What Is DMSO? Setting the Record Straight

One of the most common questions I get asked is: “What is DMSO?”

In the past, I’ve said things like, “It’s a sulfur compound found in garlic and onions.” There is a grain of truth there, but it's not a good enough explanation. As I have continued to dive into this interesting sulfur-based compound, I have since clarified my own understanding, so I want to correct the record.

While its true that if you chop raw garlic and put it on your feet as a folk remedy you will almost immediately taste the garlic in your mouth, DMSO is not the sole reason (pun intended) this happens. The feet are used in Ayurveda to administer medicinal remedies for many reasons, and it is incredibly important to remember this. Listen to ancient wisdom. 

DMSO is found in trace amounts in other plants like onions, alfalfa, apples and tomatoes. It is also an important part of the atmospheric cycle and begins as DMS (dimethyl sulfide) from marine plankton, but that's for another blog article.

Another thing I used to think was that DMSO came from pine trees. The truth is that there are a few steps to this. The simple version is that DMSO is derived from primarily pine trees in paper mills because pine is the most common tree species used for paper, however, the DMSO comes later as a result of an alchemical/industrial process.

From Kraft Paper to DMSO

In a very simplified summary, DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) was first synthesized in 1866 by Russian organic chemistry researcher named Alexander Zaytsev. Thirteen years later, a german chemist named Carl F. Dahl invented the Kraft paper manufacturing process. In true German efficiency, nothing was wasted in this process. Even the excess alkaline liquid used to dissolve the wood pulp was oxidized in a super heated closed loop recycling system into DMSO. This essentially made a useful lab solvent, and that's where it stayed for the next 100 years.

Interest in DMSO exploded in the 1960s when Dr. Stanley Jacob and other researchers began studying its unusual physical properties and its usefulness across multiple research fields including:

• Medicine & healthcare
• Veterinary medicine
• Cell biology & biobanking (cryogenics)
• Astronomy & astrobiology
• Organic & industrial chemistry
• Agriculture & plant biology
• Atmospheric & climate science

The FDA put a kibosh on animal and human trials on this in the late 1960s but that was later lifted.

Dimethyl sulfide + oxygen → DMSO

Why I Use DMSO in Body Care

DMSO can be very helpful with cosmetic formulations providing a biologically available sulphur component that helps beautify, protect, and clarify the skin. But before you just go out and buy a bottle off amazon, I need to do the responsible thing and say that DMSO is a sulfur-containing solvent, and while having many benefits, needs to be used with caution:

• Don't use it if you are allergic to sulfur.
• Never use rubber gloves when handling it.
• I always recommend buying it in a glass bottle. (I hate putting things in plastic containers unless its totally necessary, which is hardly ever.)

The biggest thing many people hear is that DMSO can dissolve and draw things into the body. This is true especially at concentrations higher than 50%. If you're handling DMSO at such a concentration, I recommend not having any toxic substances on your skin, or even nearby, to avoid cross contamination. And remember, a little goes a long way. The maximum we use in our formulas is 10%.

Why would I use an "industrial lab solvent" in skincare? Great question. If you're put off by the word "solvent" let's just sit with that for a moment. A solvent is simply an ingredient that helps dissolve compatible materials and supports how a formula comes together.

Water is a solvent. Alcohol is a solvent. DMSO is another one, with its own distinct properties.

One major difference in this solvent is that it is a sulfur-based compound that is quickly metabolized into the very beneficial molecule known as MSM, (methylsulfonylmethane) or the "beauty mineral" in cosmetic skincare. I will cover MSM more in depth in a future article, but in an nutshell, it has become popular as an ingredient in skincare formulations for it's affinity and usefulness for promoting clarity, protection, elasticity, and overall health of skin, keratin and more.

If you are intrigued to learn more about the worldwide phenomenon that is DMSO, we suggest you look into it more for yourself, and stay tuned for future blog articles.

I believe a good bodycare formula shouldn't consist of a pile of trendy ingredients with a nice label.

Every component should earn its place.

The Natural ArtForm Standard

We believe what you put on your skin should reflect the same care and intention that goes with what you put in your body. We don't add anything with out a good reason for it, and we ensure our products are clean and protected from any contaminating substances or microbes. We would exercise that same care and precision whether we were using DMSO or not. 

At Natural ArtForm, we craft products with clear ingredients, sensible formulas and multiple functions where feasible. For me, DMSO was a game-changer in how I cared for my body. I view it as a valuable sulfur resource that my body knows what to do with better than I can sometimes express. There are many researchers and scientists who I trust that do a far better job explaining the finer details and the science-backed facts about it, and you should definitely continue your own research.

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In summary, DMSO does not need wild promises to be worth understanding. I wrote this to update the record on what this is to help our customers understand. We have to be clear and precise in our language involving this and our intentions for using it. DMSO isn't a stranger to controversy but at the end of the day, as long as you're using it safely, we believe you should explore it for yourself and trust your own inner wisdom on such things.

Thanks for reading, and as always, stay Natural AF.

— Isaac