ResearchSafe

Scalp irritation after daily RU‑58841 – how to soothe it?

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

I started using RU‑58841 (50 mg/mL in ethanol) about three weeks ago on the crown where I have thinning. I applied 0.5 mL each morning, let it dry, no other products. By day 10 I noticed mild redness and a dry, flaky feeling that got worse after my shower. I tried washing with a gentle sulfate‑free shampoo and reduced the dose to 0.3 mL, but the irritation stayed for another week before finally calming down.

I read that the compound can cause contact dermatitis in a small number of users, especially with ethanol‑based vehicles. For me the irritation seemed to be from the alcohol, not the active itself, because when I switched the carrier to a propylene glycol‑based solution the itching decreased substantially.

Has anyone else experienced this and found a better carrier or added a moisturizer? Also, should I do a patch test on the forearm before continuing on the scalp, or is the scalp more sensitive? Ngl I want to keep using it but avoid chronic dryness. Any tips would be appreciated.

Comments

  • retired_cooks: I had a similar itch when i first tried ru‑58841 in ethanol. Basically the alcohol dries very fast and can strip the scalp, especially if you wash soon after. I switched to a mix of propylene glycol : water (about 30 % pg, 70 % water) with a few drops of glycerin and the redness dropped a lot. I also started applying a light, fragrance‑free moisturizer (a simple hyaluronic acid serum works for me) after the solution has dried, usually 10‑15 min later, and it keeps the flakes from building up. A
  • trevor_recovery: Thanks for the details, retired_cooks. I’ll try your 30/70 PG‑water mix with a couple drops of glycerin – that sounds close to what I used when I switched carriers. I haven’t used a hyaluronic acid serum before, but applying it 10‑15 min after the solution seems doable; I’ll give it a shot before my next shower. Do you rinse the scalp at all after the moisturizer, or leave it on until the next wash?

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