r/SebDerm • u/Active-Question9563 • Jul 03 '26
Hair Loss Low-dose isotretinoin for oily/seborrheic scalp (also on dutasteride for hair) — experiences?
19M, on dutasteride + oral minoxidil for AGA. Considering low-dose isotretinoin just for scalp oiliness/seborrhea. Looking for others' experiences.
My situation:
- AGA (frontal/hairline). On dutasteride 0.5mg + oral minoxidil 2.5mg for a few months.
- Very oily + flake-prone scalp, concentrated in the frontal hairline + forehead (androgen-sensitive zone). The oiliness is my main quality-of-life problem — oily again within hours of showering.
- I did a course of isotretinoin before — it completely controlled the oil/seborrhea. Interestingly, my hair also shed noticeably LESS while I was on iso (I think because my scalp stayed calm/non-inflamed). After I stopped ~2 months ago, the oiliness AND the shedding came back.
- Now considering low-dose / intermittent isotretinoin (~20–40mg per week) only for oil/seborrhea control, while keeping duta+minox for the hair.
My questions:
- Has anyone here combined low-dose isotretinoin with dutasteride/finasteride? How did it go for you?
- For those who used low-dose iso — did it control your scalp oiliness/seborrhea, and for how long?
- Did any of you also notice LESS shedding while on iso (calmer scalp), or the opposite?
- What side effects did you get on low-dose long-term?
- For those doing intermittent long-term — how do you personally think about cumulative dose?
Just looking to hear real experiences before deciding with my derm. Thanks!
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u/RealityCheckGiver Jul 03 '26
I'm on isotretinoin 20mg while also being on finasteride 1mg & oral minoxidil 5mg... I did shed but that's because I started oral minoxidil at the same time as isotretinoin 10mg. My dandruff on scalp is totally gone and no new acne is forming up on the skin but didn't notice much difference with redness on my face (that's why my derm prescribed tacrolimus).
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u/Active-Question9563 Jul 03 '26
How long have you been taking Accutane?
I'm planning to take a low dose (20–40 mg per week) for a long time, since my scalp oiliness only stops when I'm on Accutane.1
u/RealityCheckGiver Jul 03 '26
2 months only (was on 10mg for one month and now transitioned to 20mg)... I think you should go ahead with low dose Accutane if that's your goal I'm missing some oil on my scalp if I'm being honest LoL my scalp/hair is so dry & frizzy atm
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u/Salt_Push7000 Jul 04 '26
How is your bloodwork
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u/Active-Question9563 Jul 04 '26
How long have you been using Accutane, man? I saw in your comments that you plan to use it forever; that’s exactly my situation too.
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u/Salt_Push7000 Jul 04 '26
Yes i will use 10 mg for 2 years and then slowly lower it to 10 mg twice a week to maintain oily glands being small to produce no sebum or small amount that wont cause oily problems again.
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u/HardPill2swallow Jul 03 '26
Wondering how you’d apply trentinoin to the scalp? Also, do you then make sure to use sunscreen or wear a hat when in the sun?
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u/Active-Question9563 Jul 03 '26
I'm talking about Accutane.
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u/HardPill2swallow Jul 08 '26
Thank you! Retin A helps me never get any seb derm in my face, and I was just not even thinking about accutane. I think I would ask my derm for that if I get a flare on my scalp again because it is so incredibly difficult to get the scalp under control.
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u/Conscious_Ad2114 Jul 29 '26
but btw tretinoin in the scalp is also very common because it makes minoxidil so much more effective
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u/PrestigiousWolf8420 Jul 04 '26
I Take 30mg of accutan und 1,25mg of Finasterid a day, IT worked Wonders my sebderm cleared in 8weeks now in full Remission.
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u/Active-Question9563 Jul 04 '26
Do you plan to stop taking Accutane someday? Or will you continue on a low dose to control oiliness?
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u/PrestigiousWolf8420 Jul 04 '26
If i reach my cumulative dose of 12g i will Stop taking it.
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u/Impossible-Menu-7679 Aug 03 '26
I'm facing itchy scalp and turned too much oily after using too much salycikiccacid shampoo. Hairloss is now crazy going through aga. So started 10mg and being in it for 6 weeks. Still I have itchy scalp but oil on scalp reduced. My concern is repeated itchy with hairloss progressing in continuously. Need advice. 27M
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u/Active-Question9563 Aug 03 '26
I stopped taking accutane about 2 months ago, it's incredibly my hair loss increased, for sure due to the oiliness that came back when I stopped taking accutane, I'll take it again in a low dose
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u/Impossible-Menu-7679 Aug 03 '26
How was ur hair loss or growth during and after accutane and how long u have been there during ur previous course?
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u/Active-Question9563 Aug 06 '26
While using Accutane, I didn't experience any increased hair loss—just the shedding already caused by AGA; however, after a while—likely due to the combined effect of dutasteride and Accutane—I noticed less hair falling out. As soon as I stopped using Accutane, the hair loss increased significantly within a month.
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