Though there are plenty of steroids on the market, they can be broken down into two varieties. Wet and dry. Debate rages about which option is best. Let’s delve into the differences between dry muscle vs wet muscle, letting you pick the approach that best suits you.
What Is A Wet Steroid
Wet steroids get their name because they aromatize. Converting to estrogen. This produces a range of side effects. One of the most noticeable impacts is increasing your water retention levels. Building the water levels between your muscle cells. This has earned the name of wet steroids. Because of this, they are most commonly used as part of the cutting cycle.
Examples Of Wet Steroids
There are plenty of wet steroids on the market. Here are some of the most common options:
- Dianabol
- Deca Durabolin
- Andriol
What Is A Dry Steroid
Steroids in this category dry your body out. Removing fluids from between your muscle cells. This can give you the chiseled appearance that bodybuilders crave, helping to enhance your muscle definition. Because of this, they are more commonly used as part of the cutting cycle, helping you look your best before a competition.
Examples Of Dry Steroids
There are plenty of dry steroids on the market. Here are some of the more popular options:
- Winstrol
- Trenbolone
- Anavar
- Turinabol
Deciding Which One Is Best For You
Now that we know a little more about the differences between dry muscle vs wet muscle, let’s dig deeper into the differences between the two.
Costs
Generally, wet steroids will be the cheapest option. You’ll often need fewer injections, so the drugs will last longer.
Risks
As we’ll see, there are plenty of risks associated with both approaches. One isn’t riskier than the other. You will need to understand the type of steroid you are taking. Know how it can affect your body and take steps to manage the effects.
Desired Effects
The good news is that there is an easy way to decide which option you want to explore. Just think about what phase you are going into. If you want to add muscle mass, it’s best to go with a wet steroid. Adding more fluid between the muscle cells will improve nutrient flow. Making it easier for you to add strength. However, if you are heading into a cutting cycle, the dry steroids will be better. Water retention can make you appear bloated. Dry steroids don’t cause this problem. Giving you better muscle definition to show off your gains.
In reality, there is no real competition between dry muscle vs wet muscle. You’ll need to use both at various points in the cycle.
Side Effects
One of the biggest problems with steroids is that they can leave you with serious side effects. Both wet and dry steroids will have this problem. But the way that they manifest might be slightly different. Here are some of the things you can expect.
Dry Steroids
Dry steroids reduce the amount of water between your muscles. They can also suck the moisture from between your joints. This can lead to stiffness and some mild joint pain. The higher the dose, the worse the pain will become.
Wet Steroids
Wet steroids have more noticeable impacts on your health. They tend to be estrogenic. This means that they can cause gynecomastia. This means that some men might develop feminine characteristics. As we mentioned, it’s common for you to develop bloating, due to an increase in water weight. You might also start to grow male boobs. The water might also go to your face, causing it to become bloated. It’s not just your appearance that you need to be concerned about. Your long-term health can also be at risk. The raised estrogen levels will enlarge your prostate. Increasing your chances of developing cancer.
This can be embarrassing. But the effects will soon fade after you finish the cycle. During the cycle, it’s important to use aromatase inhibitors. These will help control estrogen levels. Helping to prevent water build-up and stop you from developing female characteristics.
Individual Results Will Vary
Of course, each steroid will have its own side effects to consider. Some will be more potent than others. Here are some of the other side effects that you need to be careful about:
- Damage to your nerves. This is a result of injectable steroids. Put the needle in the wrong spot and you could do permanent damage. Not to mention the risks associated with using a dirty needle.
- Mental health concerns. This can manifest differently, depending on the type of drug you are taking. Sometimes, you will find that you have trouble regulating your emotions. Becoming angry and having violent outbursts. At other times, the drugs might overstimulate your senses. Making it harder to get to sleep. Causing you to have trouble focusing.
- Changing your sex drive. Boosting the amount of testosterone in your system can cause your libido to become supercharged. However, steroid users might not be able to act on these impulses. As natural testosterone production shuts down, you might not be able to get an erection.
- Skin changes. It’s common for bodybuilders to report that steroids have left them with acne outbreaks. You might also be left with baldness, particularly if you have a family history of this condition.
- Liver cancer and heart attack risks. Steroids take a profound toll on your liver. There is a massive risk that you’ll end up with a cancer. Plus, they will raise your cholesterol levels. Increasing the chance that you will have a heart attack or stroke.
It’s always a good idea to start with a lower dose. Getting your body used to the effects of the drugs. If you have any severe reactions, stop taking the drug immediately.
It’s also important to remember that there are two sets of side effects to bear in mind. Short-term side effects, like anger control issues, only last while you are taking the drugs. Once the cycle ends, they should begin to fade. But there are long-term side effects, like liver cancer. The longer you take drugs, the greater the risks of these side effects become.
Managing Your Side Effects
The good news is that you can mitigate some of these side effects. The approach you’ll need to take will depend on the type of steroid you have taken.
Controlling Dry Steroid Side Effects
The main problem you’ll need to combat is joint pain. Here are some of the ways that you can do this:
- Taking Omega-3 supplements. This is your best approach. It will help you minimize joint pain. Plus, they’ll help you combat the inflammation around your joints.
- Vitamin C. This supplement will place more focus on your connective tissue. Keeping it strong reduces the chances that you will have joint pain.
- Dry steroids reduce the amount of liquid around your joints. Gelatin can help counteract this effect. Lubricating your joints to have a wider range of motion.
- This supplement can help you reduce the amount of inflammation around your joints. It’ll also help control the amount of pain you are experiencing.
Controlling Wet Steroid Side Effects
If you are using wet steroids, you’ll need to contend with a different range of side effects. In particular, you’ll need to deal with the bloating caused by water retention. Here are some of the ways that you can deal with this issue:
- This is the most common option. The purpose is to help your kidneys remove salt, stopping water from building up in your body. Just be careful about taking this medication. You might get lightheaded or develop muscle cramps. It’s also possible that you will develop erectile dysfunction. If you don’t want to take a tablet, consider a natural diuretic, like lemon juice.
- Watching your diet. Cut back on the foods that are high in sodium. The excess salt will cause your body to retain water. Make sure that you are getting plenty of fruit and vegetables. These will help improve your circulation. Helping flush the water out of your system.
- Have plenty of water. It sounds a little counter-intuitive but drinking water will help you combat the effects of wet steroids. It should make it easier for the kidneys to flush out salt, limiting the amount of water that remains in your system.
Doing PCT
Regardless of the type of steroid you take, you’ll need to do some PCT. These drugs can stop your body from producing testosterone naturally. The PCT cycle allows your body to return to its normal hormone levels. Skipping this will cause serious side effects.
How long the PCT cycle will last depends on the type of steroids you have taken. Harsher steroids mean a longer PCT cycle.
Pairing Dry And Wet Steroids
Knowing the differences between dry muscle vs wet muscle is important. But you don’t need to pick one option. You can pair them together. Giving you the best of both worlds.
There are plenty of potential stacks that you can explore. One of the most common is using a wet steroid to start the cycle. Then finishing the cycle with a dry cycle, to get rid of the water weight. One of the most common examples of this is using Dianabol. This is one of the wettest steroids around. Expect to add 10 to 15 pounds in water weight. But you’ll also be packing on the muscle mass.
Once this cycle has come to an end, you can use a dry steroid. Helping you lose the weight while hanging on to the muscle that you have gained. This is why some people add Winstrol at the end of the cycle. This can get you great results. But it’s not for beginners. Both of these drugs come with harsh side effects, especially if you are taking them in high doses.
The other reason why you might want to stack dry and wet steroids is to mitigate the effects. The thinking is that the dry steroid would limit the amount of water weight you gain. Reducing your need for a cutting cycle. Without affecting the amount of muscle you are gaining. But, for this to work, you’ll need to carefully balance the dosages.
Other Distinctions Between Steroids
Knowing the difference between dry muscle vs wet muscle is important. But it isn’t the only distinction you need to pay attention to. Here are some things to consider when deciding which steroid you should use:
- Injection method. Some steroids are available in oral forms. Most commonly in tablet form. But others will require an injection. Oral methods are preferred. Eliminating the consequences of using a dirty needle.
- Research the steroid you plan on using before taking it. Choose a potency that matches your experience level. Stronger steroids can give you excellent results in the gym. But they come at a price. The side effects are worse, especially if you are taking a higher dose.
- Half-life. Be aware of how long the drug will linger in your system. Some are long-lasting. Requiring you to only have a few injections per week. If the drug has a shorter half-life, you’ll need to the drug multiple times per day. Steroids with longer half-lives also carry a higher chance of showing up on a drug test. Keep this in mind if you become a professional athlete, requiring more regular testing.
- Side effects. The type of side effects you’ll face will depend on the type of drug you are taking. Know what to expect so you can prepare yourself.
- This is something that all steroid varieties have in common. They are banned. But some more potent varieties might carry harsher penalties if you get caught using them.
Each steroid has a unique purpose. When designing your next cycle, consider the available choices before selecting the right one for you.
Conclusion
The debate on dry muscle vs wet muscle has raged for years. There is no definitive winner. It just depends on the cycle you are in. Bulking cycles require wet steroids. Cutting cycles will need dry steroids. Get the balance right and you’ll be able to create excellent gains in the gym.
Gary David is the founder and CEO of CrazyMass, one of the nation’s leading supplement companies. Before starting CrazyMass in 2006, Gary was a bodybuilder and personal trainer for several gyms throughout Northwest Michigan, helping clients meet their fitness goals. Gary happily worked in this profession for over 15 years. He saw that most weight gaining products to increase muscle were made with ingredients that were dangerous or of poor quality. He knew there was a safer and healthier way to do this, so he created a special blend of herbs, amino acids, and nutrients to help bodybuilders slim down and gain muscle.
Although Gary no longer participates in bodybuilding competitions, he continues to be involved in the community, helping others prep for shows and attending events where he can advertise CrazyMass products. When Gary isn’t working long hours, he likes to spend his time working out at the gym, boating on Lake Michigan, traveling the trails around Northern Michigan by four-wheeler, and spending time with his family. He also loves to take a yearly trip to Europe with his wife and children.