Finding the Right HOCI PPM for Sensitive Skin

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a substance your body naturally produces as part of its immune defence system. Because it is native to our biology, it’s often described as both incredibly gentle and highly effective. This is exactly why it’s increasingly used in skincare, particularly for those managing sensitive, reactive skin, eczema, or Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW).

If you’ve been researching the best hypochlorous acid spray products for skin, you’ve probably noticed that many bottles look remarkably similar. They often use identical language and describe their benefits in broadly the same way.

But once you look a little deeper, important differences start to appear.

Differences in formulation, from the concentration (measured in PPM) and pH level to the additional ingredients used, can drastically change how a hypochlorous acid solution feels on a compromised skin barrier.

Why I Started Looking into HOCl Spray for Eczema and TSW

Even though I healed my own skin years ago, I still spend my time supporting others within the Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW) and eczema communities. Through our bath soak and the daily conversations, we have with our customers, I get a first-hand look at what is currently working, and what isn’t.

Over time, I started seeing more and more people talking about using hypochlorous acid spray for skin irritation.

The feedback, however, was mixed. Some people found the sprays incredibly soothing and refreshing. Others mentioned that it felt harsh, caused stinging, or left their skin feeling tight and dry, especially with continued use.

Because people weren’t all having the same experience, I decided to look into the science of HOCl more closely.

Going through severe eczema and TSW changes how you look at skincare products. It forces you to pay far more attention to labels, ingredient purity, and formulation standards. That’s part of what drew me to hypochlorous acid in the first place: the formulations are typically very minimal, which perfectly aligns with our philosophy that when it comes to reactive skin, less is always more.

How to Use Hypochlorous Acid Spray in a Skincare Routine

The main reason hypochlorous acid has become a cult-favourite ingredient is because of its well-known antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. But in reality, how people use it day-to-day is much simpler.

It isn’t a replacement for your core skincare routine, but rather an on-the-go tool to reach for when skin suddenly feels hot, sweaty, itchy, or irritated.

Small, everyday factors like heat, sweat, environmental allergens, or sudden temperature changes can all trigger an eczema flare-up. For some people, sweating causes intense itching during or after exercise. This discomfort can be enough to put people off working out entirely, even though staying active is vital for overall health and circulation.

If exercise triggers your skin, I've written more about exercise, sweating, and sensitive skin

From speaking to our customers, I know many try to exercise but often rely on using our bath soak afterward to calm their skin and unwind. While that is highly effective, it isn’t always practical when you’re out running errands, at work, or traveling in warmer weather.

In those moments, having a convenient, portable hypochlorous acid mist just makes life easier.

Tip: Some people prefer to keep their sprays in the fridge. Applying a chilled HOCl mist feels especially cooling and refreshing on hot, burning skin after activity.

Why Formulation Matters: Understanding Hypochlorous Acid PPM

Even though hypochlorous acid is a simple molecule, not every product on the market is manufactured the same way.

Some solutions are kept purely minimal, typically containing just water, a tiny amount of salt, and the hypochlorous acid generated during the electrolysis process. Others include additional stabilizers or preservatives to extend shelf life, which can change how the product behaves on sensitive skin over time.

For those with a broken skin barrier, simpler formulations are always more predictable. However, the biggest differentiator between products is the PPM (Parts Per Million), which dictates the strength of the active HOCl.

When looking at the community, I noticed that whenever people asked for recommendations, the conversation almost always recommended the cheapest hypochlorous acid spray, as if they were all completely interchangeable. Yet, the PPM concentration was rarely mentioned.

Understanding PPM is the key to knowing why one spray might soothe your skin while another irritates it.

Lower Concentrations (20–50 PPM)

Lower concentrations are often designed for frequent, everyday use on highly delicate skin. They tend to feel very gentle and are usually marketed for babies or general facial mists. However, because the strength is low, many people with severe eczema or intense itching find that it doesn't offer enough relief when their skin is actively flaring.

Higher Concentrations (200+ PPM)

Higher concentrations are often found in medical-grade cleansers, wound care solutions, or products originally developed for environmental sanitization rather than regular cosmetic use. On sensitive or thin skin, a high PPM can feel highly noticeable upon application, cause a slight stinging sensation, and become distinctly drying with repeated use.

Finding the Sweet Spot: Why We Chose 140 PPM

Guided by Real World Feedback

We didn't just formulate this in a lab and rush it straight to shelves. Before we even considered a public launch, we sent our 140 PPM batches out to a group of testers within the sensitive skin and TSW communities to trial over several months.

Because reactive skin goes through unpredictable cycles of flaring and healing, a quick first impression simply wasn't enough. We wanted real-world feedback on how the formula performed over the long term, ensuring it consistently calmed their skin, never caused tightness or dryness over time, and remained dependable through different stages of their skin journey. Only after months of overwhelming validation from our testers did we know we had truly found the perfect formula and officially decided to launch it.

This specific concentration sits in an optimal range that is:

• Effective and noticeable: Designed to feel supportive without being overwhelming.
• Non-drying: Comfortable even with regular daily application.
• Designed for reactive skin: Developed with sensitive, eczema-prone, and TSW skin in mind.

If you want to see how this balanced approach translates into a finished product, you can explore our 140 PPM hypochlorous acid spray.

Where HOCl Fits Into a NMT or MW Routine

This spray isn’t a replacement for an immersive, therapeutic bath; it is a tool designed to fit alongside it for the moments in between. It is about convenience, something you can mist throughout the day without having to plan your afternoon around it.

Furthermore, for many people in the TSW community exploring Moisturizer Withdrawal (MW) or a No-Moisturizer Approach (NMT), applying heavy, occlusive creams throughout the day can trap heat and trigger intense itch cycles.

In those cases, a lightweight, water-based hypochlorous acid spray offers a way to refresh and clean the skin without disrupting a routine that relies on avoiding heavy topicals.

I’ve written more about the moisturiser withdrawal approach here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hypochlorous Acid for Skin

Can I use hypochlorous acid spray every day?

Yes, hypochlorous acid is safe for daily use. Because it mimics the substances naturally produced by your body's white blood cells, it does not cause the typical irritation or barrier disruption associated with traditional antimicrobials. However, the frequency should depend on the concentration. A balanced formula is ideal for multiple daily applications to calm flare-ups, whereas formulas exceeding 200 PPM may become drying if used too frequently.

Does hypochlorous acid dry out the skin?

On its own, pure hypochlorous acid is not inherently drying. However, because it is a water-based mist, the evaporation process can pull moisture away from a damaged skin barrier if it isn't locked in with a proper routine. Furthermore, products with a very high PPM concentration (200+) or those formulated with excess salt can leave a residue that feels tight. Choosing a mid-range concentration helps prevent that tight, dry feeling after it dries.

Can I use hypochlorous acid spray on fabrics?

Yes! Many people incorporate HOCl sprays into other parts of their hygiene routine. A light mist on items like pillowcases, bed sheets, or hats between washes can help keep fabrics feeling fresh and clean, which is particularly helpful during warmer months. Just be sure to allow the fabrics to fully air-dry after misting.

How should HOCl be packaged?

Hypochlorous acid is a sensitive molecule that can quickly degrade and lose its potency when exposed to direct light. Because of this, packaging matters immensely for shelf life. We use high-density polyethylene (HDPE) packaging, which completely shields the solution from light degradation during storage and everyday use.

Is hypochlorous acid safe and regulated?

Trust is everything when dealing with compromised skin. In the UK and EU, any product sold for cosmetic use must hold a Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR). Our hypochlorous acid spray has been strictly developed within this regulatory framework and holds a full CPSR, ensuring it meets rigorous safety standards.

Final Thoughts: Look Beyond the Label

Hypochlorous acid is often marketed in very simplistic terms. But behind that simplicity, the details matter.

How a product is formulated, its exact PPM concentration, and how it is balanced can completely shape your skin's reaction. If you are currently browsing hypochlorous acid spray products, remember to look beyond the front label. Finding a reliable, balanced formula can make a world of difference when your skin barrier is searching for calm.