Question explored with the scientific record
what do studies about the use of DMSO show on humans?
DMSO has been studied in humans for several specific conditions. The evidence is mixed and mostly comes from small studies.
The strongest human evidence comes from a randomized trial for bladder pain syndrome. In 110 women, intravesical DMSO reduced pain but caused treatment-related side effects in about 1 in 5 patients. An alternative treatment (hyaluronic acid plus chondroitin sulfate) worked about as well with far fewer side effects [8].
For topical use, DMSO works as a penetration enhancer. One study found that diclofenac absorbed better through skin when mixed with 45.5% DMSO than in an aqueous solution [11]. The garlic-like breath odor many users report seems to drop dramatically with higher-purity DMSO — from 83–90% of patients down to about 1% — though the evidence is from different studies rather than a head-to-head trial [11].
| Use | How tested | What happened | Side effects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bladder pain (DMSO instilled into bladder) | 110-woman randomized trial | Pain reduction similar to alternative therapy | 22% of DMSO patients had treatment-related adverse events vs. 1% with the alternative [8] |
| Topical pain (DMSO with diclofenac) | 1,243 patients in arthritis studies | More diclofenac reached the skin | Halitosis in ~1% with high-purity DMSO [11] |
| Chemotherapy extravasation (topical DMSO) | Prospective studies, 144 patients | 59% had complete resolution of tissue damage | Ulcers avoided in some cases [7] |
| Stroke (IV DMSO plus fructose) | Pilot trial, 16 patients | 8 of 11 treated patients improved; 5 of 5 controls unchanged or slightly improved | Reported as tolerable, but this was tiny [2] |
For amyloidosis, case reports and a small mouse study suggest DMSO can help dissolve amyloid deposits [1, 12, 13, 19], but no large human trial has confirmed this.
Most studies here are small, open-label, or combination therapies. The largest single data set is from safety reviews — over 1,000 patients given IV DMSO as a cryoprotectant in stem cell products, with few serious reactions attributed to DMSO itself [10].
My call: DMSO has real uses as a topical penetration enhancer and a reasonable second-line bladder therapy, but the evidence base is thin, side effects are real (especially at higher concentrations), and most claims about curing chronic disease rest on animal studies and case reports, not on solid human trials.
Confidence: moderate for topical penetration and bladder therapy in the short term; low for most other claims, especially oral or IV use outside controlled settings.
Sources used 9
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Intermittent use of topical dimethyl sulfoxide in macular and papular amyloidosis
This study investigates the efficacy of intermittent topical dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) therapy in patients with macular and papular amyloidosis, demonstrating significant clinical improvement in pruritus and papule flattening while tolerating side effects better than with daily …
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-4362.1998.00600.x -
Ischemic stroke in elderly patients treated with a free radical scavenger–glycolytic intermediate solution: A preliminary pilot trial
This preliminary pilot trial investigates the safety and efficacy of a combination of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and fructose 1,6-diphosphate (FDP) in treating ischemic stroke in elderly patients, showing promising results in neurologic recovery and tolerability.
DOI: 10.1179/016164102101199567 -
Management of Anthracycline Extravasation Injuries
A literature review (Ann Pharmacother, 2007) evaluating treatments for anthracycline extravasation, concluding that immediate cooling/elevation plus dexrazoxane—potentially with topical DMSO—offers the most supported approach, while many other agents lack robust evidence.
DOI: 10.1345/aph.1h700 -
A randomized, open‐label, multicenter study of the efficacy and safety of intravesical hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate versus dimethyl sulfoxide in women with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis
In a phase III randomized multicenter trial in 110 women with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis, intravesical hyaluronic acid plus chondroitin sulfate (Ialuril) was compared with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO); HA/CS achieved similar pain reduction with a more favorable saf…
DOI: 10.1002/nau.23091 -
Dimethyl sulfoxide in cryopreserved mesenchymal stromal cell therapy products: is there a safety risk to patients?
This study reviews published safety data on dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) used as a cryoprotectant in DMSO-containing cryopreserved mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) products administered intravenously or topically, evaluating patient safety risks and concluding no significant saf…
DOI: 10.1186/s12967-025-06807-6 -
Dimethyl sulfoxide in topical pharmaceutical drug development: A fresh perspective
A narrative review proposes that high-purity (>99.99%) DMSO is an effective, underused topical penetration enhancer with anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity, and that higher purity may reduce the halitosis historically associated with topical DMSO.
DOI: 10.66617/001c.120609 -
LOCALIZED AMYLOIDOSIS OF THE BLADDER TREATED EFFECTIVELY BY OCCLUSIVE DRESSING TECHNIQUE THERAPY USING DIMETHYL SULFOXIDE (DMSO): TWO CASE REPORTS
This study presents two case reports of bladder amyloidosis effectively treated with an occlusive dressing technique using Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO).
DOI: 10.5980/jpnjurol1989.96.705 -
The Effect of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) upon Spontaneous Amyloidosis in Mice
This study investigates the effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on reducing amyloid deposition in low leukocyte count (LLC) mice, demonstrating a significant reduction in the incidence and degree of amyloidosis in treated subjects compared to controls.
DOI: 10.3181/00379727-168-41254 -
Amyloidosis presented with whitening and loss of hair which improved after dimethylsulfoxide(DMSO) treatment.
This case report describes a 67-year-old male patient with primary amyloidosis who experienced rapid whitening and loss of hair, which improved after treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).
DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine1962.26.393