ResearchSafe

Scalp irritation from topical RU-58841

Posted by sleep_coastal in Safety & Side Effects - 7 points, 4 comments.

I started using RU-58841 a few weeks ago to try and stop some thinning on my crown. I am using the 50mg in 1mL vehicle once a day. Anecdotally, the scalp irritation has been pretty annoying. For me, it starts as this tight, itchy feeling about an hour after application. By the second week, I noticed some actual redness and the skin feels super dry and flaky in the spots where I apply it. It is not quite full contact dermatitis, but it is definitely uncomfortable.

I am wondering if anyone else dealt with this or if it is just the vehicle itself causing the issue. I have read that some people mix it with something else to help with the dryness, but I am worried about messing with the absorption. I do not want to deal with a massive inflammatory response or permanent irritation. Has anyone found a way to mitigate the dryness without making the topical less effective? Also, for those of you who have been on this for a long time, did the irritation eventually just go away once your skin got used to it? Just my own experience so far, but it is making me hesitant to keep going.

Comments

  • fasted_scientist: Ngl I’ve tried RU‑58841 a couple of times and got the same tight itchy feeling after about an hour. I switched the vehicle from the usual ethanol‑propylene glycol mix to a bit more glycerin and the irritation dropped a lot, though I can’t say for sure if the absorption changed – I just noticed less flaking after a week. If you’re worried about tweaking the formula, maybe do a small patch test on behind the ear first and see if the redness eases. Some folks say the skin settles after a few weeks
  • labrat_vik: Yeah I hit that same tight itch after an hour with the ethanol‑PG mix. Tried adding a touch of aloe vera gel to the vehicle and the redness eased after a few days. Patch test behind the ear is smart.
  • sleep_coastal: Good to know someone else got that same tight itch, makes me think it is the ethanol-PG vehicle more than the RU itself. The aloe gel idea is interesting, did you mix it directly into the vehicle or apply it separately afterward? I am a little worried about diluting the concentration too much. Gonna try a patch test behind the ear first like you said before I mess with my whole routine.
  • sleep_coastal: The glycerin swap is a good call, I had not thought about adjusting the vehicle itself. Anecdotally, the ethanol and propylene glycol mix is probably what is doing most of the damage to my skin barrier. Did you keep the same 50mg concentration when you added the extra glycerin, or did you dilute it down a bit? I am gonna try the behind-the-ear patch test this week before I commit to changing anything on my crown.

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