4 ms·
> The poor efficacy of DMSO in assisting drug translocation through skin Oh yeah, for the observer gallery: The reason DMSO (and DMF, DMAc, HF, to an extent ha
by kortex 4y ago
> The poor efficacy of DMSO in assisting drug translocation through skin
Oh yeah, for the observer gallery: The reason DMSO (and DMF, DMAc, HF, to an extent haloforms, and polar aprotic solvents in general) are dangerous is that they can dissolve and transport small molecules (under 1000 daltons, possibly more) through your skin and into the bloodstream. They go straight through nitrile, vinyl, and latex gloves. You need to match the glove to the solvent. For these strong solvents, you want aliphatic polymers (LDPE) or laminates (mylar aka aluminized polyester).
Actually one of the best protection schemes is the shoulder-length polyethylene gloves used for ...ahem... bovine obstetrics, with nitrile over that for grip and to keep the cow glove in place. Looks hilarious but great for pouring nasty solutions or weighing dusty powders.
https://www.amazon.com/livestocktool-com-Disposable-Artificial-Insemination-Veterinary/dp/B073STBJPJ https://www.amazon.com/livestocktool-com-Disposable-Artifici...
- azalemeth 4y agoThe garlic like smell of DMSO just doesn't leave you if it gets into your skin. It's "safe" but really, really bad to have fingertips smelling of it for days. I wish I had those bovine gloves during my PhD...
- nwiswell 4y ago> fingertips smelling of it for days It's even more insidious than that -- it is not only your fingertips that smell, since it penetrates the skin so readily. Pure DMSO itself is odorless, but it is metabolized into DMS, which stinks unbelievably strongly of garlic. The DMS has a very high systematic half-life (38 hours!!!) and remains dissolved in the blood, meaning your blood itself will stink of garlic for days after exposure. The gut punch, however, is that the victim is reportedly unable to smell it (probably because their olfactory tissue is literally awash in DMS), so they don't realize they smell like walking garlic bread.
- sterlind 4y agoisn't DMSO used as a (home?) remedy for joint pain? I've thought about trying it but have visions of it leaching the dye from my clothing and transporting it into my bloodstream. the garlic wouldn't make me many friends, but dissolving poisons is scarier.
- Roverlord 4y agoThe weird death of Gloria Ramirez that I heard about years ago has apparently been linked to topical DMSO as a factor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXBCIzkannw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXBCIzkannw
- Metacelsus 4y agoI recently had to use a mitomycin C (very toxic) solution in DMSO, I was really paranoid to not spill any.
- jamesash 4y agoWow. That's not something you want to have an oopsie with.