One-Month Trial of HOCl: An Observational Pilot Study

Abstract

The search for a clearly superior aid to wound healing that meets the unique needs of the hair transplant surgeon has been fraught with frustration and littered with failed attempts.^1,2 Hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine, isopropyl alcohol, and betadine have been used for their antibacterial properties.^2,3 Copper peptide, silicone, hydrocolloid, and others have been used for their accelerative healing properties with mixed results. As of 2007 hypochlorous acid (HOCl), which has both antibacterial and wound healing properties, had never been used as a pharmaceutical drug, and as of 2021, it has not been described in the literature specific to hair transplant procedures. We investigated the use of medical grade HOCl as a routine component of both intra-operative hair transplant procedures (both linear excision and follicular unit excision) and as a post-operative wound healing aid.