ADVERTISEMENT INFO: SOME PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THIS POST ARE PR (GIFTED) AND LINKS USED ARE AFFILIATE LINKS. I RECEIVED NO MONEY TO WRITE THE BLOGPOST. PLEASE READ DISCLAIMER

 

TikTok apparently has a new gym bag essential, the Hypochlorous Acid spray, and as member of Gen X I find myself smiling, saying “I have seen that one before!”

 

 

But I am not mad seeing it gain traction again, as used correctly and for the right candidate Hypochlorous Acid can be an incredibly useful addition to both your workout gear and your general skincare routine!

So let’s talk about what it is, what it does, which skin conditions it works best for and, quite important, what NOT to mix it with when you do your routine.

 

 

What is Hypochlorous Acid?

Hypochlorous Acid is a weak acid with strong antimicrobial properties, meaning it will work against bacteria, fungi and to some degree even viruses. It can be used as surface disinfectant but, very important, is NOT bleach.

See, Hypochlorous Acid is HOCL, an acidic chlorine disinfectant and bleach is Hypochlorite or OCL-, so alkaline chlorine, and while both can be present in the same solution to a certain degree, which one is more common depends on pH and manufacturing process. Not to mention that one will help you with your skin issues while the other might give you chemical burns.

Hypochlorous Acid and its use in skincare isn’t actually new, it was discovered back in 1834 by the French chemist Antoine Jérôme Balard and gained a lot of popularity during World War I and II to treat wounds. In the 1940s it was also nebulized in hospitals as means to control the spread of airborne pathogens. This information led to a surge in popularity during the Covid pandemic with sadly a corresponding increase of calls to the poison control center as some quite prominent figures couldn’t quite grasp the before mentioned difference between Hypochlorous Acid and bleach, which led to questions about the application of bleach to the human body.

Historical lessons aside: Hypochlorous Acid is not bleach, but an acidic chlorine disinfectant safe to use on the skin and has been used for skin disinfection for more than 150 years now.

 

 

What does Hypochlorous Acid do on your skin?

Hypochlorous Acid is directly toxic for many bacteria and fungi due to oxidizing and destroying their cell membrane. It also reduces the activity of histamine, leukotriene B4 and interleukin-2, which means it is antiinflammatory and can reduce itching.

We now know that our neutrophils produce Hypochlorous Acid when activated by an invader, it is essentially part of our bodies own immune response, meaning our body is well adapted to it and the substance will not affect and destroy our skin cells, just the microorganisms. This mechanism of action also means that there is no potential for bacteria developing resistance to it like it can to antibiotics, it will not stop working all of a sudden.

Looking at the mechanisms of action, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory and antipruritus, which is a fancy way of saying anti-itch, it is easy to see which skin conditions it is best for.

 

 

Which skin conditions is Hypochlorous Acid best for?

Anything that is caused by unwanted microorganisms on the skin, inflammatory and/ or itchy skin conditions will benefit most from incorporating Hypochlorous Acid in their routine. Think acne, eczema, rosacea or atopic dermatitis. (More info: Acne explainded – Understand your skin, Everything you need to know about treating Rosacea, Is your skin barrier damaged?)

Reducing the microbial load, be it Cutibacterium acne or Demodex mites, might help alleviate symptoms, calming the inflammation will help with overall appearance of these skin conditions and reducing itch is a huge thing for those affected by it as well.

Please note that Hypochlorous Acid has not been tested as a drug, so you can’t make any drug claims – Hypochlorous Acid is not an acne treatment, it is skincare, cosmetics. That doesn’t mean it won’t work, it just means that I would always recommend using it alongside a routine targeting the skin condition you are struggling with, NOT as the main thing. (More info: Can skincare cure acne?)

There is also no guarantee that it will work, so best test it for a few weeks if you think you might benefit from it and then reevaluate how it has been for your skin. The good news is that is has barely any side effects, so you don’t have to overthink the whole process.

 

 

Is Hypochlorous Acid safe? Can it be used long term? Are there any side effects?

Hypochlorous Acid isn’t drying, it has barely any irritation potential and, good news for those with towels ruined by Benzoylperoxide, will not bleach fabrics. You can obviously be allergic to anything, so patch test, but most people, even those with sensitive skins, get along very well with the ingredient.

Again, I can’t stress enough that it needs to be properly manufactured – I know that you can DIY kits from online retailers, but I personally, knowing my chemistry skills, wouldn’t risk getting it wrong and burning my face off in the process…

You can use it for as long as you want and how often you want without fearing overdosing.

 

 

How do you incorporate Hypochlorous Acid into your skincare routine?

The best way to incorporate Hypochlorous Acid into your routine depends on the effect you want it to have.

If you want to use it to help with a chronic skin condition like acne, rosacea or atopic dermatitis, it is recommended to be used daily or even twice daily after cleansing and before you apply your other products. As it works by oxidation, you should let it dry completely first so it doesn’t disturb the rest of your products.

If your skin is good already and your main goal is to keep it that way, you can use it in situations where you know you should cleanse your skin properly – after a sweaty workout, if you have been wearing a face mask and can feel sweat and bacteria underneath it, but can’t remove your makeup for a good cleanse – all that are situations where misting your face with a Hypochlorous Acid Spray might be helpful. It is also often used to treat minor wounds, fresh piercings and tattoos.

Or to prevent body acne in people that work out a lot, which is why it quickly became a gym bag essential. (More info: How to get rid of body acne and The best skincare routine before and after your workout)

 

 

Is there anything Hypochlorous Acid can not be paired with?

You can pair it with anything if you let it completely dry before you follow up with the rest of your routine. It works by oxidizing, so if you apply it and directly follow up with your antioxidant serum, you will reduce the effect of both.

 

 

How does Hypochlorous Acid compare to other blemish fighting ingredients?

Hypochlorous Acid is a cosmetic, not a drug, so if you have acne, medical treatments like prescription retinoids, Salicylic Acid, Azelaic Acid and maybe antibiotics or other oral medication will most likely be more effective. (More info: Your comprehensive guide to retinoids)

But as compared to these things it is non drying and with low irritation potential, it might be a good supporting act in your treatment plan. If you are on prescription, you should of course always discuss any additional products with your prescribing doctor.

 

TL;DR Is Hypochlorous Acid worth the hype?

Hypochlorous Acid is an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory ingredient that recently gained traction as gym bag essential on TikTok. It is potentially helpful for skin conditions like acne, eczema, and rosacea. Safe to use and non-drying, you can either use it after your workouts or as a regular item in your daily routine. Just remember, don’t mix it with antioxidants without letting it dry first as it works by oxidation. Not a replacement for medical treatments, but a great addition to your skincare.

 

 

Shop the post

 

Don’t forget to check out the Discount Code Page on top if you want to save some money on your next skincare purchase, or click here to let me build a personalized skincare routine for you.
If you want to get more involved and pick my next topics or see exclusive behind the scenes content, don’t forget you can head over here and become a YouTube Channel Member!