Methylene Blue (MB) is an old drug that may be a safe way of maintaining youthful skin function according to a new study.
Introduction
Methylene blue is a drug (and medical staining agent) has been used for a variety of ailments (and tests) for more than a century.
In recent years there has been renewed interest in it as an anti-ageing compound.
It is relatively safe and due to its chemical properties is able to proliferate through tissues very easily. It is also relatively cheap compared to some other agents.
A new open access study in Nature Scientific Reports by Xiong et al. [1] suggests that MB could have benefits in treating skin ageing.
The Study
Xiong at el carried out a number of laboratory experiments on skin cells and skin models to test the effects of Methylene Blue.
If you are interested in the specific experiments used there is a very useful summary at the end of the paper (from pg. 9 onwards).
Cells taken from elderly individuals (along with younger controls) were tested, as well as cells taken from sufferers of a particular type of Progeria (HGPS - a rapid ageing disease).
In order to get a better impression of how methylene blue might work in actual skin (rather than just cells) testing was also carried out on 3D skin models as well as the simple tissue samples.
These 3D models aim to replicate physical skin (structurally and physiologically) in the lab without actually using a living person or animal.
It is a useful way of getting around the ethical constraints whilst still obtaining more representative data than basic cell/tissue testing.
Results
To keep things brief I have summarised the findings from the paper:
MB was found to be a more potent scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a more powerful antioxidant than several other commonly used agents. It had the greatest ability at reducing ROS in mitochondria and also promoted greater skin cell proliferation compared to the other antioxidants.
MB appeared to be able to reduce the physical ageing of skin cells and restore them to a state more similar to the younger controls.
Some of these results appeared to be due to up-regulation of the protein Nrf2 (nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2). Nrf2 also appears to be related to progeria and in protecting a whole host of cells including neurones.
MB also appeared to up-regulate expression of genes which are involved in the production of elastin and collagen (important proteins that make up skin).
MB increased skin thickness and hydration (ability to retain water). Aged skin tends to be thinner and less effective at maintaining hydration than young skin (part of what makes it wrinkle, look old and reduces it's function as a protective barrier for the body), it appears that MB can reduce and even reverse this.
MB appeared to improve wound healing in simulated tests - this is another area where aged skin tends to be very impaired compared to young skin.
MB also appeared to be safe and did not cause inflammation at the doses used.
The overall effect of MB was to restore a more youthful level of functioning and appearance to elderly cells.
Problems
Many of the usual problems apply with such preliminary research.
Firstly these were all in vitro tests i.e. they were laboratory tests that did not take place in a living organism.
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Some of the tests used cell samples, others used simulated skin. One can always query how well these results would translate to a real living person.
Sometimes things which work in the lab don't translate to being effective in actual living people.
Further the sample sizes (in terms of cell lines) used were small - perhaps the cell lines used had some peculiarities that made them particularly susceptible to the effects of MB?
As is often the case we will need further replication to confirm these results.
Conclusion
This is certainly interesting research and adds to previous research that suggests Methylene Blue may have an anti-ageing effect in a variety of tissues and organs.
Skin is our largest organ and acts as an important barrier to the outside world.
As a result it can pay a heavy price in terms of ageing.
Skin related problems can often be very difficult to treat in elderly patients and this is likely due to impaired skin function as a result of age related changes.
Anything that can help with this would have significant benefits to the general health of this group and could also significantly improve their quality of life.
So far it appears that MB has the ideal combination of safety, effectiveness and relatively low cost.
It will be interesting to see if further research can continue to replicate these results and add to the evidence for its usefulness.
(NB - I have endeavoured to make this post more brief please let me know if I have the balance right.)
References
- Xiong, Zheng-Mei, Mike O’Donovan, Linlin Sun, Ji Young Choi, Margaret Ren, and Kan Cao. 2017. “Anti-Aging Potentials of Methylene Blue for Human Skin Longevity.” Scientific Reports 7 (1): 2475.
Thank you for reading
hmmmmmm......
combine this with blue raspberry candy..................
Lol but the sugar may not be so good for ageing!
canceling each other out is good enough for me lol
:)
This may be somewhat off topic, but I've always wondered why exactly women are so obsessed with removing/hiding wrinkles. That's just part of a mature womans charm!
Probably because they don't like wrinkles?
This post received a 2.1% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @codebreaker! For more information, click here!
Well said :0) dont mess with nature I say. Lol
Alexman...this was suppose to answer ur post..lol
At least this sounds like a more natural looking solution. tbh I hate how botox/other fillers turn out a lot of the time. Just plasticy and weird. But even if we did suddenly accept wrinkles as a society, it looks like it would have some applications for regular skin healing - maybe burn victims and the like?
I have been taking it for years! IT WORKS ITS UNBELIEVABLE!
Well said :0) Dont mess with nature I say. Lol
It's because today's society. Everyone wants to be young and healthy as long as possible. There is also a difference between aging of men and women. Wrinkles = old = ugly. That's really not fair in my opinion.
Some men are in the game too. I expect people to allow aging to come gracefully.
This is awesome! I'd love to see some actual before and after pictures or some more stats. I have to work in the sun all day so I need something like this!
I don't think it is in a state where photos are possible. We need actual human studies for that.
Well, I can tell you if they want to do human trials a clinical study in South FL would have a line around the door. They love their cosmetic surgery/drugs around here.
Lol I'm sure they do!
this is an intriguing glimpse at a synthetic drug with many possible unexplored uses. The medical literature on this drug is almost impenetrable to a layman. Is it used topically or meant to be taken internally? Have there been any long-term studies of potentially harmful effects? An excellent post, my friend :)
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Very interesting read. I've only ever remember MB as a staining agent, indicator in titration, and antidote in cyanide poisoning. Thank you for this. Is there a way for me to save your article in steemit? (Sorry. Newbie here) :)
Not exactly. Resteeming will put it in your feed so that is kind of a way of saving it but then everyone who sees your feed will see it too. I generally bookmark posts that I want to save for later.
Oh. Thanks for the information and tip. It's okay, I like the post and think it's worth sharing. Who doesn't like to read about staying young? My group's thesis a decade ago was a fern with possible antioxidant property (we used vit e for our control) so this article made me excited! Thank you! (Is the promote button the one for resteeming?)
No promote is for the promotion page. Resteem looks like an upside down return key symbol.
(Nvm. Discovered it's the semi-circle/square arrow lol)
OK cool you figured it out!
Methylene Blue can be good stuff. Especially for mitochondria. https://www.jackkruse.com/biohacking-time-with-methylene-blue/
Yes that is one of the primary mechanisms of action (or at least it is believed to be).
Try combining it with some red light therapy like a full spectrum sauna. Super powered. My favorite source for MB https://www.bluebrainboost.com/p/methylene-blue-nootropic/
I'm not familiar with red light therapy.
Writing a book on the health power of light now. I'll write up a post on red light therapy for you. One more good article on MB https://selfhacked.com/2013/08/25/methylene-blue-the-cheapest-cognitive-enhancer/
Tons of research on MB and light. http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fncel.2015.00179/full
Cool thanks. I actually use a light box myself to help with SAD.
Every stage of life must be lived intensely.
The hairs on the hair and the wrinkles of the skin are the demonstration of a long lived experience and therefore a learning obtained, as well as a greater spirual progress achieved
Perhaps but if we can keep people in good health for longer they can keep doing those things.
nice post.....
Thank you!
you are welcome my friend....
You upvote and share so many other people's posts - you should try doing a post yourself. I'm sure you would get a good response. Send me the link if you do.
I did posted my (10) posts fews days, cannot allow you to retrieve it....If you find ways to retrieve posts...kindly inform me. Thanks...
Unfortunately after 7 days we can't vote for them. Do another one and let me know and I will vote and share it for you.
thanks...buddy....that's very kind of you....that's the steemit community spirit.... :)
But everyone tells me I look better in my older age. Kinda like a good wine. LOL
That's true I'm sure but it would be nice to maintain that!
OK yes I do suppose I would like to attract a much younger crowd to hang around oh you know like Brad Pitt, but hey I am just plain old happy in the skin I am in. LOL
Lol!
I would like to add here that It was the first synthetic drug to be created and was originally used as a malaria treatment.
Cool I didn't know that it was the first synthetic drug!
yes it is the first fully synthetic drug.very nice article by the way keep it up.
Thanks!
Not sure what you mean. What is "genetic" age?
We have used methylene blue in a chemical electrolysis practice. The electrolysis technique does not require an oxidizing agent and also a catalyst because the electrode (positive pole) can function as a place of oxidation and at the same time can function as a catalyst.
What kind of electrolysis?
Color Degradation
For determining the constituents of a pigment?
You have done some research, well representation. Thumps up!
Thanks.
My pleasure, Thanks for sharing. Upvoted and followed!
Thank you:)
My pleasure, will look forward for more quality stuff. Keep in touch!
:)
I wonder if prolonged usage causes blue pigmentation?
Similar to eating a carrot only diet stains the skin orange (trump jokes aside).
It might! We will have to see:)
Excellent post, its interesting how drug created for one use often has greatest effect treating similar or completely different illness.. I have a post I would like you to read and if possible resteem, its about Asthma, the implication of this study has far reaching consequences and I would love for the entire community to be aware of this interesting research. here is a link to the post https://steemit.com/health/@daudimitch/asthma-an-arginine-driven-metabolic-disorder thanking you in advance
Normally I frown on link spamming but that is actually an interesting post.
thank you for reading....my background is medical science, so this research is as solid and wide catching as it comes... it means that we can have targeted treatment. the treatment at the moment focus on activating beta2 receptors on the bronchial epithelium thus causing dilation of the bronchials. This research takes it another step further, its address what can be the possible cause of constriction in the first place.... so you see how have some nice pharmacology and biochemistry going hand in hand, good case study for pre-medical and medical studies...you can even take it further an just do PhD addressing this as your thesis
I disagree. It is unlikely to be that simple. Anyway time will tell.
Time will tell.... here is an interesting study you, asthmatics are often advised to stay away from tree nuts, wheat, soy, peanuts, eggs, fish, shellfish and cow's milk because it can directly impact their condition... I am not to sure what the chemical content of these foods are but I have a strong feeling that they may be arginine rich foods...time will certainly tell but something to keep in mind and thank you so much for taking the time out...it would be nice if we can drum up some physician, biochemist, nutritionist and asthmatics an do a case study
Sure would be cool to do further research. Sadly these things don't often pan out but sometimes we get lucky.
Thanks... well this is certainly my summer project
Always good stuff from you! I linked to it in my latest post on piston voting, so maybe more people will vote for it (not that it needs the help haha).
Thank you so much mate. Nice to hear from you:) That is very kind!
As a staining agent, wouldnt it make you look like a youthful smurf? ;D
Anyways, anything that eliminates aging effects is a positive, so I'm all for it. Thanks for sharing that.
It's possible! Depends on how much is needed to be used!
Ha! I totally read blue methylamine. Too much Breaking Bad..
:)
Oh great. It wasn't awful enough one everybody was trying to dress like a model, now everyone is going to look like one.
Lol. I think it is a long way from that.
This is what they said once about boob surgery. And look at the atrocities around us!
Lol. This is not an atrocity though. Fake breasts are pointless except after Breast cancer and in selected cases. This could genuinely improve quality of life and overall health. The only problem is it might make people look blue!
Breast cancer fake boobs are rather exception to the rule. But I guess even in "healthy" individuals an ego boost is an ego boost and can increase quality of life
True.
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I think we need an actual test first though. But i agree its very interesting. i would love to do it so when i get old IF its real. Not for now cuz im just 22 still have firm skin. Lol. its amazing that there's a lot of solution for our face and body problems now a days. 🙂 great post by the way. followed u.
Yes. Thanks.
This is amazing and hopefully Methylene Blue can prove to work safely. These things take a long time but I'm seriously freaked out about aging.
P.S. Thank you for your recent upvotes and all your upvotes you have ever given me. This is my happiest day on Steemit! Over the last 10 months I had been so frustrated with Steemit and the voting power situation. With HF 19 I feel that people are going to feel empowered and have a reason to buy STEEM and power up! Here is a LIVE feed at the people trying to get an account.
NP. I think the voting boost will go down with time though as the algorithm adjusts and more whales start voting again (post experiment) but it should be fairer.
Interesting. I've read a lot about how eating a lot of collagen/gelatin really affects skin health (as well as joints, hair, and a ton of other bodily functions). I do that, drink a lot of water, and use natural oils, and a lot of people think I'm younger than I am. And that's with a lot of health issues, too!
Anybody else do the collagen thing? I order it and use it as a powder in my drinks. It's nearly tasteless. And it also adds a bunch of protein to the diet (I find it hard to get enough in).
Just eating enough protein in any form should be enough. You don't specifically need to eat collagen - your body is quite able to produce it and indeed any collagen you eat will be broken down to its constituent elements (amino acids) before you absorb it anyway. This is about protecting against oxidative stress directly within the skin which is different.
Interesting. Well.. it's working for me because I'm not that great at getting my protein in! Need to do a little more scientific background work. I love that you can't get away with stuff here :). xx
Well it's not about getting away lol. If it is an easy way for you to get protein then great but consuming collagen is not going to get that collagen directly to your skin.
lol :). Just a wee joke so I don't take myself too seriously.
Really of the many goals human kind has had is immortality and I don't thing it's a wrong thing as long as other goals are accomplished as well. Like the colonization of our own galaxy and maybe others.
Absolutely. I don't think true immortality will ever be possible but life extension allows us to do certain things that our current lifespans restrict like space colonisation.
Yes very much so. Unless we had a technology that could reassemble all the pieces like a transporter form Star Trek. May be in a few hundred years lol!
In the pursuit of anti aging medications, drugs, remedies etc, it is very important to make sure that first, there is no harm. Methylene Blue is toxic and it surprises me that it is even been considered for this sort of application. There are significantly many more "anti-aging" remedies and treatments that are actually beneficial to the body without inducing a toxic reaction. A 3 sec google search resulted in the following links: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Methylene+Blue+toxicity&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjYrbSgvs3UAhUDyGMKHTMtAj8QgQMIJDAA
I would suggest caution.
Everything is potentially toxic. It was NOT toxic in the doses used. Please read more carefully next time as I was not suggesting that it is 100% safe. Nothing is. Further applying something topically is not the same as giving it as an infusion or ingesting it.
Congratulations! This post has been upvoted from the communal account, @minnowsupport, by banjokid from the Minnow Support Project. It's a witness project run by aggroed, ausbitbank, teamsteem, theprophet0, and someguy123. The goal is to help Steemit grow by supporting Minnows and creating a social network. Please find us in the Peace, Abundance, and Liberty Network (PALnet) Discord Channel. It's a completely public and open space to all members of the Steemit community who voluntarily choose to be there.
If you like what we're doing please upvote this comment so we can continue to build the community account that's supporting all members.
love you @minnowsupoport
I make sure to use face wash and skin moisturizer morning and night. I can't say the same about the future of the days I become a grandma, but hope for the best!
Well I don't think it will do any harm unless you use some kind of really harsh method.
I love all of the benefits that come along with Methylene Blue, I've even seen that it can help with fungal infections aswell. The only thing that sucks is that you would have to avoid alcohol! lol
Also one would have to hope it doesn't turn you blue if you use it on your skin!
Interesting info @thecrypto, I like the cat form the end of the article. Also I think the most important thing is to keep our skin 100% functional, and of course for women's to keep it 'sharp'. :)
Yes. The most important thing is the protective function it serves. That deteriorates with age and injuries and infections can be a massive problem in hospital patients.
Is this a topical thing? Or ingested? Either way, it sound promising. I'll have to look into this. (It's that time. Thanks so much.
Yes I think the studies are looking at topical application rather than ingestion. Thank you:)
This is very interesting i am sure after this post of yours you will have a quick human 30 day trial,with some of us dropping some MB into our Baths :-)
Lol maybe. I would still caution people against trying it until we have data from human trials. Although it seems safe enough here we don't the specific doses/concentrations that would replicate it. It is also possible there are outlier groups that might have unforeseen reactions to it. It is always best to be safe.
Yes i do agree safety first, but with almost a 1000 views on this post,you will find some one who has just read half the info and are bathing away with some MB, Big Smile !!!
For sure. People are sometimes foolish.
Oh really, i hope this is true
It will take time to know for sure.
Working in the skincare and wellness industry this article really caught my attention! So glad to have found your post! Upvoted and following.
Thanks!
One substance that definitely is an effective anti aging product is carnosine which is found naturally in the body. By the time people have reached 70 years of age carnosine levels have dropped 70% from their youth. From what researchers have indicated carnosine protects body tissue from the damaging effects of glycation which are more pronounced in people with higher blood sugar levels. It also prevents early oxidation of fats in the bloodstream. By preventing glycation and oxidation of fats carnosine prevents or slows the progression of numerous diseases of aging. It also makes your skin attain a more youthful appearance.
Yes I have read about carnosine before. There are a whole host of agents that become less active due to declining levels in ageing. If we can raise them to youthful levels then it should help to maintain healthy function for longer.
Some men and women are afraid of aging and thus resist to allow it creep in. It's always best to age gracefully without resistance.
Interesting post.
Upvoted and followed..
Thanks.
My respect for you @thecryptofiend
Please do stay in touch.
Thanks!
Thanks for the great article.
You're welcome!
As chemistry PhD and just a guy who is passionate about modern biotech science and studies of aging I don't think that some simple chemicals could ever "reverse aging" or "rejuvenate" skin. Yes, it may rehydrate skin and make it look younger but it's not making it younger. Only way to reverse aging is to use experimental gene treatments. There are intersting accomplishments made by Shinya Yamanaka who has developed a way to slow down aging of mice to achieve 50% longevity increase and rejuvenation. Yet rejuvenating humans is a bit too much for modern science, there is one brave woman - Liz Parrish who tried hTERT gene therapy on herself but results are not clear. Anyway, there is no real rejuvenating treatment on the maket right now and this methylene blue is just another type of cosmetic compound like hyaluronic acid.
They didn't claim rejuvenation. They said it restored useful function. They are two different things. Once the damage is done even gene therapy is not necessarily enough. You need some means of repairing the damage.
Awesome article, well written and nice and clear. What I find really interesting about MB is the cognitive "smart drug" effects and the evidence behind memory. Very interesting for students and business people wanting to get the edge.
Thanks again, great read.
You're welcome. I think the problem with its cognitive effects would be delivering it to the brain in a sufficient dose without toxic side effects. Will be interesting to see where the research goes.
I agree. There is a PhD who has a youtube on the topic but for some reason I just cant find it. Ill keep looking and post it for you.
Thanks!
Ageing is a good topic for sure or more to the point anti ageing...never heard of this drug before, interesting read.
Thanks. It's quite an old drug so you generally don't hear about it.
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Thank you @ehiboss :)
Methylene blue is great, I also did some research and sometimes I post some studies, things I found out about methylene blue in my profile. I think it is also very helpfull with oxygen/ hypoxia issues.
There is also some tests going on with methylene blue and oxygen. This will be very interesting I guess.
It certainly will.
Yes, like methylene blue 2.0
Well, I guess I need to get me some Methylene Blue.
I think we all do!
Nice pic
Thanks! Which one?
The lady
Cool I like her too!
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Thanks I will check it out when I get a moment:)
Take ny money!! Big 30 is coming and im handling it about as well as a cat in a bath tub
:)
Im not going enjoy either. Cant we just go the other way for a bit
nice post mister, feel free to check my new post, on how will humans look in 1.000 years, the 2017 science.
Thanks.
Im drinking Methylene Blue on irregular basis, but im not getting younger :D It's good for metabolism, free radical absorption. doubt that this simple thing can do something more for healthy people.
You would need to take it regularly and it also depends on how you are taking it, the form, dosage and how it is being distributed throughout your body. Do you even know if it actually is methylene blue? A lot of drugs and supplements don't actually contain what they are supposed to, it is a massive problem.
It does a lot of things, and there is a lot of research out there. I will post some studies about methylene blue time by time in my profile, if you are interessted about it.
@thecryptofiend hi sir i saw u resteem a good story to i changed my career to full time steemit blogger and written my first blog story please read it resteem it and upvote it plss sir ut will help alot
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Good post @thecryptofie i'm following you please follow me and give me upvoted
Interesting, will keep an eye on it :-)
Cool!
Well summarized, made for a quick read.
Thank you!