The Sulfur Compound That Supports Inflammation Relief, Collagen Production, and Skin Barrier Function

MSM appears in every product we make. That's not an accident or a cost-saving measure—it's a deliberate formulation decision based on what this ingredient does for skin.

Methylsulfonylmethane—MSM for short—is an organic sulfur compound found naturally in plants, animals, and humans. Your body already contains MSM. It's involved in forming collagen, keratin, and elastin—the structural proteins that keep skin firm, flexible, and resilient. When we add MSM to skincare, we're supporting processes your skin already performs.

But there's a lot of confusion about MSM. Some brands oversell it as a miracle ingredient. Others dismiss it entirely. This guide cuts through both extremes with evidence-based information on what MSM actually does, who benefits most, and how to use it effectively.

What Is MSM? The Science of Organic Sulfur

Sulfur is the third most abundant mineral in your body. It's essential for forming disulfide bonds—the molecular bridges that give structural proteins their strength. Without adequate sulfur, collagen becomes weak, keratin becomes brittle, and skin loses its structural integrity.

MSM is approximately 34% elemental sulfur by weight. When applied topically or taken orally, it provides your body with bioavailable sulfur that cells can actually use. This distinguishes it from other sulfur sources that may be poorly absorbed or irritating to skin.

How MSM Works in Skin

Collagen Support: Collagen molecules are held together by sulfur-containing amino acids. When sulfur availability decreases—which happens naturally with age—collagen production and quality decline. Topical MSM provides sulfur directly where skin cells need it for collagen synthesis.

Anti-Inflammatory Action: MSM has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties in multiple studies. It appears to inhibit NF-kB, a protein complex involved in inflammatory responses. For skin, this translates to reduced redness, less irritation, and calmer reactive skin.

Permeability Enhancement: MSM increases cell membrane permeability, allowing other beneficial ingredients to penetrate more effectively. This makes it valuable not just for its own properties but as a delivery enhancer for entire formulations.

Antioxidant Support: Sulfur is a component of glutathione, one of your body's most important antioxidants. By supporting glutathione production, MSM helps neutralize free radicals that contribute to premature aging.

Who Benefits Most from MSM

Inflammatory Skin Conditions

Eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis share a common feature: chronic inflammation. The anti-inflammatory properties of MSM make it particularly relevant for these conditions. Research has shown that topical MSM can reduce erythema (redness) and improve skin smoothness in people with inflammatory skin issues.

This doesn't mean MSM replaces medical treatment for diagnosed skin conditions. It means MSM can be a supportive ingredient in a comprehensive skincare approach—especially for people whose skin reacts to more aggressive anti-inflammatory ingredients.

Acne-Prone Skin

Acne is fundamentally an inflammatory condition. While bacteria and excess sebum play roles, inflammation determines severity. MSM's anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce the angry redness that makes acne more visible and more likely to scar.

Additionally, MSM's keratin-supporting properties may help normalize skin cell turnover, reducing the buildup of dead cells that clog pores. It's not a standalone acne treatment, but it addresses underlying inflammatory mechanisms that conventional acne products often ignore.

Athletes and Active Individuals

This is where our family's experience becomes directly relevant. With Division I track and field athletes in our household, we see daily how physical training affects skin. The combination of sweat, friction, frequent washing, and sun exposure creates chronic low-grade inflammation.

MSM supports recovery not just in muscles and joints (where it's commonly used as a supplement) but in skin that's under constant physical stress. The same anti-inflammatory and collagen-supporting properties that help sore muscles help stressed skin.

Aging Skin

Sulfur availability decreases with age. Collagen production slows. Skin becomes thinner and less resilient. MSM provides the sulfur component needed for collagen and elastin synthesis—addressing a genuine deficit rather than simply adding a "anti-aging" marketing ingredient.

Unlike retinoids, which force accelerated cell turnover (often at the cost of irritation), MSM supports the natural processes your skin is already attempting. This makes it appropriate for mature skin that may not tolerate aggressive anti-aging actives.

Topical vs. Oral MSM: Which Delivery Method Works Better?

MSM is available both as an oral supplement and as a topical skincare ingredient. Both have value, but they work differently.

Oral MSM

When you take MSM orally, it enters your bloodstream and distributes throughout your body. This is valuable for systemic benefits—joint health, exercise recovery, general inflammation reduction. However, how much reaches your skin specifically depends on many variables: absorption efficiency, competing demands from other tissues, circulation quality, and more.

Topical MSM

Topical application delivers MSM directly where you want it—to your skin. There's no question of absorption efficiency or systemic distribution. The MSM is there, in contact with skin cells, available for local use.

Additionally, topical MSM can enhance the penetration of other ingredients in the formula. This synergistic effect means MSM improves not just its own delivery but the effectiveness of the entire product.

Our position: if skin health is your primary goal, topical MSM makes the most sense. You're putting the ingredient exactly where you want it to work. Oral supplementation may provide additional systemic benefits, but for skincare specifically, topical delivery is more targeted and efficient.

MSM Compared to Other Ingredients

MSM vs. Retinol

Retinol forces rapid cell turnover. It's effective for certain concerns but comes with well-documented side effects: dryness, peeling, sensitivity, sun sensitivity, and irritation that can last weeks or months during the "adjustment period."

MSM supports the same goals—collagen production, skin renewal—through a different mechanism. It provides raw material (sulfur) rather than forcing accelerated processes. This makes it gentler but also slower. People with sensitive or reactive skin often find MSM delivers results they can actually tolerate, even if those results come more gradually.

MSM vs. Hyaluronic Acid

These ingredients serve different purposes and work well together. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant—it attracts and holds water, providing surface hydration. MSM supports structural proteins and reduces inflammation. They're not competing; they're complementary.

This is why many effective formulas include both. The hyaluronic acid provides immediate hydration while the MSM supports longer-term skin health and enhances overall formula penetration.

MSM vs. Niacinamide

Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is popular for barrier support and anti-inflammatory effects. However, a significant percentage of people—particularly those with rosacea or highly reactive skin—experience flushing or irritation from niacinamide.

MSM provides anti-inflammatory benefits without niacinamide's potential for reactivity. For people who've tried niacinamide and found it problematic, MSM offers an alternative approach to inflammation management.

Common MSM Myths—Addressed

Myth: MSM "Detoxifies" Skin

The term "detox" in skincare is largely meaningless. Your liver and kidneys handle detoxification; skin doesn't work that way. What MSM actually does—supporting cell membrane permeability—gets mistranslated into "detox" language by marketers.

MSM's real value lies in inflammation reduction, collagen support, and permeability enhancement. These are specific, measurable benefits—not vague detoxification claims.

Myth: More MSM Is Always Better

Effective concentrations of MSM in skincare typically range from 5-15%. Going higher doesn't necessarily improve results and may affect formula texture or stability. Like most ingredients, MSM has an optimal range, not a "more is better" trajectory.

Myth: MSM Works Overnight

MSM supports gradual improvement in skin health, not instant transformation. Benefits typically become noticeable after consistent use over 2-4 weeks. Anyone promising immediate results from MSM is overstating what the ingredient does.

How We Use MSM at Artisan The Goat

MSM appears in every product we make—Face Cream, Hand Cream, Active Cream, Muscle Cream, Colostrum Cream, Rejuvenating Cream, and Superfruits Cream. This isn't because MSM is the only ingredient that matters; it's because MSM makes everything else work better.

The permeability-enhancing property of MSM means the goat milk, the botanical oils, the targeted ingredients in each formula all penetrate more effectively. Combined with MSM's own anti-inflammatory and collagen-supporting benefits, it's foundational to how our products perform.

In our sports recovery products—Active Cream and Muscle Cream—MSM works alongside other ingredients like arnica, chondroitin, glucosamine, and black pepper oil to support muscle and joint comfort. In our anti-aging products—Colostrum Cream and Rejuvenating Cream—MSM supports collagen synthesis alongside growth factors and antioxidants.

The goal isn't MSM for its own sake. The goal is effective products. MSM is one of the tools that makes effectiveness possible.

Getting Started with MSM

If you're new to MSM in skincare, there's no complicated protocol. Choose a product that includes MSM at an effective concentration, use it consistently, and give it time to work.

MSM is well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive skin. Adverse reactions are rare. But as with any new product, spot-testing on a small area first is sensible practice.

Expect gradual improvement rather than overnight transformation. The benefits of MSM accumulate over time as it supports ongoing skin processes. Consistency matters more than intensity.

If you have specific concerns—inflammation, aging, athletic recovery—consider products that combine MSM with complementary ingredients targeting those issues. MSM works well alone but works better in thoughtful formulations that leverage its penetration-enhancing properties.