Concentrated vitamin C in dimethyl sulfoxide, a skin-penetrating solvent, is an experimental non-surgical solution brushed onto skin cancers. For health-focused adults avoiding scars or repeated surgery, evidence is encouraging but thin: it cleared low-risk forms of the most common skin cancer better than a prescription cream in one small, unrepeated comparison. Main risks: stinging, garlic-like odor and cancer persisting beneath healed-looking skin, so it depends on biopsies before and after. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lesion biopsy histology (microscopic tissue examination) | No residual carcinoma on repeat biopsy | Defines success or failure |
| Lesion size (longest diameters, area) | No established target; change from own baseline | Tracks response |
| G6PD activity (red-blood-cell enzyme) | About 9.6–16.3 U/g hemoglobin | Safety check; deficiency changes use |
| Liver and kidney panel with complete blood count | ALT (liver enzyme) 7–56 U/L; creatinine 0.6–1.3 mg/dL; hemoglobin 12.0–17.5 g/dL; white cells 4.0–11.0 ×10⁹/L; platelets 150–450 ×10⁹/L | Safety check for repeated or prolonged DMSO courses |
| Slit-lamp eye examination (microscope check of the lens) | No lens changes | Lens changes occurred in animals |
Cadence: Baseline biopsy, lesion measurement, photograph and full skin examination; reviews at 4 and 8 weeks; repeat biopsy ~6 weeks after the course; skin checks every 6–12 months; G6PD once (African, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern or Asian ancestry); slit-lamp before and periodically during treatment; blood panel ~6-monthly only for repeated courses