10 years of slow hair loss + seborrheic dermatitis — need advice on oral treatments (minoxidil/finasteride)

[Youchi]

Hi everyone, I've been dealing with hair loss for 10 years now (since I was 21 - l'm 31 now). It's been a very slow and gradual process. I also have a scalp condition - scalp inflammation seborrheic dermatitis — which causes crusty, pimple-like bumps, itching, and redness (see photos). I've got the condition mostly under control by using the shampoo Dermasence Seborra. Because of this, topical treatments aren't really an option for me - I'm looking more into oral treatments instead. That's why I need advice from people with real knowledge and experience to help me figure out how I can fight my hair loss effectively and as quickly as possible. I've been considering oral minoxidil and would like to start with a low dose (2.5 mg divided by 4 - so about 0.6 mg per day). I'm not sure if finasteride would make sense for me - whether I should take only finasteride or combine it with minoxidil - so l'd really appreciate your expertise. My DHT level is 32.0 (normal range: 23.2-101.5), so technically it's normal, but I suspect I'm still sensitive to DHT because ever since I started going to the gym in February, l've noticed a bit more shedding. I'm not sure if that's just a coincidence.. I also don't know whether my hair loss might be triggered by the seborrheic dermatitis — no doctor has been able to give me a clear answer on that so far. That's why l'm hoping to find the most effective oral treatment plan possible to preserve and regrow as much hair as I can.

 

[Wvg]

I had sebderm but used 2.5% selenium sulfide shampoo (leave 5-10mins) (SS removes dandruff powdery sh*t) + betamethasone 0.1% 1/2x / week when bad.

Also cutting my hair short like 5-8 on top, helps.

Also currently using eucerin scalp treatment & nizoral leave in treatment.

Started using topicals like 6 months ago, gotten decent regrowth - fluridi + pyri + min foam.



(Developed severe dermatitis & aggressive hair loss post Covid in 2021, 0 hair loss prior).

 

[Wvg]

Hi everyone, I've been dealing with hair loss for 10 years now (since I was 21 - l'm 31 now). It's been a very slow and gradual process. I also have a scalp condition - scalp inflammation seborrheic dermatitis — which causes crusty, pimple-like bumps, itching, and redness (see photos). I've got the condition mostly under control by using the shampoo Dermasence Seborra. Because of this, topical treatments aren't really an option for me - I'm looking more into oral treatments instead. That's why I need advice from people with real knowledge and experience to help me figure out how I can fight my hair loss effectively and as quickly as possible. I've been considering oral minoxidil and would like to start with a low dose (2.5 mg divided by 4 - so about 0.6 mg per day). I'm not sure if finasteride would make sense for me - whether I should take only finasteride or combine it with minoxidil - so l'd really appreciate your expertise. My DHT level is 32.0 (normal range: 23.2-101.5), so technically it's normal, but I suspect I'm still sensitive to DHT because ever since I started going to the gym in February, l've noticed a bit more shedding. I'm not sure if that's just a coincidence.. I also don't know whether my hair loss might be triggered by the seborrheic dermatitis — no doctor has been able to give me a clear answer on that so far. That's why l'm hoping to find the most effective oral treatment plan possible to preserve and regrow as much hair as I can.

I had bad redness / scalp acne like Yours last year, but I think removing the powder buildup gradually reduced the redness too .

Also min liquid I think is more aggravating, but rogaine foam is not as bad for some reason .

Even Kirkland foam is a bit irritating.

But pyri + fluridil, doesn’t cause much irritation thus far. But I use 0.5-1ml / each.

 

[losingbattle88]

Hi everyone, I've been dealing with hair loss for 10 years now (since I was 21 - l'm 31 now). It's been a very slow and gradual process. I also have a scalp condition - scalp inflammation seborrheic dermatitis — which causes crusty, pimple-like bumps, itching, and redness (see photos). I've got the condition mostly under control by using the shampoo Dermasence Seborra. Because of this, topical treatments aren't really an option for me - I'm looking more into oral treatments instead. That's why I need advice from people with real knowledge and experience to help me figure out how I can fight my hair loss effectively and as quickly as possible. I've been considering oral minoxidil and would like to start with a low dose (2.5 mg divided by 4 - so about 0.6 mg per day). I'm not sure if finasteride would make sense for me - whether I should take only finasteride or combine it with minoxidil - so l'd really appreciate your expertise. My DHT level is 32.0 (normal range: 23.2-101.5), so technically it's normal, but I suspect I'm still sensitive to DHT because ever since I started going to the gym in February, l've noticed a bit more shedding. I'm not sure if that's just a coincidence.. I also don't know whether my hair loss might be triggered by the seborrheic dermatitis — no doctor has been able to give me a clear answer on that so far. That's why l'm hoping to find the most effective oral treatment plan possible to preserve and regrow as much hair as I can.

You got too many demodex mites. You need 10% sulphur soap to nuke them.

 

[Envoy Health]

Hi everyone, I've been dealing with hair loss for 10 years now (since I was 21 - l'm 31 now). It's been a very slow and gradual process. I also have a scalp condition - scalp inflammation seborrheic dermatitis — which causes crusty, pimple-like bumps, itching, and redness (see photos). I've got the condition mostly under control by using the shampoo Dermasence Seborra. Because of this, topical treatments aren't really an option for me - I'm looking more into oral treatments instead. That's why I need advice from people with real knowledge and experience to help me figure out how I can fight my hair loss effectively and as quickly as possible. I've been considering oral minoxidil and would like to start with a low dose (2.5 mg divided by 4 - so about 0.6 mg per day). I'm not sure if finasteride would make sense for me - whether I should take only finasteride or combine it with minoxidil - so l'd really appreciate your expertise. My DHT level is 32.0 (normal range: 23.2-101.5), so technically it's normal, but I suspect I'm still sensitive to DHT because ever since I started going to the gym in February, l've noticed a bit more shedding. I'm not sure if that's just a coincidence.. I also don't know whether my hair loss might be triggered by the seborrheic dermatitis — no doctor has been able to give me a clear answer on that so far. That's why l'm hoping to find the most effective oral treatment plan possible to preserve and regrow as much hair as I can.

Hi, thanks for sharing your experience. Dealing with seborrheic dermatitis and hair loss at the same time can be tough. Keeping your scalp healthy is the first step, since a calm scalp helps hair treatments work better. Low-dose oral minoxidil (0.25–1 mg daily) can help some people, especially if topical treatments don’t work for you. Finasteride may also help, even if your DHT levels are normal, because hair follicles respond differently in each person. Along with medication, taking care of your scalp, eating well, and managing stress can support hair health. Seeing a dermatologist who understands both hair loss and scalp conditions can help you choose the best approach.