um, is my spironolactone cream making my head smell like skunk?

[Fat-Elvis]

I really don't think I'm imagining this, but ever since I started using spironolactone cream (no I don't use minoxidil) I sometimes get a whiff of a sort of skunk-like smell. It's not really strong, but sometimes I do smell it. Like right now when I was doing pullups, I noticed it a good deal, and I checked by rubbing my head with my fingers and then smelling them, and I think I smell it on my fingers. Should this be? Anyone else experience this? I also use tricomin now, but that's only at night.

 

[The Gardener]

Assuming that you don't have a skunk trapped in your home's furnace, it might very well be coming from the spironolactone cream.

You might want to reduce the quantity you apply (a very thin layer is all that is needed), or you might wait until after you exercise to apply the spironolactone, if possible.

I find that very surprising, my 5% never smells at all. I am not saying that I doubt you are smelling skunk, but I do think there must be something different going on top of your head than mine. What other topicals are you using? Perhaps one of them is not agreeing with the spironolactone, and is making it break down?

 

[Fat-Elvis]

Right now just tricomin, but that's only at night.

 

[Renegade]

if there is any (remaining) spironolactone on the scalp and you perspire or apply something like minoxidil too soon afterwards, then it produces that smell. this can easily be avoided though - I use it 2x day and have no problems because I also shower twice daily.

 

[Fat-Elvis]

The only thing I'm using it with is trimocin (at night), and i've never used minoxidil. I definitely do not apply a lot of it, and even HOURS after a morning application, and can do just a little bit of minor working out (like some pullups) and I'll almost immediately smell the spironolactone. This is really aggrivating.

 

[Thinneritgoes!]

Yeah you aren't imagining that.

 

[viperfish]

I could never use spironolactone for that very reason. Also, cosmetically speaking, there was no way I could apply it and be comfortable with it. The 2% spironolactone smelled really bad and dried the crap out of my scalp and hair. The 5% was odor free I thought, but was like mayo! I really don't understand how you guys can apply this stuff daily. The only way it would work for me would be if I was a hermit, applied it at night, and stayed in every single night for the rest of my life. I now use proxiphen, which goes on very easily with no cosmetic side effects on the hair and has zero odor. It is very expensive, but totally worth it imo because of those very reasons. Also it has many other beneficial ingredients within, other than just spironolactone and minoxidil.

 

[Fat-Elvis]

I could never use spironolactone for that very reason. Also, cosmetically speaking, there was no way I could apply it and be comfortable with it. The 2% spironolactone smelled really bad and dried the crap out of my scalp and hair. The 5% was odor free I thought, but was like mayo! I really don't understand how you guys can apply this stuff daily. The only way it would work for me would be if I was a hermit, applied it at night, and stayed in every single night for the rest of my life. I now use proxiphen, which goes on very easily with no cosmetic side effects on the hair and has zero odor. It is very expensive, but totally worth it imo because of those very reasons. Also it has many other beneficial ingredients within, other than just spironolactone and minoxidil.

I apply very little of it in the morning (and usually a couple hours before I shower), so the cosmetic effect doesn't mean much to me. But you say the 5% cream is odorless, and I'm definitely getting an odor from it.

 

[viperfish]

I could never use spironolactone for that very reason. Also, cosmetically speaking, there was no way I could apply it and be comfortable with it. The 2% spironolactone smelled really bad and dried the crap out of my scalp and hair. The 5% was odor free I thought, but was like mayo! I really don't understand how you guys can apply this stuff daily. The only way it would work for me would be if I was a hermit, applied it at night, and stayed in every single night for the rest of my life. I now use proxiphen, which goes on very easily with no cosmetic side effects on the hair and has zero odor. It is very expensive, but totally worth it imo because of those very reasons. Also it has many other beneficial ingredients within, other than just spironolactone and minoxidil.

I apply very little of it in the morning (and usually a couple hours before I shower), so the cosmetic effect doesn't mean much to me. But you say the 5% cream is odorless, and I'm definitely getting an odor from it.

Well, I should say that the 5% was odorless when compared to the 2%. The 5% I remember having a slight odor. However, even when I applied very little of the 5% it still made my hair look like crap. I do remember a slight smell however.