[National Survey of 12,183 People] 91.6% of Those Who Experienced Self-Care for Seborrheic Dermatitis Experienced Worsening Symptoms – Wise Pharmaceutical Visualizes the Reality of "Mis-Care"
A survey by Wise Pharmaceutical revealed that 91.6% of individuals with seborrheic dermatitis who self-treated without medical guidance experienced symptom worsening. The study highlights that relying on easily accessible information from social media, blogs, and videos correlates with a higher likelihood of worsening symptoms, defining this phenomenon as "mis-care" due to the complex nature of the condition and information overload.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 15, 2026 at 12:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 18:34 (6h 2m after Collected)
Wise Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Representative Director: Takayuki Yamamoto), in collaboration with marketing consulting firm DeCoA, conducted an "Awareness and Actual Condition Survey on Seborrheic Dermatitis" targeting 12,183 men and women nationwide.
This survey revealed that many individuals diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis self-care without medical guidance, and a significant portion of them experienced some form of symptom worsening. Furthermore, a trend was confirmed where individuals who referred to easily relatable and viewable information from sources like SNS, personal blogs, and YouTube were more likely to experience symptom worsening.
Wise Pharmaceutical defines "mis-care" as a state where self-care, performed with good intentions, paradoxically leads to symptom worsening. This survey clarified that seborrheic dermatitis has a structure prone to mis-care due to the confluence of the information environment, insufficient explanations from medical professionals, and the difficulty in understanding the disease.
**Background of the Survey**
Seborheic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition causing dandruff, itching, redness, and peeling on the scalp and face. It is believed to involve multiple factors such as sebum, inflammation, and resident bacteria, and general scalp care or self-directed moisturizing/cleansing may not be suitable. Therefore, self-care without sufficient understanding of the symptoms can paradoxically lead to worsening.
In recent years, the entry points for medical and health information have expanded beyond search engines to include SNS, personal blogs, and video media. Short-form videos and testimonial content, while easy to understand and relatable, may not always apply to individual symptoms or causes. For complex diseases like seborrheic dermatitis, where the background of symptoms is multifaceted, self-judgment based on fragmented information can lead to incorrect care.
Based on this background, Wise Pharmaceutical conducted this survey to quantitatively grasp the reality of self-care for seborrheic dermatitis, differences in information sources, and their relationship with symptom worsening.
**Survey Overview**
*This survey is based on internet research and respondent self-reporting, and does not clinically evaluate medical diagnostic results or symptom changes.
*The "worsening" in this text is based on the respondent's own perception.
*Figures by medium compare trends among respondents who referred to each information source.
**Survey Results Summary**
* 80.2% of those diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis self-cared without doctor's instructions.
* Of those who self-cared, 91.6% experienced some form of symptom worsening.
* Those who referred to personal blogs, SNS, YouTube, etc., showed a higher tendency for symptom worsening.
* 88% of individuals performed some form of search before visiting a doctor.
* 34% responded that explanations from dermatologists were "insufficient."
* Approximately half postponed visits for self-care, and longer postponement periods were associated with a stronger tendency for worsening.
**1. Many people suffer from undiagnosed seborrheic dermatitis**
In the screening survey, 45.6% of all respondents experienced some form of skin symptoms within the past 12 months. Among them, only a portion were diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis by a medical institution, indicating that many people have symptoms but have not reached a diagnosis.
Seborheic dermatitis is often perceived as a common daily concern such as dandruff, itching, and redness, and tends to be less recognized as a disease. Therefore, it is inferred that many people cope with symptoms by self-treating based on over-the-counter products or online information without seeking medical attention.
**2. 80.2% of those diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis self-care**
In this survey, it was found that among the 565 individuals diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis, 80.2% were self-caring without doctor's instructions.
It is thought that the varied appearance of symptoms in seborrheic dermatitis, involving multiple factors such as dryness, sebum, and inflammation, leads to a tendency to treat it as an extension of general skincare or scalp care, contributing to the high rate of self-care.
**3. 91.6% of those who self-cared experienced symptom worsening**
Among the 453 individuals who self-cared, 91.6% experienced some form of symptom worsening.
These results indicate that self-care for seborrheic dermatitis often leads to symptom worsening. Even if a chosen treatment method is well-intentioned, if it does not match the cause or condition of the symptoms, it can ultimately place a burden on the skin.
**4. Those who referred to SNS, personal blogs, YouTube, etc., showed a worsening trend**
An analysis of information sources and symptom worsening trends revealed a particularly strong tendency for symptom worsening among those who accessed experience-based or short, easy-to-understand information from personal blogs, SNS, and YouTube.
Furthermore, when asked to 2,519 people who had experience caring for their condition based on SNS information, only 18% responded that it "improved." On the other hand, 35% reported "no change," 11% "worsened," and 20% "don't know," suggesting that SNS information does not necessarily lead to appropriate treatment.
**5. Information that is easy to see and relate to is more likely to be trusted**
An analysis of the "percentage of information trusted" by medium showed a tendency for more easily viewable and relatable media such as personal blogs, SNS, and YouTube to be more trusted.
The common reasons for trusting the information were:
* Testimonials where symptoms and situations were similar to their own, providing a sense of validation.
* Specific, practical, and easy-to-understand explanations.
* The same content being written across multiple sources.
* Information provided or supervised by experts such as doctors and medical institutions.
On the other hand, for SNS, YouTube, and personal blogs, the "amount of reaction" such as "many people are watching" or "many likes and comments" also ranked high as factors contributing to trust.
**6. 86.5% searched before visiting a doctor, but 31% "could not understand"**
In this survey, 86.5% of respondents performed some form of search before visiting a dermatologist. Of the information searched, 67% responded that they "understood" it, while 31% responded that they could not understand it. Reasons included:
* Inability to determine if the information applied to their own symptoms.
* Too much information to organize.
* Not knowing specifically what to do.
**7. Explanations from dermatologists also have issues; 14.9% responded "insufficient"**
Regarding explanations from dermatologists, 60% felt the explanation was "sufficient," while 14.9% responded "insufficient." The common reasons for feeling the explanation was insufficient were:
* Short consultation time, unable to ask thoroughly.
* Difficulty in asking questions.
* Not understanding specifically what to do.
* Little or unclear explanation of the disease name or cause.
* Not understanding how to use or differentiate medications.
* Not understanding the criteria for judgment when recurrence occurs.
**8. Postponing visits may lead to symptom worsening**
The survey found that 47% of respondents had a period where they self-treated for seborrheic dermatitis or similar symptoms and did not visit a dermatologist.
An analysis of self-treatment periods and symptom worsening trends showed that the longer the postponement period, the stronger the tendency for worsening. In particular, those who postponed for 6 months or more showed a higher tendency for worsening, suggesting that those who delay seeking medical attention are more likely to exacerbate their symptoms.
**What Wise Pharmaceutical Defines as "Mis-Care"**
What became clear through this survey is that "mis-care" is not simply an individual's mistake, but a structure where anyone can fall into it due to the combined factors of the information environment, difficulty in understanding the disease, and insufficient explanations from medical professionals.
Wise Pharmaceutical defines this phenomenon as "mis-care." Mis-care refers to a state where self-care, performed with good intentions, paradoxically leads to symptom worsening.
The background for the emergence of mis-care is thought to be mainly due to the following four factors:
1. **Dependence on fragmented information:** Testimonials on SNS and personal blogs are easy to relate to, but they do not apply to everyone's symptoms.
2. **Clarity of short information:** Short videos and information that only presents key points are easy to understand, but they tend to omit causes and precautions, potentially leading to a simplified understanding.
3. **Reality of not being able to ask enough at medical sites:** Due to constraints on consultation time and difficulty in asking questions, patients may leave the clinic without fully understanding lifestyle precautions or judgment criteria.
4. **Difficulty in understanding seborrheic dermatitis:** Since multiple factors such as sebum, inflammation, and resident bacteria are involved, general dryness measures or scalp care may not always be appropriate.
**Future Outlook**
Through the results of this survey, Wise Pharmaceutical has visualized the social issue of "mis-care" in seborrheic dermatitis. Moving forward, the company will work to create an environment where consumers can more easily access appropriate information regarding their symptoms and will engage in information dissemination to reduce detours and symptom worsening caused by self-care.
**Regarding Citation and Reproduction of Survey Results**
These survey results can be freely used for reporting purposes, provided that the source is clearly indicated. Example of source citation: Wise Pharmaceutical "Awareness and Actual Condition Survey on Seborrheic Dermatitis" (2026).
For detailed cross-tabulation data, infographic materials, and additional comments, please contact us at the following.
■ Details of Survey Data / Press Kit Download
Cross-tabulation data for this survey (by medium x worsening trend, by age group, by postponement period, etc.) is available on the page below. You can also download the press kit (PDF).
▶ https://www.shirosei.jp/gocare/survey/
*If for reporting purposes, you may use it freely with proper source attribution.
**Company Profile**
Company Name: Wise Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Location: Oak Sakuragicho Bldg. 10F, 6-113 Aioicho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0012
Representative: Takayuki Yamamoto, Representative Director
URL: https://ysmd.jp/
Inquiries regarding this matter:
support@ysmd-online.jp
TEL: 0120-922-353 (9:00 AM - 9:00 PM, open daily except New Year holidays)
This survey revealed that many individuals diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis self-care without medical guidance, and a significant portion of them experienced some form of symptom worsening. Furthermore, a trend was confirmed where individuals who referred to easily relatable and viewable information from sources like SNS, personal blogs, and YouTube were more likely to experience symptom worsening.
Wise Pharmaceutical defines "mis-care" as a state where self-care, performed with good intentions, paradoxically leads to symptom worsening. This survey clarified that seborrheic dermatitis has a structure prone to mis-care due to the confluence of the information environment, insufficient explanations from medical professionals, and the difficulty in understanding the disease.
**Background of the Survey**
Seborheic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition causing dandruff, itching, redness, and peeling on the scalp and face. It is believed to involve multiple factors such as sebum, inflammation, and resident bacteria, and general scalp care or self-directed moisturizing/cleansing may not be suitable. Therefore, self-care without sufficient understanding of the symptoms can paradoxically lead to worsening.
In recent years, the entry points for medical and health information have expanded beyond search engines to include SNS, personal blogs, and video media. Short-form videos and testimonial content, while easy to understand and relatable, may not always apply to individual symptoms or causes. For complex diseases like seborrheic dermatitis, where the background of symptoms is multifaceted, self-judgment based on fragmented information can lead to incorrect care.
Based on this background, Wise Pharmaceutical conducted this survey to quantitatively grasp the reality of self-care for seborrheic dermatitis, differences in information sources, and their relationship with symptom worsening.
**Survey Overview**
*This survey is based on internet research and respondent self-reporting, and does not clinically evaluate medical diagnostic results or symptom changes.
*The "worsening" in this text is based on the respondent's own perception.
*Figures by medium compare trends among respondents who referred to each information source.
**Survey Results Summary**
* 80.2% of those diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis self-cared without doctor's instructions.
* Of those who self-cared, 91.6% experienced some form of symptom worsening.
* Those who referred to personal blogs, SNS, YouTube, etc., showed a higher tendency for symptom worsening.
* 88% of individuals performed some form of search before visiting a doctor.
* 34% responded that explanations from dermatologists were "insufficient."
* Approximately half postponed visits for self-care, and longer postponement periods were associated with a stronger tendency for worsening.
**1. Many people suffer from undiagnosed seborrheic dermatitis**
In the screening survey, 45.6% of all respondents experienced some form of skin symptoms within the past 12 months. Among them, only a portion were diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis by a medical institution, indicating that many people have symptoms but have not reached a diagnosis.
Seborheic dermatitis is often perceived as a common daily concern such as dandruff, itching, and redness, and tends to be less recognized as a disease. Therefore, it is inferred that many people cope with symptoms by self-treating based on over-the-counter products or online information without seeking medical attention.
**2. 80.2% of those diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis self-care**
In this survey, it was found that among the 565 individuals diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis, 80.2% were self-caring without doctor's instructions.
It is thought that the varied appearance of symptoms in seborrheic dermatitis, involving multiple factors such as dryness, sebum, and inflammation, leads to a tendency to treat it as an extension of general skincare or scalp care, contributing to the high rate of self-care.
**3. 91.6% of those who self-cared experienced symptom worsening**
Among the 453 individuals who self-cared, 91.6% experienced some form of symptom worsening.
These results indicate that self-care for seborrheic dermatitis often leads to symptom worsening. Even if a chosen treatment method is well-intentioned, if it does not match the cause or condition of the symptoms, it can ultimately place a burden on the skin.
**4. Those who referred to SNS, personal blogs, YouTube, etc., showed a worsening trend**
An analysis of information sources and symptom worsening trends revealed a particularly strong tendency for symptom worsening among those who accessed experience-based or short, easy-to-understand information from personal blogs, SNS, and YouTube.
Furthermore, when asked to 2,519 people who had experience caring for their condition based on SNS information, only 18% responded that it "improved." On the other hand, 35% reported "no change," 11% "worsened," and 20% "don't know," suggesting that SNS information does not necessarily lead to appropriate treatment.
**5. Information that is easy to see and relate to is more likely to be trusted**
An analysis of the "percentage of information trusted" by medium showed a tendency for more easily viewable and relatable media such as personal blogs, SNS, and YouTube to be more trusted.
The common reasons for trusting the information were:
* Testimonials where symptoms and situations were similar to their own, providing a sense of validation.
* Specific, practical, and easy-to-understand explanations.
* The same content being written across multiple sources.
* Information provided or supervised by experts such as doctors and medical institutions.
On the other hand, for SNS, YouTube, and personal blogs, the "amount of reaction" such as "many people are watching" or "many likes and comments" also ranked high as factors contributing to trust.
**6. 86.5% searched before visiting a doctor, but 31% "could not understand"**
In this survey, 86.5% of respondents performed some form of search before visiting a dermatologist. Of the information searched, 67% responded that they "understood" it, while 31% responded that they could not understand it. Reasons included:
* Inability to determine if the information applied to their own symptoms.
* Too much information to organize.
* Not knowing specifically what to do.
**7. Explanations from dermatologists also have issues; 14.9% responded "insufficient"**
Regarding explanations from dermatologists, 60% felt the explanation was "sufficient," while 14.9% responded "insufficient." The common reasons for feeling the explanation was insufficient were:
* Short consultation time, unable to ask thoroughly.
* Difficulty in asking questions.
* Not understanding specifically what to do.
* Little or unclear explanation of the disease name or cause.
* Not understanding how to use or differentiate medications.
* Not understanding the criteria for judgment when recurrence occurs.
**8. Postponing visits may lead to symptom worsening**
The survey found that 47% of respondents had a period where they self-treated for seborrheic dermatitis or similar symptoms and did not visit a dermatologist.
An analysis of self-treatment periods and symptom worsening trends showed that the longer the postponement period, the stronger the tendency for worsening. In particular, those who postponed for 6 months or more showed a higher tendency for worsening, suggesting that those who delay seeking medical attention are more likely to exacerbate their symptoms.
**What Wise Pharmaceutical Defines as "Mis-Care"**
What became clear through this survey is that "mis-care" is not simply an individual's mistake, but a structure where anyone can fall into it due to the combined factors of the information environment, difficulty in understanding the disease, and insufficient explanations from medical professionals.
Wise Pharmaceutical defines this phenomenon as "mis-care." Mis-care refers to a state where self-care, performed with good intentions, paradoxically leads to symptom worsening.
The background for the emergence of mis-care is thought to be mainly due to the following four factors:
1. **Dependence on fragmented information:** Testimonials on SNS and personal blogs are easy to relate to, but they do not apply to everyone's symptoms.
2. **Clarity of short information:** Short videos and information that only presents key points are easy to understand, but they tend to omit causes and precautions, potentially leading to a simplified understanding.
3. **Reality of not being able to ask enough at medical sites:** Due to constraints on consultation time and difficulty in asking questions, patients may leave the clinic without fully understanding lifestyle precautions or judgment criteria.
4. **Difficulty in understanding seborrheic dermatitis:** Since multiple factors such as sebum, inflammation, and resident bacteria are involved, general dryness measures or scalp care may not always be appropriate.
**Future Outlook**
Through the results of this survey, Wise Pharmaceutical has visualized the social issue of "mis-care" in seborrheic dermatitis. Moving forward, the company will work to create an environment where consumers can more easily access appropriate information regarding their symptoms and will engage in information dissemination to reduce detours and symptom worsening caused by self-care.
**Regarding Citation and Reproduction of Survey Results**
These survey results can be freely used for reporting purposes, provided that the source is clearly indicated. Example of source citation: Wise Pharmaceutical "Awareness and Actual Condition Survey on Seborrheic Dermatitis" (2026).
For detailed cross-tabulation data, infographic materials, and additional comments, please contact us at the following.
■ Details of Survey Data / Press Kit Download
Cross-tabulation data for this survey (by medium x worsening trend, by age group, by postponement period, etc.) is available on the page below. You can also download the press kit (PDF).
▶ https://www.shirosei.jp/gocare/survey/
*If for reporting purposes, you may use it freely with proper source attribution.
**Company Profile**
Company Name: Wise Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Location: Oak Sakuragicho Bldg. 10F, 6-113 Aioicho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0012
Representative: Takayuki Yamamoto, Representative Director
URL: https://ysmd.jp/
Inquiries regarding this matter:
support@ysmd-online.jp
TEL: 0120-922-353 (9:00 AM - 9:00 PM, open daily except New Year holidays)