Hypochlorous Acid: The Disinfectant That Packs a Punch

What: Scientific American reports that there’s a new (old) skin cleaning agent on the block: Hypochlorous acid, a disinfecting agent, is more potent than bleach but safe to use on skin and approved by the FDA for various applications. And it’s becoming more common as a household item, thanks to developments extending its shelf-life.

Key Line: “Hypochlorous acid sprays now show up in my social feeds, promoted by influencers gushing about their skin-rejuvenating properties. Some of the products I’ve seen use specialty salts (truly unnecessary) and charge significantly more for the purported luxury. If I hadn’t first encountered this disinfectant in academic literature, I might have scrolled right past these ads, dismissing hypochlorous acid as just another snake oil sold to exploit people’s fears.”