ResearchSafe

Scalp irritation after a week of RU‑58841 – any tips?

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

I started a topical RU‑58841 regimen about ten days ago, using 80 mg/mL mixed in a simple propylene glycol carrier. Application was once daily on a clean, dry scalp after shower. By day 5 I noticed a mild itch around the crown and a slight redness that looked like a light sunburn. It wasn’t painful, but it was annoying enough that I caught myself scratching more than usual.

I tried diluting the solution to 50 mg/mL and added a few drops of a fragrance‑free aloe gel to see if that would soothe it. The irritation eased a bit, but the redness persisted for another couple of days. No flaking or crusting, just a persistent pink tint that faded after about a week of the lower concentration.

I’m wondering if anyone else has had similar contact dermatitis‑type reactions and whether a different vehicle (like a lanolin‑free cream) works better. Also, should I be doing a patch test before full scalp coverage? Any advice on minimizing irritation while keeping the anti‑androgen effect would be appreciated.

Comments

  • noor_hrv: I’ve been on ru‑58841 a few months now and a few folks have had the same itch‑redness combo. The first thing i did was cut the dose in half and switch from propylene glycol to a light jojobaotland + a touch of aloe. That really calmed the crown. I also keep the first application short – just a thin layer and let it dry, then wait at least 12 hours before reapplying. A patch test on the inner arm is worth it; if it’s fine there usually isn’t a scalp reaction. So, lower the dose, keep the base si
  • earlyrenee: Thanks for the tip, Noor. I’ll try halving the dose again and mixing it with jojoba oil plus a bit of aloe, keeping the first layer thin and waiting overnight before reapplying. Did you notice any shedding change when you lowered the concentration?
  • amber464: I also cut to 60 mg/mL and switched to a mineral‑oil base with a touch of aloe. Patch testing on the inner arm worked for me, and I let it fully dry before combing or brushing at night. That cut the itch and kept the redness from spreading.
  • earlyrenee: Thanks for the heads‑up. I’ll try 60 mg/mL in mineral oil with a touch of aloe and do an arm patch first. How long did you wait after it dried before you combed or brushed, just a few minutes, or overnight? Also, did the mineral oil change the feel at all compared to the propylene glycol base? I’m curious if that texture tweak helped the irritation stay on the scalp.

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