Hydrogen Water Reduces Keloid Scars and Pain in New Clinical Trial

Summary by Hydrogen Studies Editorial Team · Updated

Authors
Journal
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Year
DOI
10.1007/s00266-025-05512-5
Study Type
Human
Outcome
Positive
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Country
China
Health Condition
Keloids
Body System
Integumentary

TL;DR

Hydrogen-rich water reduced pain, itching, and inflammation in keloid patients by improving inflammatory and tissue-repair signaling.

Key Finding

Keloid patients who drank hydrogen-rich water reported significantly less pain and itching, and showed reduced inflammatory markers and improved scar appearance compared to the control group.

Summary

This small pilot study tested whether drinking hydrogen-rich water could help patients with keloids (thick, raised scars) feel better and reduce inflammation. Twenty-one keloid patients were randomly assigned to drink either hydrogen-rich water or regular water for an unspecified period. Patients drinking hydrogen-rich water reported less pain and itching, and their scars showed improvement on clinical measures. Laboratory tests showed that hydrogen-rich water reduced inflammatory markers (chemical signals that promote inflammation) and increased anti-inflammatory markers.

Practical Takeaway

This is a small pilot study (21 patients) that suggests hydrogen-rich water may help reduce keloid symptoms and inflammation, but the results are preliminary. The study duration and exact dosing were not reported, making it difficult to know what dose or timeline might be relevant. Much larger studies are needed before hydrogen-rich water can be recommended as a keloid treatment.

Abstract (excerpt)

Background: Clinical or experimental trials have shown that hydrogen-rich water has anti-inflammatory properties, but its use for keloids has not been studied. This research explores HRW's therapeutic potential and mechanism for keloid treatment. Methods: 21 keloid patients scheduled for two-stage…

Read the full abstract via DOI