Can overactive sebum glands reduce the effectiveness of Minoxidil/Rogaine?

I suggest seeing a hair loss expert now to evaluate and go over your condition and provide you information about your best treatment options. There are great non-invasive options like prp/progesterone and/or hair transplantation. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

The
oil produced by the sebaceous glands have a protective mechanism and condition
the hair shafts.  If you feel minoxidil
is not reaching the scalp then rinse and massage your scalp with warm water
before proceeding with application.

It's hard to say but it could be. Overactivity of the sebaceous glands is often associated with inflammation in the form of seborrheic dermatitis and other inflammatory changes in the upper hair follicle regions (in an area known as the isthmus and infundibulum). Studies have shown minoxidil is less effective in these situations.What's the proof?In 1993, Dr David Whiting performed an important study looking at the chances of regrowth associated with varying degrees of inflammation. In male balding, patients that had no significant inflammation in their biopsies experienced some degree of regrowth iin 77% of cases, versus 55% in cases with significant inflammation.REFERENCEWhiting DA. Diagnostic and predictive value of horizontal sections of scalp biopsy specimens in male pattern androgenetic alopecia. Whiting DA. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1993.

You can clean shampoo before you apply minoxidil and that should be the best way to manage the sebum.