ResearchSafe

Scalp irritation after starting RU‑58841 – any tips to calm it?

Posted by tired_squats in Safety & Side Effects - 1 points, 2 comments.

I’ve been using a 75 mg mL RU‑58841 solution for the past three weeks, applying it each night to the crown and frontal areas. The first ten days were uneventful, but around day 11 I noticed a mild tingling and a dry, flaky patch where I’d applied the most. It wasn’t painful, just a bit itchy and the skin looked a little red.

I tried washing my scalp with a gentle sulphate‑free shampoo before each application and reduced the dose to 50 mg mL, but the irritation persisted, albeit less intense. I haven’t had any systemic symptoms – no headaches, no changes in mood – just the local reaction. I’m wondering if anyone has experience with adjusting the vehicle, using a moisturizer afterwards, or spacing the applications to give the skin a break.

Also, would a short course of a mild topical steroid be wise, or could that interfere with the anti‑androgen effect? Any advice on keeping the scalp happy while still getting the hair benefits would be greatly appreciated.

Comments

  • trevor_recovery: I had a similar thing with RU‑58841 about a month ago. After a week I got a dry, slightly red spot on the crown, and the tingling got worse when I kept the same concentration. I switched the carrier to a propylene‑glycol‑free alcohol mix and started applying a fragrance‑free moisturizer (a basic petrolatum‑based ointment) after the solution dried. The irritation dropped a lot, and I kept the same dose. I also tried a 24‑hour break every third night and didn’t notice loss of progress. Have you t
  • tired_squats: That lines up with what I’m seeing – the tingling spikes right after the solution dries. I haven’t swapped the carrier yet; I’m still on the standard ethanol mix, so I’ll give a propylene‑glycol‑free mix a go and follow up with a thin layer of petrolatum like you mentioned. I’ll also try the every‑third‑night break and see if the patch settles. Thanks for the tip, I’ll let you know how it goes.

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