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Hypochlorous acid has gained sudden attention on social media lately where influencers and consumer skincare companies are promoting its benefits for conditions like acne, eczema, and rosacea. Products offered online have clever brand names with words like “magic molecule” and “beauty rescue,” which may have clinicians doubting the claims and raising concerns over their patients using the skin treatments. However, dermatologists interviewed by MedPage Today say that hypochlorous acid can help reduce skin inflammation, and it’s generally safe for consumers to use. Known for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, the water-soluble acid has been part of medicine for more than a century. It effectively targets both gram-positive (eg, staph, strep) and gram-negative (eg, E. coli, Pseudomonas) bacteria and is gentle enough for most patients to use on their skin, dermatologists say.
Practical purpose: While fleeting beauty trends often pose concerns among clinicians, this one might be less of a worry. The Food and Drug Administration cleared many hypochlorous acid products in the early 2000s to 2010s for certain clinical applications, such as wound treatment and procedure preparation, although the agency has not issued a single approval for hypochlorous acid itself.
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