First synthesized in 1876 methylene blue has been used in clinical medicine as an antioxidant with proven effectiveness in treating a variety of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and malaria with low risk of side effects. Methylene blue steps forward once more as it has recently been shown to be a promising treatment for mitochondrial dysfunction causing a variety of disease and problems which includes visible aging of skin.
Among other findings methylene blue can delay deterioration once thought to be unavoidable signs of aging, being shown to enhance cellular oxygen consumption which fights against free radicals by 37-70%.
The century old medicine has been shown in studies to have neuroprotective effects on Alzheimer’s patients, extend life of female model mice by 6%, reverse aging, and shows potential for treatment of a rare genetic disorder progeria causing rapid aging in children. Applied to 3D skin models it has also promoted wound healing, increased skin hydration, and thickened skin to more youthful depths, according to the researchers.
Soluble in organic solvents and water methylene blue has low redox potential. AlSogair explains with treatment using methylene blue an increase in collagen production, prevention of collagen degradation, and skin hydration was observed indicating that methylene blue holds great promise in anti-aging cosmetic formulations
