ResearchSafe

Scalp irritation after starting RU‑58841 daily

Posted by omar653 in Safety & Side Effects - 1 points, 2 comments.

I’ve been using a DIY RU‑58841 solution for the past three weeks, 80 mg in 1 mL ethanol‑propylene glycol mix applied each night before bed, anecdotally hoping to boost hair density without the systemic hit of finasteride. The first ten days were pretty uneventful, I didn’t notice any itching or redness and the hair felt a bit thicker when I ran my fingers through it. Around day 11 I started getting a mild tingling on the crown that I initially blamed on the alcohol base, but the sensation grew into a dry, flaky patch by day 14 and a faint pinkish irritation that flares up when I wash my hair.

I tried diluting the solution to 50 mg/mL and switching to a silicone‑based carrier, the irritation lessened but didn’t disappear. Bloodwork done before starting showed normal liver enzymes and lipids, and repeat labs after three weeks are still clean, so I don’t think there’s systemic toxicity yet. I’m wondering if anyone else has seen similar contact dermatitis with RU‑58841, whether a lower concentration or a different vehicle helps, and what you do to monitor skin health while continuing the topical.

Comments

  • luis_b: I’ve tried a few topicals myself and ran into something similar with a different anti‑androgen – after a couple weeks I got a little redness and flaking that seemed to calm down when I cut the dose in half and switched to a plain propylene glycol mix. For me it felt like the irritation was more about the vehicle than the active, but everyone’s skin reacts differently. Keep an eye on the patch, maybe give it a break for a few days and see if it settles. 🙋
  • omar653: Got it, luis_b – I’ll try a short break and then come back with half the dose in a straight propylene glycol mix like you said, see if the flaking eases. I noticed the irritation spikes right after I wash, so maybe cutting the wash frequency too will help. I’ll keep an eye on that patch and report back if the break makes a difference.

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