Hydrogen Water Baths Help Clear Psoriasis and Reduce Skin Inflammation

Summary by Hydrogen Studies Editorial Team · Updated

Authors
Journal
Scientific Reports
Year
DOI
10.1038/s41598-018-26388-3
Study Type
Human
Outcome
Positive
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Country
China
Health Condition
Psoriasis
Body System
Integumentary

TL;DR

Bathing in hydrogen water significantly improves skin condition and reduces itching for patients with psoriasis and parapsoriasis en plaques.

Key Finding

After 8 weeks, 24.4% of patients bathing in hydrogen water achieved at least 75% improvement in psoriasis severity compared to only 2.9% in the control group, and 56.1% achieved at least 50% improvement versus 17.7% in controls.

Summary

This study tested whether bathing in hydrogen-enriched water could help people with psoriasis and parapsoriasis en plaques (chronic inflammatory skin conditions). Researchers compared 41 patients who bathed in hydrogen water to 34 control patients over 8 weeks. The hydrogen water group showed greater improvement in skin severity scores and itching compared to the control group, suggesting that hydrogen water's ability to neutralize harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species may help reduce inflammation in these skin diseases.

Practical Takeaway

This small human study suggests hydrogen-water bathing may support improvement in psoriasis and related skin conditions, particularly for itching. However, the study size is modest and longer-term effects are unknown; anyone with psoriasis should discuss hydrogen water as a complementary approach with their dermatologist rather than as a replacement for established treatments.

Abstract (excerpt)

Psoriasis and parapsoriasis en plaques are chronic inflammatory skin diseases, both representing therapeutic challenge in daily practice and adversely affecting the quality of life. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been evidenced to be involved in the pathogenesis of the chronic inflammatory…

Read the full abstract via DOI