Transdermal Application Sites

[mkl13]

I just recieved a 10% compounded gel (switching from androgel). Where are the best places to apply the gel to maximize absorbtion and minimize E2 conversion. Thanks..

[marianco]

Originally Posted by mkl13

I just recieved a 10% compounded gel (switching from androgel). Where are the best places to apply the gel to maximize absorbtion and minimize E2 conversion. Thanks..

The biceps and shoulders are some of the best places.

If a person doesn't have too much facial hair and has treatment to prevent hair loss (e.g. finasteride), then the face and neck are good areas for absorption.

If a person has difficulty in absorbing transdermal testosterone, one problem may be thickening of the skin which occurs with hypothyroidism.

[The_Skeptic]

Originally Posted by marianco

The biceps and shoulders are some of the best places.

If a person doesn't have too much facial hair and has treatment to prevent hair loss (e.g. finasteride), then the face and neck are good areas for absorption.

If a person has difficulty in absorbing transdermal testosterone, one problem may be thickening of the skin which occurs with hypothyroidism.

Does applying test to the face increase DHT more than in other areas?

[mkl13]

Doctor, any certain areas of the face better than others? Any thoughts about the quads and or the top of the feet. Thanks for the great information!

[Cynical Simian]

Originally Posted by marianco

If a person doesn't have too much facial hair and has treatment to prevent hair loss (e.g. finasteride), then the face and neck are good areas for absorption..

Interesting. I'd never seen those mentioned as possibilities before.

I'll be starting on a 10% cream when it arrives sometime next week, so I guess I'll just mini-hijack this thread to ask some application-related questions. I plan to apply the gel before bed because it's a more convenient time, there's no possibility of water exposure (sweat/shower/swim) soon after application since I'll be asleep, because, from what I've seen, the slower absorption of a high-concentration cream means that there's no need to time the peak that comes shortly after AndroGel/Testim application. So anyway, my questions are...

1. Should I alternate sides (right bicep one day, left the next, etc.) as recommended by 1cc in his various and extremely helpful posts about T creams?
2. What sort of preparation of the site would be best, given that at the moment a shower isn't part of my pre-bed routine? Would, for example, using an alcohol prep pad to remove any oil/dirt on the skin be sufficient?

mkl13, the forearms are another site some have used. I'm not sure how well the quads would work since areas with thinner skin seems to be recommended for compounded creams.

[mkl13]

Thanks for the information. The face application has me curious as well (dht, e2, etc.). My new doctor put me on the 10% compound gel and .25mg of arimidex, so I am excited to see what happens. Androgel didn't seem to agree with my system.

[marianco]

Originally Posted by The_Skeptic

Does applying test to the face increase DHT more than in other areas?

Areas where there is a lot of hair growth such as the beard area will cause an increase in DHT larger than other areas.

The rationale for using the face is that wherever a person blushes, there is a lot of circulation underneath the skin. This allows more of the testosterone to be absorbed.

Using gel on the face can be inconvenient, however. It can be sticky. The face and neck is one alternative for some men that may otherwise have absorption in the usual areas such as the arms, flanks and shoulders.

If the face or neck is used, an alpha-reductase inhibitor such as finasteride should be considered to avoid scalp hair loss.

Alpha-reductase inhibitors do have their risks in use - such as sexual dysfunction or anxiety in some men. In some cases, they can impair brain function by reducing myelin production through blocking the conversion of progesterone to allopregnenolone in the brain. Women are much more susceptible to the negative effects of Finasteride.

One anti-aging doctor I know, however, applies testosterone gel to his scalp while using Finasteride to prevent hair loss. The scalp applied testosterone helped regrow his hair. I don't think this will work with everyone - but his scalp is pretty full and thick now. If the Finasteride doesn't adequately stop DHT production, the scalp application would have instead resulted in balding. This is why I wouldn't generally recommend this technique unless one wants to risk going bald in order to see if one can gain hair. That is a tough decision to make.

[smitty4]

Originally Posted by marianco

The biceps and shoulders are some of the best places.

If a person doesn't have too much facial hair and has treatment to prevent hair loss (e.g. finasteride), then the face and neck are good areas for absorption.

If a person has difficulty in absorbing transdermal testosterone, one problem may be thickening of the skin which occurs with hypothyroidism.

I have tried creams and recently tried gel. Both left me disappointed as I did not absorb them well enough. Your comments are very interesting to me, because I also happen to be hypothyroid. I am currently increasing my Armour dosage under the guidance of my physician. Once I get that straightened out, perhaps I will try the gel again.

[smitty4]

Originally Posted by marianco

Areas where there is a lot of hair growth such as the beard area will cause an increase in DHT larger than other areas.

The rationale for using the face is that wherever a person blushes, there is a lot of circulation underneath the skin. This allows more of the testosterone to be absorbed.

Using gel on the face can be inconvenient, however. It can be sticky. The face and neck is one alternative for some men that may otherwise have absorption in the usual areas such as the arms, flanks and shoulders.

If the face or neck is used, an alpha-reductase inhibitor such as finasteride should be considered to avoid scalp hair loss.

Alpha-reductase inhibitors do have their risks in use - such as sexual dysfunction or anxiety in some men. In some cases, they can impair brain function by reducing myelin production through blocking the conversion of progesterone to allopregnenolone in the brain. Women are much more susceptible to the negative effects of Finasteride.

One anti-aging doctor I know, however, applies testosterone gel to his scalp while using Finasteride to prevent hair loss. The scalp applied testosterone helped regrow his hair. I don't think this will work with everyone - but his scalp is pretty full and thick now. If the Finasteride doesn't adequately stop DHT production, the scalp application would have instead resulted in balding. This is why I wouldn't generally recommend this technique unless one wants to risk going bald in order to see if one can gain hair. That is a tough decision to make.

Hmm...I am already bald so I do not worry about hair loss at this point. I might include my neck, along with my shoulders and arms the next time I try gel.

[pmgamer18]

When I was on a compounded cream I put about a tsp full on the inside of my forearm. This dose was 2x's stronger then 10 grams of Andorgel or Testim and had my T levels up above 800.
No DHT or E2 problems at the time but I was in my 40's then.