top of page
DSC03291-Edit (2).jpg

THE SCIENCE BEHIND HYPOCHLOROUS ACID

Similar to hyaluronic acid, hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a natural weak acid produced by your body's cells, serving as the body's primary chemical defense mechanism against foreign pathogens.

It’s a powerful oxidant with antimicrobial and anti-bacterial properties that help reduce the bad bacteria often linked to irritation and skin concerns.

Dermatologic applications of hypochlorous acid include infection prevention, wound care, scar management, inflammatory modulation, and treatment of atopic dermatitis and pruritus (forms of eczema).
​

So, how is hypochlorous acid formulated in skincare?

Hypochlorous acid is extremely "finicky" in its instability when exposed to certain conditions,

such as light, temperature variations, or contaminants. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is highly reactive and can easily degrade if not properly formulated and stored.

​

To mitigate this, hypochlorous acid is often formulated with water and sodium chloride (salt) as a "carrying agent." This formulation helps stabilize the hypochlorous acid and prolong its shelf life. Water serves as a solvent for HOCl, while sodium chloride provides ions that facilitate the production of hypochlorous acid through a process called electrolysis.

​

By formulating hypochlorous acid with water and sodium chloride like ours, the resulting solution maintains the stability and potency of HOCl, ensuring its efficacy as a skincare ingredient. This formulation also helps in delivering the active ingredient to the skin in a safe and effective manner, enhancing its benefits for various skin concerns, including inflammation, microbial infections, and wound healing.

Spray on:

  • Acne

  • Eczema

  • Psoriasis

  • Dermatitis

  • Rosacea

  • Wound healing

  • Sunburn

  • Bug bites

  • Rashes

  • Irritation + Itch

The power of hypochlorous acid

Antimicrobial Agent: HOCl proves its effectiveness against viruses and fungi, providing a skin-purifying and cleansing solution at various concentrations.

​

Anti-inflammatory Properties: HOCl has anti-inflammatory properties that make it useful for those dealing with inflammatory skin symptoms (e.g., redness) associated with eczema and/or acne.

​

Wound Healing: By reducing inflammation, HOCl accelerates the skin's natural repair process, bringing relief from pain and itching.

P.S. We did the research so you don’t have to:

​

  1. Grice EA, Segre JA. The skin microbiome. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2011 Apr;9(4):244-53. doi: 10.1038/nrmicro2537. PMID: 21407241; PMCID: PMC3535073.

  2. Ngo QD, Suh DH. Topical therapy for acne. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2016 Dec;35(4 Suppl 4):S68-S71. doi: 10.12788/j.sder.2016.019. PMID: 28300443.

  3. Choi FD, Juhasz MLW, Atillasoy M, Pershing LK. The potential uses of hypochlorous acid as a topical antimicrobial agent. Fam Med Community Health. 2020;8(2):e000206. Published 2020 Feb 20. doi:10.1136/fmch-2019-000206

  4. Ibrahim O, Aziz M, Fathy H, Rizk M, Assaf M, Sadek A, Abdel Kareem F, Rashed L, Taha H, Ghannam A, Fouda E, Shaaban D, Hossam A, Darwish R, Zaghloul M. Efficacy and safety of 0.015% hypochlorous acid in the management of moderate to severe acne vulgaris: A double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled study. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020 Oct;19(10):2542-2547. doi: 10.1111/jocd.13377. Epub 2020 Mar 25. PMID: 32212302.

  5. Grice EA, Kong HH, Renaud G, Young AC; NISC Comparative Sequencing Program, Bouffard GG, Blakesley RW, Wolfsberg TG, Turner ML, Segre JA. A diversity profile of the human skin microbiota. Genome Res. 2008 May;18(7):1043-50. doi: 10.1101/gr.075549.107. Epub 2008 Apr 7. PMID: 18390776; PMCID: PMC2427316.

  6. Borkow G, Gabbay J. Copper, an ancient remedy returning to fight microbial, fungal and viral infections. Curr Chem Biol. 2009;3(3):272-8. doi: 10.2174/187231309789937651. PMID: 19812733; PMCID: PMC2769816.

  7. Al-Mayahy MH, Abu-Raghif AR, Jaber AB. The Efficacy and Safety of Hypochlorous Acid Used for Wound Healing and Management: A Systematic Review. Wounds. 2020 Oct;32(10):273-284. PMID: 33001406.

​

bottom of page