I recently switched to gel from injections, and I know ideally you're supposed to apply it in the morning after you shower. However, is it okay to shower after applying the gel (as long as it's completely dried)?

Nope; I'm on gel and in the safety instructions it's said not to shower until 8 hrs after you apply the gel.

What about working out? I don't know how much of a concern it is to sweat it off or something.

Quote from: lionheart on September 01, 2016, 01:28:44 PM
What about working out? I don't know how much of a concern it is to sweat it off or something.

It doesn't mention working out and neither did my doctor. As long as you don't sweat heavily everyday I can't see the harm.

Quote from: lionheart on September 01, 2016, 01:28:44 PM
What about working out? I don't know how much of a concern it is to sweat it off or something.

I think you're meant to shower after working out. Just saying...

What kind/brand of gel is it?

I started on Testim and it needed to dry for 2 hours before I could get that area wet. That included showering, swimming, or working out.

Quote from: FTMax on September 01, 2016, 02:42:45 PM
What kind/brand of gel is it?

I started on Testim and it needed to dry for 2 hours before I could get that area wet. That included showering, swimming, or working out.

To be honest, I don't know. I get it from a local compounding pharmacy and the label just says "testosterone gel". It doesn't really provide any information other than "rotate sites" and "be careful not to transfer medication to partner". I probably should've asked my doctor but I wasn't even thinking of this stuff when I saw her. 

Quote from: lionheart on September 01, 2016, 04:03:38 PM

Quote from: FTMax on September 01, 2016, 02:42:45 PM
What kind/brand of gel is it?

I started on Testim and it needed to dry for 2 hours before I could get that area wet. That included showering, swimming, or working out.

To be honest, I don't know. I get it from a local compounding pharmacy and the label just says "testosterone gel". It doesn't really provide any information other than "rotate sites" and "be careful not to transfer medication to partner". I probably should've asked my doctor but I wasn't even thinking of this stuff when I saw her.

Ah, in that case you can actually call the pharmacy and ask. I know with Testim, Androgel, Fortesta, and Axiron (which represent the majority of name brands used in the US) it is a 2 hour wait before you can get the site wet. I can't imagine that a compounded topical would be much different, but best to get an answer directly from the folks that made it.

The only "topical" I can find that differs is the Androderm patch. That needs 3 hours to settle on the skin before you can sweat or otherwise get it wet.

I'm on a compounded cream. I'm not sure if the absorption rate between the cream and gel is different, but based on stuff I've read the minimum to wait before doing anything that'll make you sweat a lot is 2 hours. As far as getting wet (shower, swimming) the minimum is 4 hours. As a rule of thumb, though, I wait at least 6 hours before showering just in case.
To get a more definite answer, though, you should be able to just call the pharmacy to ask.

Quote from: AnonyMs on September 01, 2016, 01:35:37 PM
I think you're meant to shower after working out. Just saying...

I would rather be smelly than have a load of estrogen invading my body 

On mine I also believe it said around fixe, six hours. If you want complete absorption, I´d just take a shower before applying.

I started off on Androgel years ago (and lived in a hot / humid climate). I'd apply in the A.M. after a shower and if needed, I'd shower again at night (I worked out and commuted by bicycle). I'd definitely wait that 8 or so hours.

I finally got around to calling my pharmacist, and he said that I should just put it on after I shower, regardless of the time of day. Which is interesting, because my doctor told me to apply it first thing in the morning.

I think applying gel in the morning is more like a recommendation than a strict rule.

I was first prescribed gel when I started T and back then I had a physical job which would've caused me to sweat the gel right off if I had applied it in the morning, so I asked my doctor if it was alright if I would apply it after I get home and shower in the afternoon. This was completely fine, the thing was to apply it around the same time everyday to keep the levels even.

I'd rinse off and then apply before bed. There's your ~6-8 hours. Throw a T-shirt on if you don't sleep alone.

In example it takes approximately 2-5 days to fully return to pre-treatment baseline levels after cessation of Androgel. So, really, you're fine to apply whenever in 24 hours without significant consequence to your levels. And this way, you don't have to worry about sweating/showering it off prematurely. No need to dread rainy days neither lol.