RU‑58841 scalp irritation – what’s best to minimise it?

Posted by greg208 in Safety & Side Effects - 2 points, 4 comments.

I started using RU‑58841 about six weeks ago to try and stop my hair thinning. The 50 mg/ml mix I made in a 1 ml vial is easy to apply, and I’ve seen a couple of new hairs in the last month – good news. The problem is the scalp irritation.

After each application I get a dry, itchy feeling that turns into a rash after a couple of days. I use a mild, fragrance‑free moisturizer only at night, but the itch still hits in the morning and keeps me from staying on the routine. I’ve read that adding a small amount of a gentler anti‑inflammatory cream might help, or diluting the solution further, but I’m not sure what’s safe for a topical anti‑androgen that’s already potent.

Would anybody have any experience with mixing a low‑dose hydrocortisone cream or using a petrolatum base to ease the irritation? I’d love to hear if anyone found a work‑around that didn’t reduce the RU‑58841’s effectiveness.

Comments

• liam_sleepnerd: I’ve been doing a similar experiment. 5 % hydrocortisone ointment about a week after I noticed the itch, applying it right after the RU‑58841 and before moisturizing. The rash subsided within 48 hMuk. I kept the RU‑58841 concentration the same; my new hairs kept appearing, so I don’t think the steroid really diluted the effect. I also switched to a thin petrolatum layer over the RU‑58841 during the night instead of a fragrance‑free moisturizer. It seemed to create a barrier that kept the active
• hank_m: Tbh the petrolatum trick totally worked for me too, it locks in the RU‑58841 and stops the drying itch, and the hydrocortisone really cuts thexor flare up fast. I’ve kept the concentration the same and not seen a drop in new hairs, so i’m sticking with that combo. Any other barrier creams you’ve tried?
• grace_sleepnerd: I’ve tried a dab of 1% hydrocortisone right after my RU‑58841 and it calmed the itch for me too, though I still get a bit of dryness. Switching to a thin layer of plain vaseline at night helped lock moisture in without messing with the new hairs I’m seeing. Imo worth a shot if the steroid isn’t enough.
• greg208: Cheers for the tips, grace. Tried the hydrocortisone after application, cut the itch for a day or two, but the dryness still bites in the morn. Vaseline at night sounds safer than my current moisturizer. Any thoughts on layering it thinly over the RU mix without messing with the potency? My scalp’s still sensitive, reckon.

Community discussion - research and educational context only. Not medical advice.