Special Acid Solution Heals Stubborn Infected Skin Wounds
- Authors
- Shuichi Sekiya, Kitaro Ohmori, Kiyonori Harii
- Journal
- Artificial Organs
- Year
- 1997
- DOI
- 10.1111/j.1525-1594.1997.tb00696.x
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Chronic Skin Ulcers
- Body System
- Integumentary
TL;DR
Washing chronic, infection-prone ulcers with a strong acid water solution can significantly improve healing and reduce infection.
Key Finding
In a small case series of 15 patients with chronic infected ulcers, electrolyzed strong acid aqueous solution produced healing in 7 cases, tissue regeneration in 3 cases, and infection control in 5 cases.
Summary
This study looked at treating chronic infected skin ulcers (open wounds that won't heal) with electrolyzed strong acid aqueous solution—a liquid created by passing electricity through acidic water. Researchers treated 15 patients with hard-to-heal ulcers, including some with antibiotic-resistant infections, by washing or soaking the wounds in this solution twice daily. Seven patients' wounds fully healed, three developed new tissue growth, and five had their infections reduce; most wounds also became less swollen and produced less discharge or odor.
Practical Takeaway
While this early human evidence suggests electrolyzed strong acid aqueous solution may help treat resistant skin infections, the study is very small (15 patients), lacks a comparison group, and provides no details on how long treatment took or whether improvements lasted. This is not the same as hydrogen water and should not be considered established medical treatment without larger, controlled studies. Anyone with chronic infected wounds should consult a healthcare provider rather than relying on this approach alone.
Abstract
Abstract: A chronic ulcer with an infection such as methicil‐lin‐resistant Staphylococcus uureus is hard to heal. Plastic and reconstructive surgeons often encounter such chronic ulcers that are resistant to surgical or various conservative treatments. We applied conservative treatment using an electrolyzed strong acid aqueous solution and obtained satisfactory results. The lesion was washed with the solution or soaked in a bowl of the solution for approximately 20 min twice a day. Fresh electrolyzed strong acid aqueous solution is unstable and should be stored in a cool, dark site in a sealed bottle. It should be used within a week after it has been produced. Here we report on 15 cases of infectious ulcers that were treated by electrolyzed strong acid aqueous solution. Of these cases, 7 patients were healed, 3 were well granulated, and in 5, infection subsided. In most cases the lesion became less reddish and less edematous. Discharge or foul odor from the lesion was decreased. Electrolyzed strong acid aqueous solution was especially effective for treating a chronic refractory ulcer combined with diabetes meli‐tus or peripheral circulatory insufficiency. This clinically applied therapy of electrolyzed strong acid aqueous solution was found to be effective so that this new therapeutic technique for ulcer treatment can now be conveniently utilized.