Topical Nanocrystalline Silver Cream Suppresses Inflammatory Cytokines And Induces Apoptosis Of Inflammatory Cells In A Murine Model Of Allergic Contact Dermatitis
This clinical study was published in June 2005 in the British Journal of Dermatology. In this study, researchers induced dermatitis in mice using a chemical called dinitrofluorobenzene.
Then they tried three treatment options: A nanosilver cream, tacrolimus ointment (an immunesuppressant drug normally reserved for treating stubborn cases of dermatitis), and a “high potency steroid” (which are often used to reduce the swelling and inflammation of dermatitis). The researchers wrote: “Significant reductions of ear swelling, erythema and histopathological inflammation in mice ears were observed after 4 days of treatment with 1% nanocrystalline silver cream, tacrolimus ointment or a high potency steroid with no significant difference among them.” In other words, the nanosilver cream worked just as well as the strongest prescription dermatitis medicines out there. This is very good news, considering the fact that the prescription steroid treatments and well as the prescription immunosuppressant drug tacrolimus can cause a host of side effects, whereas nanosilver cream is relatively benign by comparison.
The researchers concluded, “This study demonstrates that nanocrystalline silver inhibits allergic contact dermatitis in mice, similar to steroid and tacrolimus. Nanocrystalline silver suppresses the expression of TNF-alpha and IL-12 and induces apoptosis of inflammatory cells; mechanisms by which nanocrystalline silver may exert its anti-inflammatory effects.” In short, the silver stopped the inflammatory response that characterizes dermatitis, and even caused inflammatory cells to die so healing could take place.
