Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) is a natural byproduct of the sulfate process in pulp and paper production. It is also found in the earth’s sulfur cycle, produced by marine phytoplankton and oxidized by the atmosphere into DMSO. The molecule is made up of carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, and oxygen atoms and is easily transported throughout the body due to its small size.
DMSO is a powerful solvent with a unique polarity, allowing it to mix easily with water, alcohol, and organic and inorganic substances. It also has the ability to move through the skin’s layers due to its malleable configuration. DMSO’s sulfur-oxygen bond is polar, resulting in dipole attraction, which is critical for protein folding.
The substance exchanges sites with bound water molecules as it moves through tissue. Studies have found that DMSO forms hydrogen bonds with water and clumps with other DMSO molecules at high concentrations. DMSO has a high freezing and melting point and is safe to use, as it does not expand and break its container the way that water does
DMSO Grade
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a colorless and odorless chemical compound that has been used for various industrial and medical applications. There are two main grades of DMSO, pharmaceutical and industrial. Pharmaceutical-grade DMSO has a purity of 99.9% and is used for medical purposes, while industrial-grade DMSO must come with a warning that it is not intended for human use.
DMSO has many applications in industry, such as in the formation of polymers as a reactive solvent and in agriculture for ingredient synthesis. It is also used in cleaning applications as an environmentally safe alternative to toxic chemicals.
Pharmaceutical-grade DMSO is used in regulated products for health care and drug delivery applications as an excipient, as it stabilizes formulated products and can dissolve many difficult or “stubborn” materials. It has a history of being used to protect human cells and tissues from damage when frozen, and it is used during organ transplants to preserve the cells of the
organ. DMSO can also be used to enhance drugs or treatments, or to prevent side effects and reduce post-surgical complications.
DMSO as a Transdermal Agent
The word “transdermal” refers to something that can penetrate through the skin and reach the tissues and bloodstream below. One of the substances with transdermal properties is DMSO. It can cross the skin in three ways:
- by switching places with water molecules,
- by causing both hydrophobic and hydrophilic responses in the skin’s pores,
- by stimulating the transition of fat molecules in cell membranes (ceramides) from a dense gel state to a liquid crystalline state.
The concentration of DMSO applied to the skin affects how it will penetrate the skin’s surface. For example, a higher concentration of DMSO may cause skin changes like reddening and thickening, while diluting it with water can result in less skin changes.
Sulfa, Sulfate, Sulfites, and Sulfur
Sulfur is an important element for life on Earth and elemental sulfur cannot cause an allergy. People often mistake their sensitivity to sulfur-containing drugs, foods, or proteins as an allergy to sulfur. Sulfa antibiotics, sulfites in wine, dried fruit and other foods, and sulfates in shampoos and body washes can cause a histamine reaction, leading to inflammation.
Sulfates are becoming less common in hair and body care products, and people are becoming more aware of the “sulfate free” products. Some people may have sensitivity to high sulfur content foods such as garlic, onions, broccoli, and cauliflower, and this may be due to deficiencies in trace minerals, unbalanced gut microbiome, and genetic mutations. Most individuals with allergies to sulfa drugs, sulfites, or high sulfur-content foods do not have problems taking DMSO, as it is not related to these substances. Other sulfur-containing substances like MSM, alpha-lipoic acid, glucosamine sulfate, SAMe, glutathione, and N-acetylcysteine do not cause problems for these individuals.