Could Methylene Blue, a common dye, be more effective for skin rejuvenation than Tretinoin?
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Introduction
In this article, we’ll look at what Methylene Blue is, what it has been used for, what the latest research shows about its potential for overall health, cognitive function and skin rejuvenation, and we’ll look at how you can incorporate Methylene Blue into your skincare routine.
About Methylene Blue
Methylene Blue was developed by scientists as a dye back in the 1860s. It was then discovered that it had the power to kill the parasite that causes Malaria and so, according to Dr. Tom Rogers in his video on Methylene Blue, it was the very first drug. It can be used to treat bacteria, viruses and parasites. He also lists it as helping with breathing, energy, depression, dementia and pain.
It works by improving the cellular metabolism and mitochondrial function. A lot of diseases are caused by mitochondrial disfunction as it can lead to chronic inflammation.
2021 Study on Methylene Blue
According to the 2021 study, The Potentials of Methylene Blue as an Anti-Aging Drug, it is also a promising memory enhancer and has the potential to protect cognition against accelerated aging.
In relation to its effect on skin, they tell us that when Methylene Blue was compared with common antioxidants used in skincare, including vitamin C and Retinol, Methylene Blue-treated skin cells outperformed both of them significantly in terms of age-related markers. In addition to its potent antioxidant function, Methylene Blue treatment in skin fibroblasts was seen to stimulate the upregulation of elastin and collagen.
In the conclusion they say that Methylene Blue has the ability to delay skin aging, increase cell longevity, protect skin from UV exposure, and help with the wound healing process.
- Ultra Pure Methylene Blue
- USP Grade
- 1 Drop contains 0.5 mg Methylene Blue
Methylene Blue Skincare Products
Researchers at the University of Maryland have created a skincare range using Methylene Blue as an ingredient. They study a disease of premature aging called Progeria. They see very severe mitochondrial effects in these accelerated aging patients and so they had been looking for something to address mitochondrial function, which led them to Methylene Blue.
Kan Cao, one of the lead researchers is founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Mblue Labs, which creates skincare products under the brand Bluelene. They have found that production of collagen and elastin doubled in just two weeks of regular use, with improved skin hydration. They say that skin heals much faster when treated with Methylene Blue and it has the ability to penetrate all three layers of skin, when applied topically.
They also found that Methylene Blue can absorb a broad spectrum of UV rays and can also help with sun damage that has already been done to skin.
In the Claudia Glows interview with Kan Cao, Claudia asks whether Methylene Blue could be as effective as Tretinoin, a synthetic Vitamin A. We have another article on Tretinoin and its benefits. Tretinoin can also be known as Retin-A, which is a popular Tretinoin brand name.
When Kan answers the question, she is actually talking about Retinol and she says that Methylene Blue has better results in terms of cell proliferation. However, Tretinoin is a prescription product, which is a lot stronger than Retinol. Retinol and Tretinoin are both Vitamin A compounds, but Tretinoin is much more concentrated and powerful.
Interview with Dr Cao
Caludia Glows wants to know if Methylene Blue is better than Tretinoin (also known as Retin-A).
So we are not sure that we agree that Methylene Blue is more powerful than Tretinoin, but Tretinoin has very challenging side effects when you start using it first and when you increase your dose, causing dryness and irritation. So, if Methylene Blue could be used in place of Tretinoin, it would mean that anyone could avail of it as it is affordable and no prescription is needed.
And you could treat a bigger surface area. With Tretinoin, you generally treat a small area, like your face and neck, to avoid using too much, which leads to side effects. But with a skincare product containing Methylene Blue you could treat your chest, arms, hands and legs.
Another advantage of using a Methylene Blue product is that it protects against the sun, whereas Tretinoin actually causes your skin to be more sensitive to the sun and more likely to suffer damage.
Kan says that, in a clinical trial conducted on her products that included 45 participants, nobody experienced peeling, irritation or dryness, and good results were seen in the reduction of wrinkles and pigmentation.
She also tells us that they have observed that, when combined with Vitamin C, they see a synergistic effect, which means that they are more powerful together in treating the skin than they would have been on their own.
How you can use Methylene Blue
In terms of taking Methylene Blue orally, you can get information from the book The Ultimate Guide to Methylene Blue by Mark Sloan. We haven’t read this book but it seems to get a lot of positive feedback on Amazon.
When it comes to applying it topically, we really are not sure how to go about this yourself. For now, the safest option might be to purchase the Bluelene products, which are very safe.
If you do decide to take Methylene Blue orally or make your own skincare lotion, you are advised to use a pharmaceutical grade product. One of the reviewers on Amazon recommended MitoLABÂ for sourcing a high grade product.
As always, we will say that it may be best to get medical advice as Methylene Blue is a chemical product. You should be careful if you are on anti-depressants, are pregnant or are breast feeding.
Also, we have heard that it turns your urine blue, so be warned!
In this book, you’ll learn how to:
- Drastically increase energy levels and take action in your life
- Boost your brain function, memory and creativity
- Relieve aches and accelerate repair of injuries and wounds
- Enhance sexual function, performance and fertility
- Eliminate depressive thoughts and feel better about your life
Methylene Blue is your ultimate guide for understanding what disease is, what disease isn’t, and how to use methylene blue to dramatically enhance your health and quality of life.
Conclusion
We think that it would be well worth trying the Bluelene products for a few months to see if they deliver the promised results. There is really good evidence that applying Methylene Blue topically improves skin quality and these products would be a safe way to incorporate it into your skincare routine.
Just to say that we are not affiliated with Mblue Labs so we don’t gain from recommending their products.
We definitely plan to read the Mark Sloan book, and it could be something we would consider taking orally but we’d have to do a lot more research.
We think that Methylene Blue has very exciting potential and we are definitely going to investigate more. What do you think? Would you spend time researching Methylene Blue? Would you buy the Bluelene products or consider making your own products?