I used DMSO for the first time last night (topically), as a guinea pig test before using it on my boyfriend's back.
On another note, the pain relief was amazing! I hadn't realised how much my feet normally hurt. I have a condition called "Haglund's Deformity" and also some excess bone in my feet which causes me much pain. I wasn't having a "sore feet" day, but I noticed with utter amazement after trying it on 1 foot only that the other was was actually hurting quite a bit. I must be so used to it that I ignore it normally. The foot I tried the DMSO on felt "buoyant", that's the only was I can describe it. Light and slightly tingly, complete absence of pain or aching. And I only applied it at 3 points on the skin! I'm looking forward to experimenting more with this amazing substance, and hoping it will provide some relief for my BF who suffers from "Scheuermann's Disease".
I just had a question for anyone with experience -- it's left my skin puckered and dry feeling, like when you been in the bath too long and you "prune", only it's dried out now. Will this go away??? I would assume it does but I'm hoping I haven't done myself any permanent damage! I left cotton swabs soaked in the solution on my skin for about half an hour and it stung so i took them off, then noticed this skin effect.
Replied By The Narrow Way (Clarkston, Mi) on 07/09/2010
Dear Hobart, I read your post on DMSO how when you applied it to your test areas and the skin puckered and felt dry. I have done the same thing on my finger where I have really bad joint pain. It took away the pain but left my finger puckered, pruned and sensitive to touch. Did it go away or is there still damage to the tissue where you applied it? I haven't seen an answer to your post. So I am hoping you can tell me if your skin went back to normal or not. Thank youReplied By Mariam (Roanoke, Va) on 08/02/2012
DO NOT USE DMSO FULL STRENGTH@ 99% DMSO is a powerful agent and some of you are using it full strength and out of plastic roll on containers which is not advisable. It must be used and stored out of glass as it will take some of the plastic with it if used from plastic. It must be applied from a small glass container to which you have cut it at least by HALF if it is a 50% solution, even with 70%. It will work if used responsibly but it is caustic if you apply it to the skin without diluting it with water or aloe and it will burn and damage tissues initially before they heal at full strength. You could even get a swollen tongue as epithelial cells slough off too quickly so exercise caution. And please remember, Whatever it touches goes into the skin with it.Replied By Ray (Calgary, Alberta) on 12/21/2012
My wife has Rheumatoid Arthritis so I rubbed and massaged DMSO on her hands, feets, knees, shoulder etc. (mixed with castor oil)The whole process took 30 minutes. After my hands looked like prunes. But it went away an hour later. That night I did the process again. This time the prune look stayed with me all night, no matter how hard I tried I could do nothing. No lotions made any difference. Eventually it cleared up by the end of the day. I didn't use DMSO anymore but just the castor oil. But then 2 days later tried again but with more castor oil (before it was only 50:50 mixture). Now the finger tips didn't get the prune look, though they are a little "tender."Replied By Redcairo (Miami, Ok) on 05/19/2013
The way DMSO works means that it is very dehydrating to skin. After you use it, maybe 10 minutes later, put some quality oil on your skin, I use castor oil but it can be anything that is healthy. You'll need this to rehydrate the skin.Replied By Alana (South Africa ) on 03/01/2018
I've only had that puckering when I've touched water after DMSO application. The same as when staying in water for a long time. Seems it sped up the absorption of the water through my skin where the DMSO was. Also could be chemicals from cotton swab if not Organic cotton?Replied By Jeannie (Melbourne, Florida ) on 03/06/2025
If the skin feels dried out from the DMSO, try applying castor oil first and dmso on top.