The benefits of Hypochlorous acid (HOCL) for skincare and cystic acne treatment

Regardless of the type of breakout you’re experiencing, dealing with acne is frustrating. Blackheads, whiteheads, and red blemishes are annoying and aggravating, at best. What can be even more frustrating is finding a reliable remedy to treat acne.

Whether you are dealing with the occasional blemish that pops up at the most inconvenient time or painful recurring acne that never seems to disappear, you have likely tried countless treatments and products. There may be millions of acne treatments available, but they are not created equal.

From face wash to spot treatment to masks – many acne treatments claim to get rid of pimples for good yet fail to deliver. The fact is, many of these self-proclaimed acne remedies you find on drugstore shelves and cosmetic counters don’t have the right ingredients to target the root cause of acne. Instead, they aggressively dry out your skin which may initially help but ultimately makes acne worse in the long run. To understand how to treat acne, you need to understand what causes it.

According to the American Academy of Dermotology, your acne is caused when sebum (oil) becomes trapped in your pores. A combination of dead skin cells and oil form a plug in your pore, which causes bacteria to become trapped and multiply. It then becomes inflamed and turns into a blemish. Simply put, bacteria causes inflammation which causes blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples.

How to treat acne?

To treat acne, you need to address the bacteria which causes it, as well as the inflammation. A number of ingredients claim to do this, but these ingredients often come with undesirable side effects like redness and severe dryness. However, there is one ingredient that provides antimicrobial, anti-fungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory results without any adverse effects.

Hypochlorous acid (HOCI) is an effective acne treatment while providing many other benefits for your skin. It is made up of hydrogen, oxygen, and chlorine. According to dermatologist and Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Diane Madfes, MD, HOCL supplies oxygen to the body’s cells which helps with natural healing.

The potent ingredient treats acne by preventing bacterial overgrowth while simultaneously reducing inflammation. Unlike other acne products, it treats multiple different types of acne, including bacterial and fungal. It also aids in healing, preventing scarring and dark spots caused by acne. Hypochlorous acid will not only prevent and heal acne but has many other advantages to give you clearer, smoother, more radiant skin.

Benefits of Hypochlorous Acid

Skin experts and major media outlets like Shape and The Zoe Report have boldly proclaimed hypochlorous acid as the “skincare ingredient you should be using” because of all the incredible ways it can improve your skin - and we wholeheartedly agree!

Due to its anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties, hypochlorous acid can also help with eczema and psoriasis, as well as treat the related acne. HOCI breaks up bacteria, soothes skin, repairs damage, and reduces future flare-ups.

Dermatologists have been using HOCI for years after skincare procedures like chemical peels, laser treatments, and microdermabrasion as it speeds up the healing process by killing off bacteria and soothing the skin post-procedure.

By using a face mist containing hypochlorous acid, you can clear up these skin conditions and reduce scarring. It is an excellent option for all skin types, including sensitive skin. HOCI is non-irritating as it already exists in the body naturally, but when applied topically, it gives you an added boost for clearer skin.

Although the ingredient is not new, it is increasing in popularity. As more dermatologists and skincare experts rave about the benefits, further research and products are being developed. 

Recent research has discovered that hypochlorous acid is also effective against COVID-19. HOCI is an EPA-registered disinfectant that can penetrate the virus’s cell wall and cause the cell to die. As a result, it is being added to face mists, and mouth sprays to safely disinfect the area before treatments or used by some when attending group functions. Some medical professionals recommend applying a fine mist every few hours when flying or shopping.  

For these reasons, it is the perfect solution for those experiencing the dreaded “maskne,” a term used to described irritation and acne caused by bacteria exacerbated when wearing a face mask. When used as a topical spray, you can spritz it on your face after wearing a mask as well as on your face mask to get rid of the bacteria causing these mask-related breakouts.

How to use HOCI?

You will find plenty of different products like cleansers, serums, lotions, and more containing HOCI, but a facial mist is the most effective when used for skincare. A topical spray like our Revitalizing Mist conveniently combats acne, redness, discoloration, scarring, and more. It’s likely the most portable skincare treatment you will have in your bag! While at work, after exercising, or out running errands, you can quickly spritz your face for instant disinfecting benefits without drying your skin or causing shine.  

Clean skin is clear skin. If this is the first time you are hearing about hypochlorous acid – I can assure you it won’t be the last. The buzz on this effective skincare ingredient is growing, and the hype is very real! It is one of those rare, versatile ingredients that everyone can benefit from using. If you are looking for an easy and effective solution to clear, healthy skin – HOCI may be just what you need.