DHT and Sebum Production

Dear Dr Rassman,

I have heard that DHT in the scalp is linked with overproduction of sebum, which is the main cause of seborrheic dermatitis. Does this make any sense to you? I have been diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis, and I also have hair loss. The two dermatologists I have seen have tried various topical medicines, betamethasone, clobetasol propionate, selenium sulfide, Nizoral shampoo etc. All of these things have only inflamed my scalp even more, and my scalp continues to secrete way too much oil. Is it possible that DHT in the scalp is the underlying cause of this? Could taking propecia stop the overproduction of oil?

As I’ve written before, the sebum/DHT connection is not supported by science. Propecia will not stop oil or sebum production. Too much oil is best treated with more frequent washing and using shampoos that are specifically designed for oily hair (see labels).

The use of steroids (betamethasone, clobetasol propionate) is something I tend to stay away from as these steroids get absorbed into the body, a less than healthy process when such medications are used in excess.