Progesterone is a steroid hormone naturally produced in the body and progesterone levels play an important role in human embryogenesis as well as overall health. It belongs to group of steroid hormones known as progestogens and progesterone is a progestogen that occurs naturally in the human body. It plays a major role in the female menstrual cycle as well as pregnancy to support development of the embryo. It is produced in the ovary and prepares and maintains the uterus for pregnancy. Progesterone is also artificially produced from tropical vines of the genus Discorea or yams. A steroid called diosgenin is extracted from the tuber of the plant and converted to progesterone in the lab. Progesterone has many medical applications, especially in acute conditions and to address the issue of decline in the level of natural progesterone. While supplemental progesterone can help maintain pregnancy, it has side effects.

In women, levels of progesterone are relatively on the lower side before ovulation. The level increases after ovulation and remain elevated during the second half of the menstrual cycle after ovulation. If pregnancy occurs the elevated levels are maintained for some time and later rise even further to support pregnancy. Progesterone has numerous physiological effects. High progesterone levels interfere with the corticosteroid produced by the adrenal cortex for regulating salt and water balance. This may lead to a condition known as natriuresis or presence of excess sodium in urine. Elevated levels of progesterone stimulate sebaceous glands and increase sebum production. This can potentially trigger a flare up of seborrhea and eventually to seborrheic dermatitis.

Seborrhea a condition in which over-activity of the sebaceous glands causes the skin to become oily. Sebum production usually starts at puberty and triggered by a circulating testosterone metabolite. Since progesterone in males is produced during production of testosterone and by ovaries in women, elevated progesterone level can trigger seborrheic dermatitis.

Low progesterone levels, on the other hand can cause insomnia, dizziness, irritability, mood swings, difficulty in concentrating bloating and weight gain and a host of other symptoms. Supplemental progesterone is normally recommended to make up the deficiency. However, monitoring is important for regulating the level s so that it does lead to elevated levels.

Seborrhea in adults is a recurring condition and often requires prolonged treatment. Seborrheic dermatitis is conventionally treated with topical creams containing steroidal hormones. Maintaining normal progesterone levels during treatment of seborrheic dermatitis is all more important, especially in the case of people who are genetically predisposed. Seborrhea may manifest in intestines.

A bout of seborrhea can also be triggered by fungal infection. Seborrhea occurs most in areas that are rich in sebaceous glands and a type of yeast has an affinity to the sebum produced by these glands and its build up causes the irritation, flaky skin and redness. Keeping progesterone levels in check may sometimes help in arresting infection.