Hydrogen Water Improves Skin Drug Absorption in Lab Study
Effect of several electrolyzed waters on the skin permeation of lidocaine, benzoic Acid, and isosorbide mononitrate
Research hubs: Skin & Dermatology System
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.
- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- Toshihiko Kitamura, Hiroaki Todo, Kenji Sugibayashi
- Journal
- Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy
- Year
- 2009
- PMID
- 19065312
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Outcome
- Neutral
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 11 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Special types of water can change how easily medications pass through the skin, potentially improving how topical drugs and cosmetics work.
Key Finding
Alkaline electrolyzed reducing water significantly enhanced skin penetration of basic and non-ionized compounds, while acidic electrolyzed oxidizing water preferentially enhanced penetration of acidic compounds.
Summary
Researchers tested whether electrolyzed water (water treated with electricity to change its chemical properties) could help medicines pass through skin more effectively. Using rat skin samples, they found that alkaline electrolyzed water increased how much of certain drugs penetrated the skin, while acidic electrolyzed water had different effects depending on the drug type. The researchers suggest these electrolyzed waters could potentially be used in topical medicines or cosmetics to improve drug delivery through skin.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage laboratory study using rat skin, not human testing, so its relevance to actual use of hydrogen water on human skin remains unclear. While the results suggest electrolyzed waters may have potential as a delivery system for topical medicines, this study does not provide evidence about health benefits of drinking hydrogen water or using it cosmetically on intact skin.
Abstract (excerpt)
The effects of several electrolyzed waters were evaluated on the permeation of model base, acid and non-ionized compounds, lidocaine (LC), benzoic acid (BA), and isosorbide mononitrate (ISMN), respectively, through excised hairless rat skin. Strong alkaline-electrolyzed reducing water (ERW)…