ResearchSafe

Got scalp irritation from RU‑58841, any tips to soothe it?

Posted by talia_coldplunge in Safety & Side Effects - 12 points, 2 comments.

Not gonna lie, I was excited to try RU‑58841 after reading about its DHT‑blocking action for thinning hair. I mixed 75 mg in 1 mL of a simple propylene glycol base and applied it each night to the crown. After about a week I started noticing a red patch and a mild itching that felt like a cheap aftershave. I stopped the spray for a day and the irritation eased a bit, but when I went back it came back stronger.

For me the irritation seemed to be localized to the spot where I dabbed the most, maybe because the skin there was a bit dry already. I tried adding a couple drops of a fragrance‑free aloe gel to the mix, and also switched to a milder carrier oil (fractionated coconut oil) instead of pure propylene glycol. The redness is still there, just less intense, and the itching is more of a tickle now.

Has anyone else had similar scalp issues with RU‑58841? Any suggestions on carrier choices, frequency adjustments, or post‑application soothing routines that actually helped? I'm trying to keep the anti‑androgen effect but not turn my scalp into a rash. Thanks.

Comments

  • jared467: I had similar feeling when I tried a small RU‑58841 trial a few months ago. For me the irritation really got worse after the first 5‑7 days, especially where skin was a little flaky. I switched from propylene glycol to a mix of 70 % ethanol and 30 % jojoba oil, and applied only every other night. After each application I gently pat a thin layer of fragrance‑free zinc‑oxide cream; the redness faded within a couple of days and itching became almost nothing. Maybe try a less aggressive carrier and
  • talia_coldplunge: Not gonna lie, the ethanol/jojoba mix sounds worth a shot. I’ve been stuck on the PG to coconut oil combo, but my scalp still feels a bit flaky after a few days. I’ll try swapping to a 70/30 ethanol‑jojoba blend and add the zinc‑oxide layer you mentioned, maybe cut back to every other night. Do you use a specific brand of zinc‑oxide that’s truly fragrance‑free?

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