Hydrogen Water Bathing Reduces Wrinkles and Protects Skin from UV Damage
Hydrogen-rich electrolyzed warm water represses wrinkle formation against UVA ray together with type-I collagen production and oxidative-stress diminishment in fibroblasts and cell-injury prevention in keratinocytes
Research hubs: Skin Aging · Skin & Dermatology System
- Authors
- Shinya Kato, Yasukazu Saitoh, Keizou Iwai, Nobuhiko Miwa
- Journal
- Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology
- Year
- 2012
- PMID
- 22070900
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Participants
- 6
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Dose
- HW-bathing every day for 3 months
- H₂ concentration
- 0.2-0.4 ppm
- Duration
- 3 months
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 65 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Hydrogen-rich warm water improved skin health by reducing wrinkles and protecting against UV damage in cells and human subjects.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich water increased type-I collagen production 1.85- to 2.03-fold in skin fibroblasts and significantly reduced UV-induced cell damage and free radical generation in lab-grown skin cells.
Summary
Researchers tested hydrogen-rich water (water with extra dissolved hydrogen created through electrolysis) against UV damage in skin cells grown in the lab. They found that hydrogen-rich water boosted collagen production in fibroblasts (cells that give skin its structure) and protected keratinocytes (surface skin cells) from UV damage by reducing harmful molecules called free radicals. In a small 3-month trial, six people who bathed in hydrogen-rich water showed visible wrinkle improvement on the back of their necks.
Practical Takeaway
This early research suggests hydrogen-rich water may help protect skin from UV damage and support collagen production, based on lab studies and a very small human trial. However, the human evidence is limited to six people over three months, and the study did not include a control group (people using regular water for comparison), so stronger evidence would be needed before drawing firm conclusions about its effectiveness for wrinkle prevention.
Abstract (excerpt)
Hydrogen-rich electrolyzed warm water (HW) was prepared at 41°C and exhibited dissolved hydrogen (DH) of 1.13 ppm and an oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of -741 mV in contrast to below 0.01 ppm and+184 mV for regular warm water (RW). Fibroblasts OUMS-36 and keratinocytes HaCaT were used…