Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is used for a variety of medical and industrial purposes: Medical Uses:
- DMSO is FDA-approved to treat interstitial cystitis (a chronic bladder condition) by being instilled directly into the bladder to reduce pain, relax the bladder, and increase bladder capacity
- It is applied topically to decrease pain and speed healing of wounds, burns, muscle and skeletal injuries, as well as to treat painful conditions such as headache, inflammation, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and severe facial pain (tic douloureux)
- DMSO is sometimes used topically for eye conditions (cataracts, glaucoma, retinal problems), foot conditions (bunions, calluses, toenail fungus), and skin conditions (keloid scars, scleroderma)
- It can be used to reduce tissue damage caused by chemotherapy leakage and to treat pain associated with shingles (herpes zoster infection)
- Intravenously, DMSO is used to lower abnormally high blood pressure in the brain and to treat chronic inflammatory bladder disease
- DMSO has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and may relieve chronic pain from conditions like complex regional pain syndrome, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis by blocking nerve signals and reducing inflammation
Industrial Uses:
- DMSO is widely used as an industrial solvent for herbicides, fungicides, antibiotics, plant hormones, paint thinners, and other chemicals
Additional Notes:
- DMSO is notable for its ability to penetrate the skin and biological membranes, which allows it to carry other substances through the skin into the body
- It is available as a prescription medication and also as a dietary supplement or topical gel/cream, but safety and efficacy outside approved uses are not well established
- Side effects can include skin irritation, garlic-like taste or odor, nausea, headache, and more severe reactions at high doses or concentrations
In summary, DMSO is primarily used medically to treat interstitial cystitis and various pain and inflammatory conditions topically, while also serving as an industrial solvent
