Research Regarding HOCL (Hypochlorous acid)

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl)Sometimes referred to as HCLO (incorrectly), this is a molecule made up of 1 Hydrogen atom bonded to 1 Oxygen atom bonded to 1 Chlorine atom. The Chlorine and Hydrogen atoms are separated by the Oxygen atom between them. More on that bond will come later. plays significant roles in human health, particularly in the immune system. Here's why it might be considered among the top chemical compounds crucial for life:

• Immune System Defense:
• Neutrophil Activity: HOCl is produced by neutrophils⁹ as part of the body's first line of defense against pathogens. When neutrophils engulf bacteria or viruses, they release HOCl which acts as a potent antimicrobial agent, killing microbes by damaging their cellular components.
• Antimicrobial Properties:
• Broad-Spectrum Activity: HOCl is effective against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even some spores, making it a versatile disinfectant naturally used by the body.
• Wound Healing:
• Inflammation Control: HOCl helps to reduce inflammation at the site of injury while promoting healing by killing pathogens and cleaning the wound area.
• Skin Health:
• Protection and Repair: In topical applications or naturally on the skin, HOCl can help maintain skin health by controlling microbial growth and aiding in the repair of skin damage.
• Respiratory System:
  • Lung Protection: In the respiratory tract, HOCl contributes to the innate immunity by neutralizing pathogens that enter through inhalation.

The Bible says, in Leviticus 17:11 "For the life of the flesh is in the blood...." If we want to understand how life is impacted by blood, we must start looking at all the components.

The big picture starts with the "whole blood", by which it has been refered to for thousands of years. This unseparated blood is what we bleed when we're injured, and the most common type of blood donation, which can be used to treat patients who need all the components of blood.

Whole blood can be separated into its components using a process called blood fractionationWhole blood can be separated into its components using a process called blood fractionation. This is typically done by centrifuging the blood, which isolates the different components into layers:.^{centrifuged-1}

1. Neutrophils Activation:
• When the body detects pathogens, neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) are among the first responders. They are attracted to the site of infection through chemotaxis.
2. Phagocytosis:
• Neutrophils which are phagocytesA cell that can incorporate and store or break down solid particles (bacteria, other cells, foreign material, etc.). A sort of PacMan if you will. ^NCI-1 engulf bacteria, fungi, or other foreign particles in a process called phagocytosis, creating a phagosome.
3. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) Enzyme:
• Inside the phagosome, the neutrophil's granules release myeloperoxidase, an enzyme crucial for HOCl production.
4. Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂) and Chloride (Cl⁻):
   • Neutrophils also produce hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) through the action of NADPH oxidase, which converts oxygen to superoxide and then to H₂O₂.
   • Chloride ions (Cl⁻) are abundant in the body's fluids.
5. Catalysis by Myeloperoxidase:
• Myeloperoxidase catalyzes the reaction between hydrogen peroxide and chloride ions:
  • H2O2+Cl−+H+→HOCl+H2O
6. HOCl Formation:
• This reaction forms hypochlorous acid, which is a potent oxidizing agent. HOCl rapidly diffuses out of the phagosome into the surrounding environment, where it can attack and destroy pathogens by damaging their cell walls, enzymes, and nucleic acids.

• Cosmetic

Here's a list of some cosmetics that use Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) as an ingredient, based on the available information:

• BRIOTECH Hypochlorous Acid Spray:
• Description: This product is marketed as a topical skin spray for the face and body, aimed at supporting irritations, soothing redness, and helping with dry skin and scalp conditions. It's noted for its use in various contexts including post-athletic activities.
• Source: Skin Spray Webpage
• Comment: Posts found on X mention this product, indicating its availability on Amazon for $9.99.
• Prequel Skincare Products:
• Description: They offer products with hypochlorous acid, focusing on its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory properties for acne and rosacea management.
• Source: Blog Webpage
• Comment: Their product pages promotes various aspects of their HOCL products, and their claim is that they have vegan products, which indicate they may be Alpha Gal safe. Trust, but verify.
• Hyclo Skincare Products:
• Description: Hyclo harnesses the natural healing power of Hypochlorous Acid, your body's own defense against infection and inflammation, to offer a targeted skincare solution.
• Source: Products Webpage
• Comment: The website promotes the vegan aspect of their products. This implies that it would be Alpha Gal safe, but should be verified by contacting them directly.

Additional Notes:

• Formulations: HOCl is typically found in sprays, mists, serums, and some cleansers because of its stability and skin-friendly properties when diluted to the correct concentration.
• Concentration: The effectiveness and safety of HOCl in cosmetics depend on its concentration. Products usually contain it at concentrations between 100 to 200 parts per million (ppm).
• Compatibility: Due to its chemical nature, HOCl is not compatible with many other ingredients, leading to products that have a straightforward, minimal ingredient list.
• Applications: Beyond cosmetics, HOCl is used in wound care, sanitizing products, and even as part of oral care due to its antimicrobial properties.

This list is far from exhaustive, but these products represent some of the more well-known or frequently cited cosmetics containing HOCl. For the most current and comprehensive list, checking specialized skincare databases or directly visiting the websites of brands known for using HOCL would be beneficial. Be aware of the formulation and concentration which can significantly affect the product's efficacy and suitability for your skin type, so patch testing is always advisable.

• Farming
• Medical
• ³Electro-chemical HOCL bandages might save billions of dollars.
• Military
• DoD Sustainable Products Center: Portable On-Demand Hypochlorous Acid Disinfectant Cleaners
• Sanitation
• Veterinary
• Manufacturing^{Top Return}
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• FDA^{Top Return}
• FDA Food Contact Notification Regarding HOCL

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Added November 3 2024:
Epub 2014 Nov 24. Evaluation of sprayed hypochlorous acid solutions for their virucidal activity against avian influenza virus through in vitro experiments
• Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) solutions were evaluated for their virucidal ability against a low pathogenic avian influenza virus (AIVInfluenza A viruses have different subtypes and different lineages. Wild aquatic birds, are considered reservoirs (hosts) for avian influenza A viruses. ^CDC1), H7N1A subtype of the Avian Influenza Type A Viruses ^NIH1.
• Under plain diluent conditions (without FBSFetal Bovine Serum used as a 5% solution during this study. ^TFS1), harvested solutions of HOCl after spraying could decrease the AIV titerThe strength of a solution or the concentration of a substance in solution as determined by titration ^MWD1 by more than 1,000 times, to an undetectable level (< 2.5 log10TCID50/ml) within 5 sec.
• When HOCl solutions were sprayed directly on the virus on rayon sheets for 10 sec, the solutions of 100 and 200 ppm could inactivate AIV immediately after spraying
• In the indirect spray form, after 10 sec of spraying, the lids of the dishes were opened to expose the virus on rayon sheets to HOCl. In this form, the 200 ppm solution inactivated AIV within 10 min of contact, while 50 and 100 ppm could not inactivate it.
• These data suggest that HOCl can be used in spray form to inactivate AIV at the farm level.
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Added November 6 2024:
JPub 2022 Sep 14. Hypochlorous Acid Chemistry in Mammalian Cells—Influence on Infection and Role in Various Pathologies
• This review discusses the formation of hypochlorous acid HOCl and the role of reactive chlorinated species (RCS)Reactive chlorine species (RCS) are powerful oxidants that are important for public health and disinfection:.^JBC1, which are catalysed by the enzyme myeloperoxidase MPO, mainly located in leukocytesWhole blood can be separated into its components using a process called blood fractionation. This is typically done by centrifuging the blood, which isolates the different components into layers: ^NCI-2 and which in turn contribute to cellular oxidative stress.
• The reactions of RCS with various organic molecules such as amines, amino acids, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and DNA are described, and an attempt is made to explain the chemical mechanisms of the formation of the various chlorinated derivatives and the data available so far on the effects of MPO, RCS and halogenative stress.
• Among the most widespread reactive agents are reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical, as well as reactive chlorine species (RCS), such as hypochlorous acid ^PMC1
• MPOMyloperoxidase is the major component of white blood cells in humans
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Added November 10 2024:
Biotechnol Bioeng . 2022 Oct 7 Activity of a hypochlorous acid‐producing electrochemical bandage as assessed with a porcine explant biofilm model
• Hypochlorous acid‐producing electrochemical bandage (e‐bandage) in preventing methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection (MRSA) infection
• HOCl concentrations in infected and uninfected explant tissue varied between 30 and 80 µM, decreasing with increasing distance from the e‐bandage
• Eukaryotic cell viability was reduced by an average of 71% and 65% in fresh and day 3‐old explants, respectively, when compared to explants exposed to nonpolarized e‐bandages
• An estimated 2% of the United States population struggles with chronic wounds, a significant burden for affected patients and an over $50 billion per year cost to the healthcare system
• The presence of pathogenic biofilms in the wound‐beds hinders the normal process of wound recovery
• Biofilms are aggregates of microorganisms that express extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) which acts as a protective barrier against hazards to the cells within
• Microorganisms within biofilms alter the wound bed environment by secreting toxins and/or enzymes, creating alkaline conditions, or reducing oxygen concentration in the wound bed
• Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a common biocide, is active against MRSA
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Added December 8, 2024:
2019 Nov. 20; Wonder Spray (HOCL) Kills the Bacteria that Cause Strep Throat and Pneumonia
• The bacteria that is the cause of strep throat is Streptococcus pyogenes and one cause of pneumonia is infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae.
• Wonder sprayI was unable to determine the concentration used in testing. There are, as of Dec. 08, 2024, two concertrations of Dr. Burd's product; 180 ppm, and 0.02% (which is 200 ppm) is a new product with an active ingredient of Hypochlorous acid (HOCL) that has been FDA cleared for use in wound healing.
• We performed a kill time study to determine if HOCL was effective in killing Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae. We discovered that HOCL kills these bacteria with a 6-log reductionA 6-log reduction is a 99.9999% reduction. in less than 15 seconds.
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Added December 8, 2024:
Avenova OTC Antimicrobial Spray Solution 3 Pack
• CLEARER, HEALTHIER EYES START HERE – Avenova Antimicrobial Spray gently removes bacteria on lids and lashes without drying or irritating the sensitive skin around your eyes. Proper lid and lash hygiene is clinically proven to help with persistent eye frustrations like dry eye, blepharitis, styes, chalazion and contact lens discomfort.
• PURE RELIEF – Our patented solution contains 0.01% hypochlorous acid, a substance your body naturally produces to fight toxins and inflammation. Unlike other brands, Avenova does not contain any soaps, detergents, or bleach derivatives. Avenova contains only clean ingredients, packaged in an environmentally-friendly glass bottle to prevent plastic leaching.
• SAFE FOR DAILY USE – Avenova is safe for people of all ages to incorporate into their daily routine (think about Avenova as toothpaste for your eyes!). Apply in the morning and before bed, or anytime you experience dry or itchy eyes. Avenova is proudly made in the USA.
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Added December 12, 2024:
2018 Nov 1; Status Report on Topical Hypochlorous Acid: Clinical Relevance of Specific Formulations, Potential Modes of Action, and Study Outcomes
• In-vitro and in-vivo studies have supported antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and other biologic properties of hypochlorous acid (HOCl), which has led to its use in the treatment of skin wounds, pruritus, diabetic ulcers, and some inflammatory skin disorders.
• The authors summarize relevant study outcomes and potential modes of action related to this core HOCI formulation, as well as describe its ready-to-use vehicles that are approved and available for topical application.
• NIH-2 Both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory properties appear to correlate with clinical benefits of HOCl when used for the treatment of various skin disorders, including AD/atopic skin, seborrheic dermatitis, lower extremity diabetic ulcers, pruritus, and acne vulgaris.
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Added December 12, 2024:
Epub 2020 Jan 6. Topical stabilized hypochlorous acid: The future gold standard for wound care and scar management in dermatologic and plastic surgery procedures
• HOCl is active against biofilm and increases oxygenation of the wound site to improve healing. Natural HOCl is unstable; through technology, it can be stabilized into an effective topical antiseptic agent.
• This paper focuses on the use of topical stabilized HOCl in wound and scar management for pre-, peri-, and postprocedures-including its ability to reduce the occurrence hypertrophic scars and keloids.
• For wound care and scar management, topical stabilized HOCl conveys powerful microbicidal and antibiofilm properties, in addition to potency as a topical wound healing agent. It may offer physicians an alternative to other less desirable wound care measures.
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Added December 12, 2024:
2021 Jun 11: Topical hypochlorous acid (HOCl) blocks inflammatory gene expression and tumorigenic progression in UV-exposed SKH-1 high risk mouse skin
• DysregulatedIn medical terms, dysregulation can refer to a condition where a process in the body is not controlled normally. HOCl production has been shown to contribute to a variety of human pathologies (such as atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, neuroinflammation, and cancer)
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Added December 14, 2024:
2023 Nov 30; Candida albicans resistance to hypochlorous acid
• Innate immune cells, especially neutrophils, play key roles in protecting against infection by Candida albicans and other fungal pathogens.
• A distinct aspect of neutrophils compared to other phagocytes is that they make much higher levels of myeloperoxidase, which converts H2O2 generated during the oxidative burst into highly reactive hypochlorous acid (HOCl).
• Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), commonly known as bleach, is generated during the respiratory burst by phagocytes and is a key weapon used to attack Candida albicans and other microbial pathogens.
• HOCl kills C. albicans more effectively than H2O2 and results in disruption of the plasma membrane.
• myeloperoxidase deficiency is associated with a greater risk of infection by C. albicans in patients with other underlying diseases such as diabetes
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Added December 17, 2024:
2020 Jun 25; Hypochlorous Acid: A Review
• Innate immune cells, especially neutrophils, play key roles in protecting against infection by Candida albicans and other fungal pathogens.
• A distinct aspect of neutrophils compared to other phagocytes is that they make much higher levels of myeloperoxidase, which converts H2O2 generated during the oxidative burst into highly reactive hypochlorous acid (HOCl).
• Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), commonly known as bleach, is generated during the respiratory burst by phagocytes and is a key weapon used to attack Candida albicans and other microbial pathogens.
• HOCl kills C. albicans more effectively than H2O2 and results in disruption of the plasma membrane.
• myeloperoxidase deficiency is associated with a greater risk of infection by C. albicans in patients with other underlying diseases such as diabetes
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Added December 20, 2024:
2024 May 29;The HOCl dry fog–is it safe for human cells?
• This study aims to investigate if high-concentration HOCl fogging disinfection causes cytotoxicity and genotoxicity to cultured primary human skin fibroblasts.
• The cells were exposed to a dry fog of HOCl produced from solutions with a concentration of 300 ppm (5.72 mM) or 500 ppm (9.53 mM).
• After four times when fibroblasts were exposed to aerosolized HOCl at a concentration of 500 ppm for 9 minutes, significant cytotoxicity and genotoxicity effects were observed.
• No analogous damages were found when the cells were exposed to aerosolized HOCl generated from a 300-ppm solution for 3 minutes, whether once or four times.
• We have concluded that aerosolized HOCl in dry fog, with a concentration exceeding 300 ppm, can cause cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on human skin fibroblasts.