u/Active-Question9563

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:

1. Has anyone here combined low-dose isotretinoin with dutasteride/finasteride? How did it go for you?
2. For those who used low-dose iso — did it control your scalp oiliness/seborrhea, and for how long?
3. Did any of you also notice LESS shedding while on iso (calmer scalp), or the opposite?
4. What side effects did you get on low-dose long-term?
5. 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!

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:

1. Has anyone here combined low-dose isotretinoin with dutasteride/finasteride? How did it go for you?
2. For those who used low-dose iso — did it control your scalp oiliness/seborrhea, and for how long?
3. Did any of you also notice LESS shedding while on iso (calmer scalp), or the opposite?
4. What side effects did you get on low-dose long-term?
5. 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!