Photo:
According to Ron Robinson, Cosmetic Chemist and Founder of BeautyStat.com, the recent popularity of hypochlorous acid can be traced back to the pandemic. “Hypochlorous acid grew in awareness and popularity during the pandemic given that it’s used in household cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfectant products,” he says. It has the ability to kill viruses and bacteria (including the COVID-19 virus).
While that might make you think it’s scary or somehow not safe for use on the skin, think again. Robinson says it’s used in extremely low levels in skincare products. What’s more, it can benefit the skin in myriad ways.
Dr. Geeta Yadav, Board-Certified Dermatologist and Founder of FACET Dermatology, agrees. “Hypochlorous acid is a substance that is an effective, gentle sanitizer,” she says. “It’s actually naturally produced by our own bodies—our white blood cells create it to defend us from invaders, making it a very important player in our immune systems. Because it’s so gentle, it can be used by everyone, regardless of skin type.” And she means it, too. It’s so gentle it’s even used on babies.
