Tips for applying testosterone gel

Dear Dr. Roach: I am an 84-year-old male withED.

I recently switched from testosterone patches to AndroGel.

My testosterone levels have gone up considerably, and I have seen some improvement in my erectile dysfunction. I suspect just a little more testosterone might get me a usable erection.

My physician said to rub the gel intomy shoulder. She could not explain howit gets throughthe skin. AmI literally rubbing it in?

Would more pressure push it through the skin better?

Is the gel absorbed? Are some areas more absorbent than others? Where is the best place to apply the gel? Is the skin already saturated if I apply the gel to dry skin following a bath?— Anon.

The ability to absorb drugs across the skin has made administration of some drugs much easier, especially those like testosterone, which are not absorbed when taken by mouth.

However, there are factors to keep in mind.

First, the testosterone is absorbed through the skin over time — you don’t need to massage it in.

The alcohol in the gel allows the skin to absorb it better. Skin absorbs better when moist, so applying after a bath may help your body absorb the full dose your doctor is giving you. Applying a moisturizer to the skin an hour after the gel also helps absorption.

However, the medicine is still being absorbed even four hours later, so a shower or bath willwash it off.

The shoulder is a better place than the abdomen, so always use it there, but you can change sides.

Some of my colleagues who prescribe these drugs more than I do have written that somepatient justhavenot been able to get enough testosterone with the gel, and must use injection.

Write to Dr. Roach at ToYourGoodHealth @med.cornell.edu. some