Topically Applied Molecular Hydrogen Normalizes Skin Parameters Associated with Oxidative Stress: A Pilot Study
Debkowska N et al. · Antioxidants (Basel). 2025;14(6):729.
Study at a glance
Human
Healthy adults across three age groups
Standardized topical facial treatments using freshly generated alkaline hydrogen-rich water · Approximately 2.066–2.091 ppm dissolved H₂; pH about 10.38–10.49 and ORP about −204 to −212 mV.
4 weeks; final assessment one week after the last treatment
Pore visibility improved significantly, especially in younger participants. Porphyrin change was not statistically significant; other image-derived parameters showed reported changes. No adverse effects were reported.
Uncontrolled cosmetic pilot with 15 participants, short follow-up, many image-derived outcomes and no clinical disease population. The Medical University of Bialystok funded the study; authors declared no conflicts.
What kind of evidence is this?
Human
Prospective uncontrolled single-arm pilot study
Skin, wound and aging research
Other forms
Information not yet classified
Some editorial classification fields are still pending. The source-reported outcomes and result are shown below; Hydrogenology does not infer a positive or negative signal from prose automatically.
Methods
Healthy adults across three age groups
15 participants
4 weeks; final assessment one week after the last treatment
Standardized topical facial treatments using freshly generated alkaline hydrogen-rich water
H₂ dissolved in water for topical application — H₂ only, not Brown’s gas.
Approximately 2.066–2.091 ppm dissolved H₂; pH about 10.38–10.49 and ORP about −204 to −212 mV.
No control group
Outcomes and reported result
Image-derived pores, porphyrins, pigmentation, wrinkles and estimated biological skin age
Pore visibility improved significantly, especially in younger participants. Porphyrin change was not statistically significant; other image-derived parameters showed reported changes. No adverse effects were reported.
Intervention, full results, funding and conflict statement checked in the open-access full text; independent appraisal remains incomplete.
A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit.
Limitations and applicability
Uncontrolled cosmetic pilot with 15 participants, short follow-up, many image-derived outcomes and no clinical disease population. The Medical University of Bialystok funded the study; authors declared no conflicts.
Healthy adults receiving the reported topical facial procedure; not treatment of a diagnosed skin disease.
No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
PMID: 40563361 · DOI: 10.3390/antiox14060729
Open-access publisher and PMC full texts are available.
Open-access PMC and publisher full texts plus PubMed bibliographic record.
10 August 2026
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