Hypochlorous acid, or HClO, has a name that may sound scary at first. Yet, what few people know is that this "acid" is actually produced by our own white blood cells to kill pathogens in our body. Therefore, it is a safe acid that our bodies use daily to keep us healthy. 

In addition to its healthy action internally, hypochlorous acid used externally has many interesting benefits to know about.  That's what we're going to introduce to you in this article.

What is hypochlorous acid?

As mentioned earlier, your white blood cells produce hypochlorous acid to kill and protect your body from pathogens that could damage it.

HClO is safe for humans

Although named "acid," it is classified as a non-hazardous chemical and is safe for humans. That being said, while it appears to be a safe product for us, it has very useful potential to kill harmful bacteria, mold, spores, eliminate odors, viruses, heal wounds and pathogens.

Some hypochlorous acid is actually incorporated into products such as eye drops as an effective disinfectant. 

Therefore, unlike other chlorinated acids, which can produce dangerous and toxic results if misused, HClO can be safely used in a variety of situations, which we will detail below.

Other uses of HClO sanitizing water?

HClO to kill germs, viruses, sanitize and COVID-19

Its primary use is as a disinfectant. Research shows that hypochlorous acid is 99.9% effective at killing viruses, germs, bacteria, molds and most pathogens that can harm humans. For example, it can be used to sanitize surfaces, so it is useful as a disinfectant for hands and can safely clean wounds.

The HClO has no harmful effects on the skin, and there are various commercial products that produce HClO to clean and sanitize spaces. 

For example, research around HClO is now a key instrument as a disinfectant alternativein the COVID-19 pandemic. Various techniques have been employed to use hypochlorous acid, particularly for cleaning public transportation, because of its ability to kill viruses that can be easily dispersed in these transit areas. 

HClO eliminates odors

The hypochlorous acid sanitizing water is not only disinfecting. In fact, HClO is very useful for eliminating odors, as these are often caused by bacteria, mold, mildew, fungus and spores. 

When hypochlorous acid is sprayed on a dirty surface, the acid breaks down the proteins in the body's cell membranes that cause odors. After a few spray treatments of HClO, the fungus or mold should be eliminated removing any unpleasant odor. 

HClO sanitizing water heals wounds faster

In a scientific paper published on HClO and wound healing, scientists found that HClO took an average of 12 seconds to remove bacteria from a wound. This plus, it helped promotewound healing and cell proliferation, and that it did not harm existing healthy cells. It should also be noted that this solution disrupted biofilm and increased cell migration.

Hypochlorous acid in medical

Now that you know the uses of hypochlorous acid, you probably want to know why you should use it regularly. The biggest benefit of hypochlorous acid is the antimicrobial effect it offers. It can have many uses in the medical world.

After a medical procedure, the use of antibiotics is not common because of the risk of developing bacterial resistance.

This is where hypochlorous acid can be useful to the industry. By using topical formulations of hypochlorous acid, healthcare professionals can use it for both pre-procedure preparations on the skin and for post-procedure wound care. The pantimicrobial properties of this compound are naturally produced by the body and have the potential to break down the cell walls of many viruses, spores and bacteria.

In addition, there are also immunological healing factors that can be associated with the use of hypochlorous acid. It is not a particularly aggressive antibacterial compound, which makes it quite effective at breaking down biofilm to reduce bacterial load and promote a healthy microbiome, which is essential for the body. 

In addition, hypochlorous acid has anti-pruritic and anti-inflammatory effects that may directly benefit healing wounds. It can improve patient comfort, promote the formation of healthy granulation tissue, improve wound healing, and reduce the risk of patients scratching wounds and causing infections.

Finally, HClO sanitizing water can help with blood supply and oxygenation. This compound can be used throughout the post-operative healing process due to its ability to promote a balanced and healthy microbiome in the body. It can also optimize skin health, increase oxygenation and reduce inflammation in the body. Hypochlorous acid is a newer approach to wound care and infection prevention after procedures, especially since it works extremely well for wound care.

To conclude about hypochlorous acid

The hypochlorous acid may have found sudden popularity thanks to COVID-19, but there are many benefits to support the popularity of this new approach. It is a versatile compound that can be used for many different purposes. It is primarily used as a disinfectant in a post-COVID-19 world, but there are many other uses for HClO for wound treatment, odour elimination and stain removal.