# What's the deal on what can/cannot permeate in/out of human skin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 6, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-on-what-can-cannot-permeate-in-out-of-human-skin/112707 "2002-06-06T18:38:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-on-what-can-cannot-permeate-in-out-of-human-skin/112707/1 "2002-06-06T18:38:46Z")
I remember hearing that vitamins cannot permeate the skin and therefore any topical creams that have them aren’t using the vitamin as a vitamin (though possibly as a humectant if it’s an oil.) Today I saw aspercreme and wondered if that worked. Then I saw a version of aspercreme with Glucosamine and Chondroitin for arthritis. Can this get through our skin? If so, could the amount absorbed be at all efficacious? Secondly, I’ve heard from some sources that sitting in a steam room does nothing in terms of detoxifying the body. All use will lose is water and salts. I have also heard, however, that you can leech heavy metals out of your system by sitting in a tub of epsom salts (this i suppose COULD make sense, if the diffusion gradient is there.) Anyone know the dope on this kinda thing? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-on-what-can-cannot-permeate-in-out-of-human-skin/112707/2 "2002-06-07T03:33:21Z")
Well, as far as I can tell, the only approved medical way to get rid of heavy metal toxins in your body is something called “Chelation Therapy”, which is done under serious medical supervision. [http://skepdic.com/chelate.html](http://skepdic.com/chelate.html) > [@](#): > > Chelation therapy consists of slow-drip IV injections of EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid),a synthetic amino acid, combined with aerobic exercise, special diet and no smoking. EDTA treatment has been around since the 1940’s, when it was developed to treat lead poisoning. Not to be confused with “oral chelation therapy”. [http://drcranton.com/oralchelation.htm](http://drcranton.com/oralchelation.htm) I don’t see any serious medical websites that say that soaking in Epsom salts will remove heavy metals from your body. Aspirin is definitely absorbed through the skin–Aspercreme has been around for a long time. However… [http://www.arthritis-glucosamine.net/glucosamine/glucosamine-products.html](http://www.arthritis-glucosamine.net/glucosamine/glucosamine-products.html) > [@](#): > > There is no evidence that glucosamine can be actually absorbed through the skin and no evidence to suggest that glucosamine in a cream will have any impact whatsoever on arthritis… And… [http://www.drtheo.com/badguys.html](http://www.drtheo.com/badguys.html) > [@](#): > > Here are some topical (rub them on your skin) glucosamine/chondroitin products we think are just plain silly. Where is the evidence that glucosamine and chondroitin are actually absorbed through the skin? There’s very good reason why these substances would not be absorbed. Until proven otherwise, we’d stay away from any gimmicky topical product claiming to contain these supplements. > > We usually tell patients that getting help from these products is as likely > as improving your vocabulary by resting your head on a dictionary! > > The company that makes this product was busted by the FTC > read about it here… He’s a fun guy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2002, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-on-what-can-cannot-permeate-in-out-of-human-skin/112707/3 "2002-06-10T20:46:18Z")
im a little late but thanks DDG ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2002, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-on-what-can-cannot-permeate-in-out-of-human-skin/112707/4 "2002-06-10T22:27:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose \* > \*\*Aspirin is definitely absorbed through the skin–Aspercreme has been around for a long time. \*\* Believe it or not, [there is no aspirin in Aspercreme.](http://www.producersconference.com/law/legal_issues/ingredients.html) (about halfway down that page) ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-on-what-can-cannot-permeate-in-out-of-human-skin/112707/5 "2002-06-11T03:51:55Z")
:eek: Another cherished illusion bites the dust… 😃