Seborrheic is a medical-adjacent term describing conditions related to seborrhea, especially inflammatory skin or scalp disorders. It refers to excessive sebum production and abnormal skin cell turnover that can lead to flaky, greasy patches and redness. In practice, the term appears chiefly in dermatology and ophthalmology discussions, though lay readers may encounter it in medical summaries or patient education materials.
"Patients with seborrheic dermatitis often experience itchy, scaly patches along the scalp and eyebrows."
"Seborrheic keratosis is a benign skin growth, contrasting with inflammatory seborrheic conditions."
"The dermatologist prescribed antifungal shampoo to manage seborrheic dermatitis."
"Seborrheic blepharitis can cause crusting and irritation at the eyelid margins."
Seborrheic derives from late Latin seborrhoeus, formed from Greek seborrhoios, from seborrhoia “seborrhea,” itself from root seb- (sebum, fatty substance) + rheo- (to flow) and -oea (flow). The term reflects an abnormal flow or overproduction of sebum (seb/o) with accompanying inflammatory changes. The suffix -ic marks a characteristic or relation. First attested in medical literature in the late 19th to early 20th century as specialists described seborrheic dermatitis, seborrheic meaning “relating to seborrhea” and “characterized by oily skin.” Over time, the word broadened to describe related inflammatory skin conditions linked to excessive oil production, including scalp and eyelid presentations, while remaining most common in dermatology and ophthalmology. Its usage intensified with the rise of standardized dermatologic nomenclature and the differentiation from non-seborrheic conditions, as clinicians sought precise descriptors for oily, flaky skin and related inflammation. The term’s formal adoption paralleled evolving understanding of sebaceous gland activity, sebaceous secretion cycles, and the microbiome of oily skin, with first widely cited definitions appearing in English-language dermatology texts around the 1900s, and continuing to appear in modern clinical guidelines and patient education materials.
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Words that rhyme with "Seborrheic"
-ous sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounced sə-bə-ˈrē-ik (US) or se-bə-ˈrɒɪ-ɪk (UK). The primary stress falls on the third syllable: /ˌsɛboʊˈriːɪk/ in US IPA. You start with an unstressed schwa, then a light “buh” before the stressed “ree-ik” ending. Focus on the “riː” vowel, sustain it, and end with a crisp “k.” Listen to medical pronunciation samples on Pronounce or Forvo to match the rhythm.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress (saying se-bo-rrhe-ic with equal emphasis) and mispronouncing the vowel in the stressed syllable as a short /ɪ/ or /ɪə/ instead of /riːɪ/. Another frequent error is blending the -rrhe- cluster too quickly, producing /ˌsɛbɒˈriəs/ or /ˌsɛ-bə-ˈrhiək/. Correction: emphasize the /riːɪ/ sequence with a clear central vowel before the final /k/, and practice the three-beat rhythm of the word: seh-buh-REE-ik.
US tends to /ˌsɛboʊˈriːɪk/ with a longer /oʊ/ in the first unstressed syllable and a clear /riːɪ-/; UK often uses /ˌsɛbəˈrɔɪɪk/ with a reduced first syllable and a more diphthongal second, and may de-emphasize the /riːɪ/ to /ˈrɔɪɪ/; AU mirrors US patterns but with slightly flatter vowels and less rhoticity in some speakers. Focus on the /riːɪ/ segment and the final /k/ regardless of accent.
It challenges non-native speakers due to the unusual /ˌsɛboʊˈriːɪk/ sequence, the three-syllable rhythm, and the /r/+ /iːɪ/ vowel cluster that isn’t common in many languages. The consonant cluster -rrh- can be tricky, and the second vowel cluster /riːɪ/ requires careful tongue height management. Practice with slow, deliberate articulation of /riːɪ/ before the final /k/.
A unique challenge is stabilizing the /riːɪ/ sequence after the /r/; the transition from a mailed /r/ to a long /i/ vowel is delicate. Tip: isolate the portion “ree-ik,” practice /riːɪk/ in isolation, then blend into the full word with a light, quick /s/ onset: /səˈbɔːrɪɪk/ or /ˌsɛboʊˈriːɪk/ depending on dialect. Use slow repetitions to maintain even voicing.
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