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The honest truth about beauty & personal care products

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is an ingredient that I once wrote a Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is an ingredient that I once wrote a dismissive article about. I concluded that although great claims were made for what it could do, they were largely unproven. MSM wasn’t a miracle cure-all and could even be a cosmetic "Emperor’s New Clothes". Recently, however, anti-aging brands that I really like and respect, such as Sevani, BRAD and Sciote, proudly tout MSM, and it finally struck me that it was high time to get to the truth about MSM. What is MSM? Though the name sounds intimidating, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is basically sulfur and it is in our bodies, as well as in some plants. To add a bit more color, it is composed of sulfur, oxygen and methyl. In the presence of ozone and ultraviolet light, MSM (along with dimethyl sulfoxide) is formed from dimethyl sulfide, taken up into atmosphere, returned to the earth in rainfall, and taken into the root systems of plants. As such, MSM can be found in small quantities in a variety of foods.   Sulfur represents about 0.25 percent of our total body weight, similar to potassium. How did MSM get to be touted as a miracle cure? It all started with a book called The Miracle of MSM: The Natural Solution for Pain. This is where the "Emperor’s New Clothes" comes in. A bandwagon emerged and tons of companies clambered aboard, touting life-changing supplements. WebMD lists a multitude of ailments that MSM is said to aid, from snoring to AIDs, and then puts the kibosh on all these claims by saying there is no evidence, or scant research. No wonder I had been a skeptic. Wikipedia isn’t much more reassuring, noting that placebos fared just as well in treating osteoporosis. Contrary to what the sellers of MSM supplements contend, there is no recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for MSM or sulfur. Sulfur deficiency has not been described in medical literature. Are there any claims that do stand up to scrutiny? Not that many. However, importantly, MSM has been reported to increase antioxidant defense (glutathione) ( source ), as well as decrease the actual production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) ( source ). What can MSM do for skin? MSM is sometimes described as “nature's beauty mineral”. OK, but would this description have any more credence than the promise to cure arthritis? The idea is that MSM  has the ability to enhance collagen bundles and keratin, the important stuff in our skin, hair and nails. Now if you connect some dots, there is something to this. Keratin, present in the skin, hair, and nails, is particularly high in the amino acid cystine, which is found in sulfur. Apparently, it is the sulfur bond in keratin that gives it greater strength. Sulfur is also present in two B vitamins, thiamine and biotin. Interestingly, thiamine is important to skin and biotin to hair. Sulfur is important to cellular respiration, as it is needed in the oxidation-reduction reactions that help the cells utilize oxygen. And, yes, you’ll be relieved to know there is some research. According the University of Maryland , MSM helps form connective tissue in skin. By the way, even WebMD concedes that MSM might help rosacea, noting that a cream containing MSM and silymarin seems to improve skin color and other symptoms of rosacea. Indeed, sulfur is widely used to treat acne and other skin disorders. Skin brightening Sulfur also acts as a skin whitener, at least certain sulfur containing amino acids do ( source ). It is claimed (mostly in patent applications) that MSM may increase the production of pheomelanin, the melanin that is found in fair-skinned people, relative to eumelanin. MSM is a naturally occurring form of sulfur and its application is supposed to increase intracellular sulfur levels, which causes dopaquinone to be diverted towards pheomelanin production. Absorption enhancer MSM may help other active ingredients penetrate the skin. It is said that because MSM makes the cells more permeable, it thus enhances the absorption of nutrients MSM and hair I was especially excited to find that there is a credible connection between MSM and hair growth. One study looked at the effect of Methylsulfonylmethane on hair growth. The researchers combined MAP (a form of vitamin C) at 7.5% and MSM at 10% and concluded that results were “comparable to or better than the result in the group treated with minoxidil 5%”. Where you can find MSM Sciote has incorporated MSM into its Sciote Skin Vitamin-C Face Lotion ($65) and Sciote Super Moist Hyaluronic Serum ($75 in the shop). Another brand that likes MSM enough to feature it prominently amongst its typically long ingredients lists is Sweetsation Q*Lumiere Organic Day Creme ($29) and Lumi*Essence Body Organic Advanced Brightening Repair Treatment ($48 in the shop). BRAD gives MSM a lot of love and you’ll find it in many products in the line, such as BRAD Biophotonic Hydrating Hyaluronic Infusion Serum ($95) and BRAD Biophotonic Sublime Youth Creator Gel-Cream ($245). Sevani touts MSM for boosting collagen in its all-natural products: Sevani Rose Hyaluronic Age Defying Tonique ($39 in the shop) and the Sevani Hyaluronic Wrinkle Defense Serum ($68 in the shop).

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is an ingredient that I once wrote a dismissive article about. I concluded that although great claims were made for what it could do, they were largely unproven. MSM wasn’t a miracle cure-all and could even be a cosmetic "Emperor’s New Clothes". Recently, however, anti-aging brands that I really like and respect, such as Sevani, BRAD and Sciote, proudly tout MSM, and it finally struck me that it was high time to get to the truth about MSM.

Though the name sounds intimidating, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is basically sulfur and it is in our bodies, as well as in some plants. To add a bit more color, it is composed of sulfur, oxygen and methyl. In the presence of ozone and ultraviolet light, MSM (along with dimethyl sulfoxide) is formed from dimethyl sulfide, taken up into atmosphere, returned to the earth in rainfall, and taken into the root systems of plants. As such, MSM can be found in small quantities in a variety of foods.  

Sulfur represents about 0.25 percent of our total body weight, similar to potassium.

It all started with a book called The Miracle of MSM: The Natural Solution for Pain. This is where the "Emperor’s New Clothes" comes in. A bandwagon emerged and tons of companies clambered aboard, touting life-changing supplements. WebMD lists a multitude of ailments that MSM is said to aid, from snoring to AIDs, and then puts the kibosh on all these claims by saying there is no evidence, or scant research. No wonder I had been a skeptic. Wikipedia isn’t much more reassuring, noting that placebos fared just as well in treating osteoporosis.

Contrary to what the sellers of MSM supplements contend, there is no recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for MSM or sulfur. Sulfur deficiency has not been described in medical literature.

Not that many. However, importantly, MSM has been reported to increase antioxidant defense (glutathione) ( source ), as well as decrease the actual production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) ( source ).

MSM is sometimes described as “nature's beauty mineral”. OK, but would this description have any more credence than the promise to cure arthritis? The idea is that MSM  has the ability to enhance collagen bundles and keratin, the important stuff in our skin, hair and nails.

Now if you connect some dots, there is something to this. Keratin, present in the skin, hair, and nails, is particularly high in the amino acid cystine, which is found in sulfur. Apparently, it is the sulfur bond in keratin that gives it greater strength. Sulfur is also present in two B vitamins, thiamine and biotin. Interestingly, thiamine is important to skin and biotin to hair. Sulfur is important to cellular respiration, as it is needed in the oxidation-reduction reactions that help the cells utilize oxygen.

And, yes, you’ll be relieved to know there is some research. According the University of Maryland , MSM helps form connective tissue in skin.

By the way, even WebMD concedes that MSM might help rosacea, noting that a cream containing MSM and silymarin seems to improve skin color and other symptoms of rosacea. Indeed, sulfur is widely used to treat acne and other skin disorders.

Sulfur also acts as a skin whitener, at least certain sulfur containing amino acids do ( source ). It is claimed (mostly in patent applications) that MSM may increase the production of pheomelanin, the melanin that is found in fair-skinned people, relative to eumelanin. MSM is a naturally occurring form of sulfur and its application is supposed to increase intracellular sulfur levels, which causes dopaquinone to be diverted towards pheomelanin production.

MSM may help other active ingredients penetrate the skin. It is said that because MSM makes the cells more permeable, it thus enhances the absorption of nutrients

I was especially excited to find that there is a credible connection between MSM and hair growth. One study looked at the effect of Methylsulfonylmethane on hair growth. The researchers combined MAP (a form of vitamin C) at 7.5% and MSM at 10% and concluded that results were “comparable to or better than the result in the group treated with minoxidil 5%”.

Sciote has incorporated MSM into its Sciote Skin Vitamin-C Face Lotion ($65) and Sciote Super Moist Hyaluronic Serum ($75 in the shop).

Another brand that likes MSM enough to feature it prominently amongst its typically long ingredients lists is Sweetsation Q*Lumiere Organic Day Creme ($29) and Lumi*Essence Body Organic Advanced Brightening Repair Treatment ($48 in the shop).

BRAD gives MSM a lot of love and you’ll find it in many products in the line, such as BRAD Biophotonic Hydrating Hyaluronic Infusion Serum ($95) and BRAD Biophotonic Sublime Youth Creator Gel-Cream ($245).

Sevani touts MSM for boosting collagen in its all-natural products: Sevani Rose Hyaluronic Age Defying Tonique ($39 in the shop) and the Sevani Hyaluronic Wrinkle Defense Serum ($68 in the shop).

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Since I can buy a 250 gram jar of MSM for $8, I prefer to make my own formulas. I make them fresh twice a week, and I really have noticed a difference in my skin. I mix my Optimism with DMAE bitartrate, and an organic or gel with Manuka honey and fruit stem cells. It works really well, and I know exactly what is in it, at exactly what percentages, without paying an outrageous price for a mystery product that doesn't list the percentages of active ingredients.

This study might also be of interest to you and your readers... "Effects of Oral Supplementation With Methylsulfonylmethane on Skin Health and Wrinkle Reduction" http://bit.ly/2jZJZyj

I did a lot of research into MSM in the late 90s, early 2000s, as I was using it as an ingredient in one the natural health products I was producing at that time (I set up and managed a nutritional / nutraceutical company for 7 years). It might be worth pointing out to your readers that there are two primary ways to produce the final MSM material in the production process. One uses a crystallisation method, the other uses distillation. The crystallisation method is by far the most common. Most MSM is produced in China, and as far as I know, that's the method used there (exclusively), as it costs less. There is on company in the USA making MSM, and they use a 4x distillation process. Their product is ultra pure. As MSM is derived from some fairly nasty raw materials it's important to ensure it's as pure as possible. Here's a little write-up on that: >> All MSM is formed by catalytic reaction of hydrogen peroxide with DMSO. All DMSO is formed by reaction of nitrogentetroxide and oxygen with DMS. The oxygen atoms for these reactions come from the atmosphere, the same source used in nature. DMS is currently made by the reaction of sulfur with natural gas (methane). Methyl alcohol made from natural gas is combined with sulfur in the form of hydrogen sulfide or carbon disulfide. In a vapor phase catalytic reaction to form DMS and methylmercaptan (MM). MM is primarily used to make the amino acid methionine, another dietary supplement. DMS is sold for various industrial uses or converted to DMSO. Due to the volatility of sulfur compounds, only a single purpose facility can prevent any cross-contamination that might occur if other sulfur-containing products were produced at the same location. ONLY ONE manufacturer has such dedicated facilities: Bergstrom Nutrition (formerly Cardinal Nutrition), the maker of OptiMSM. Distillation processes prevent contamination including heavy metals and residual DMSO. Low moisture content helps prevent microbiological contamination and increases stability and shelf life. << With the above in mind, I would not recommend long-term use of China produced MSM. I think it is worth making mention of these facts to your readers. Keep up your great work with this blog. Regards, Jonathan

Will applying MSM cream to one's face or taking MSM orally cause unwanted facial hair? Has anyone noticed this side effect?

Using MSM has done me a lot of good, I can't believe the difference it has made to my knee pain, swelling and aching. Maybe it's something else in my diet or routine, but I don't know what as nothing much has changed apart from taking a 500mg daily tablet.

Angela, for dark patches, melasma, take Transino II, japanese pills, all 240, you will notice change in sbout 5-6 wks, MSM will help too as grain free diet will, melasma is inflammation, everything else fails, don’t waste money

MSM is just a vehicle similar to DMSO. I don't know why anyone would choose MSM over DMSO to permeate small molecules into the skin and blood stream. On its own, MSM and DMSO do very little direct bioactivity (maybe a small morphology perturbation of fibers as the article suggests). Do people despite the taste of garlic so much that they are willing to buy a product with a less researched vehicle? Do sulfonyl function groups taste better than sulfoxide functional groups when it has reached the tongue via the blood stream? I have chemistry and biochemistry students by the boat loads ending my introductory physics courses with D's and F's, yet they somehow manage to get a B.S. in their field. My own research has been misquoted, improperly analyzed, and qualitatively misunderstood by science writers (with B.S. degrees), where they actually did dig through a well laid out academic article. I do not think it is wise to trust cosmetic companies or the interpretations of their products by science writers without serious skepticism. I would suggest that everyone reading this article do a thorough search on google scholar or web of science to find peer-reviewed articles on MSM, expect the endeavor to take longer than you would like as it will not be spoon fed to you. Most article will charge money; 1) simply write down the doi of every article you need, 2) go to your nearest research university, 3) request library access to digital data as a visitor, 4) get your temporary pass to get online at the university, 5) download all the articles on that campus through the university subscription (you might only get free access to 90% or so of the articles you want for free).

Hi.. i have started using an msm gel combined with Aloe Vera. It is by a company called Mismo. It is the Mismo Cell Soother. I use it on my face morning and night after my serums. I would love the truth in aging team to review the product as i think it is a great product .

On a page called "Truth"inaging I find it rather disturbing that you seem to find it acceptable that you initially wrote and article that was not in favour of MSM without really researching. You also tout Wikipedia (something which can be changed by anyone) as a source. It really isn't acceptable to claim truth when you aren't even sure yourself. Hmmm. So do we believe today's truth, or yesterday's? Will it be the same tomorrow. Truth doesn't change

How much should one take if you take it ,,, 1 drop full of a eye droper or what? Do I have to put it directly on my scalp or face..or can I mix it in my face and shampoo soap bottle or does the shampoo destroy it Debbie

Hi Angela, I would say no, I don't think MSM will help you. It can perhaps brighten the skin but there isn't much evidence that it will help with deep dark patches. They are very hard to treat and require patience to spend months on a treatment, even a year or more. You say you have tried almost everything, but maybe you aren't giving them long enough. There are new forms of kojic acid and retinol these days that may help if given enough time.

Hi, does MSM cream penetrate deep into the skin to remove dark Brown patches on face? I've tried hydroquinone 6%, porcelain serum, Retin A, microdermabrasion 6 sessions, microneedles, chemical peels, home remedies - lemon juice, Coconut oil, tumeric, nutmeg, cinnamon, honey...you name it, I've tried everything and I religiously use sunscreen daily. Please let me know truthfully if this is the holy grail of removing dark spots. Don't want to waste time and energy. These are not acne scars, I'm thinking this could be melasma, since I do have olive skin. Please help and let me know asap. Thank you for your prompt response.

MSM is a naturally occurring molecule that is derived from sea water evaporation (algae by product etc) It collects in the stratosphere and when it rains falls to earth and is absorbed by almost all life. MSM is natural but it is also derived from tree lignins (DMSO) during the paper manufacturing process where it was discarded as a waste by-product. ( DMSO + peroxide > distilled creates pure MSM) MSM Crystals are the purest form and are regarded as organic and the best. Many manufacturers do however derive MSM from petrochemical processes (china etc) and these products are inferior and sometimes contaminated so please research this for yourselves. 1954 - Many countries adopted petrochemical derived fertilisers and pesticides which has effectively broke the natural sulphur cycle (plant uptake of natural MSM impairment) resulting in a 4000% increase in a wide array of diseases across the western world. Our foods no longer contains the required organic sulphur we require for vibrant health. Cooking and freezing also depletes usable msm in food. MSM is amazing stuff - read all you can on it! - it is regarded as the forgotten mineral.

MSM worked on my face immediately. I’m also using it in a hair oil with vitamin C but that’s to be determined since I’m using it to grow my hair after cutting it to one even length. For face, it cleared my skin immediately (2 pimples showed up on my face and were gone in 2 days leaving no marks or trace). For the face oil i used coconut oil, one scoop of MSM powder, same size scoop of Vitamin C powder. The scoop came with the MSM powder and 1 scoop is 1 gram).

I've started taking MSM approx 2 weeks ago and already seeing notable benefits. However i wondered if MSM can be overused? Can you take too much MSM?

Sulfur is also anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16229980 https://www.truthinaging.com/review/what-is-it-sulfur-as-a-cure-for-acne Bathing in spring water with high sulfur content has been touted for many centuries as good for treating all manner of ailments.

Jana, only saw your question now. I keep msm paste on my face overnight, every night and sometimes after exercise I'll put little bit around and on my nose where the Rosacea used to be worse. My skin has cleared up completely, but I'll never stop using the paste. Just wait for it to dry, about fifteen minutes, and then wipe off the excess before going to bed. If you wake up and find few pustules still left, put mor paste on for as long as you can before going out. This has worked miracles for me and I no longer have to hide my face or cover up my skin. For me it worked immediately, but we are all different and I can only encourage you to perservere and not give up hope.

Marlene.... how long did you leave the paste on your face for? And how often did you do this for Rosacea? I'm also a sufferer of Rosacea.

I just ran across a company, Modicum Skincare, that has an exfoliant based around this ingredient. The only other ingredient is aloe. It seemed strange to me as I'd never run across anything claiming any exfoliation properties.

No Peter, the study used a topical application. That's why it was compared to minoxidil

So just to clarify, the possible benefits for hair loss are gained from oral consumption? This is never fully disclosed, and it is confusing seeing that many skin products contain it for topical application.

I use msm paste made simply from pure crystals and drops of water on my face. Went from Level 4 Rosacea to 99% clear skin in three days, and now three weeks later skin is still clear. No redness or pustules after suffering from Rosacea for nearly thirty years. I now also drink it once a day and have loads more energy, less pain and stiffness and have noticed longer eyelashes! It hasn't become thicker though. I will never stop taking it and plan to increase the amount gradually.

MSM was great for my skin, but I noticed hair loss

I am using MSM since last week and I noticed dramatic results in my mood, my joint pains and energy level.. I loved to have this twice a day. Yes, it cause insomnia but this is because u have highly energy level which makes you awake. Increase your physical work to use the energy and you will be have a perfect sleepl

I have been taking the Kala health crystals product for two weeks. I awake more alert in the mornings and seem less tired. So far so good. I am not affiliated with any health food company.

If you go to Examine.com (they are an evidence based site) you can find links to citations on NIH's site about MSM. Use the keyword "Methylsulfonylmethane". Now, I am not a believer in government anything as my political beliefs are to the contrary but if that gets people into thinking there's something more to MSM than meets the eye, perhaps they will read something like Examine.com, go to the links and start some research on their own. I can only say that I have been taking MSM since August 2015 and I am enamored with the benefits. Perhaps some of that is a bit of placebo effect and I am okay with that. Often, we are finding, the placebo effects are also part of the pharmaceuticals story too. Dr. Lissa Rankin has written a book called "Mind Over Medicine: Scientific Proof That You Can Heal Yourself' and she talks about the placebo effect and as a physician who has battled her own illness, I am inclined to agree with her on much of what she speaks about in her book. In either case, MSM is more than just for skin, it goes to a cellular level and since so much of our food base is depleted of not just sulfur but other vital nutrients, it's always worth it for people to dive into these things even if there hasn't been a ton of clinical research done. Often clinical research is not the first thing that money is spent on when we are discussing natural means to heal and aid the body's overall health. There's not a lot of money to be made like there is in the pharma industry. So anyhow, just my two cents worth. MSM is really something that seems to be changing my health in dramatic ways.

How "natural" is MSM?

I am a believer. I use NCN Skincare's Multi-Active Accelerator, and not only does it help any crepey skin, but I am pretty sure that the MSM in it is responsible for my newly filled in eyebrows. They almost look like they did when I was younger.

What about taking it orally? Would that help the skin?

Anytime I use a product with MSM, whether a body lotion, or a face serum, my skin looks in peak condition. I am a believer.

I used MSM a few years ago after I cut my hair into a pixie. I used the MSM for maybe 5 or 6 months and my hair literally grew 12 inches in one year. I only stopped taking it when I felt as if I was gaining weight, even though it wasn't showing on the scale. I know it sounds weird, but after a month of being off them, I felt back to normal. I tried researching to see if there was any correlation between MSM and weight gain but couldn't fine anything. But it really did make my hair grow like crazy!

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