between 2D:4D ratios and seborrheic dermatitis in a male population. METHODS: Healthy male controls and patients with seborrheic dermatitis were included in this study. One hundred seborrheic dermatitis patients and 120 healthy controls, aged 17-59, were enrolled. A digital Vernier caliper was used to measure the finger lengths. Seborrheic dermatitis severity was assessed using the Seborrheic Dermatitis Area and Severity Index (SDASI). RESULTS: The 2D:4D ratios of the patients (x = 0.977) were significantly lower than those of the controls (x = 1.050) for right hands (t = 6.948; p = 0.000; > 0.05). No similar relationship was found between the 2D:4D ratio for left hands (t = 0.901; p = 0.368; > 0.05). Seborrheic dermatitis severity was negatively correlated with 2D:4D ratios of right hands (r = -0.391; p = 0.000-0.05). STUDY LIMITATIONS: One of the main limitations of this study was the small sample, which got a head of us from acquiring certain findings about the 2D:4D ratio and seborrheic dermatitis. The other limitation is that the patient selection did not reflect the general population, as a single clinic was studied. CONCLUSION: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study examining the relationship between 2D:4D ratios and seborrheic dermatitis. The result of this study may indicate a line of investigation and can support the theory of prenatal androgen exposure.