skin disease

34 papers

Research evidence summary

Q: Does molecular hydrogen help with skin disease?

A: Of 34 peer-reviewed papers, 27 reported a positive effect (the most common), 1 limited/mixed, 0 negative, 6 not assessed. Study mix: 8 human (1 RCT), 20 animal/basic, 4 meta-analysis or synthesis. The most studied delivery route is topical application. The above aggregates published research and does not constitute a clinically established conclusion. See the individual paper pages for details and Safety notes for inhalation safety. (last updated 2026-05-15)

Evidence breakdown
Human	8	of which RCT	1
Animal/basic	20	Synthesis/meta	4
Reported effect	positive 27 ・ limited/mixed 1 ・ negative 0 ・ not assessed 6

Read the safety notes →

Delivery-method distribution

topical application: 8 mixed routes: 8 hydrogen-rich water: 6 in vitro: 4 inhalation: 3 hydrogen bath: 3 not specified: 2

Transcriptome-Based Evaluation of Hydrogen Gas Effects for Preventing UVA-Induced Photoaging Using an Artificial Skin Model.
2026 ・ Geriatr Gerontol Int ・ PMID 41749059

in vitro positive in vitro study
Molecular Hydrogen Attenuates Chronic Inflammation and Delays the Onset of Ultraviolet B-Induced Skin Carcinogenesis in Mice.
2026 ・ Int J Mol Sci ・ PMID 41596287

mixed routes positive animal study
Exploratory Evaluation of Hydrogen-Rich Water Therapy for Keloid Management: A Double-Blinded Randomized Pilot Trial.
2026 ・ Aesthetic Plast Surg ・ PMID 41545661

hydrogen-rich water positive human randomized controlled trial
Hydrogen ameliorates psoriasis-like skin inflammation via inhibiting the cGAS-STING pathway.
2026 ・ Clin Exp Immunol ・ PMID 41533764

mixed routes positive animal study
Transdermal hydrogen therapy for psoriasis using cavity-embedded double-conical microneedles.
2025 ・ J Control Release ・ PMID 41083007

topical application positive animal study
Adjunctive molecular hydrogen therapy for refractory malar rash in systemic lupus erythematosus: A case report with immunological insights.
2025 ・ SAGE Open Med Case Rep ・ PMID 40964664

hydrogen-rich water positive human case report
Topically Applied Molecular Hydrogen Normalizes Skin Parameters Associated with Oxidative Stress: A Pilot Study.
2025 ・ Antioxidants (Basel) ・ PMID 40563361

topical application positive human case report
Molecular Hydrogen Ameliorates Anti-Desmoglein 1 Antibody-Induced Pemphigus-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress.
2025 ・ Int J Mol Sci ・ PMID 40362440

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
Advanced Glycation End Products and Skin Autoimmune Disorders: Pathogenic Insights into Vitiligo, Bullous Pemphigoid, and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.
2025 ・ Curr Med Chem ・ PMID 40289982

hydrogen-rich water not assessed review
Progress in the Application of Molecular Hydrogen in Medical Skin Cosmetology.
2025 ・ Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol ・ PMID 40061044

mixed routes not assessed review
Hydrogen-rich water ameliorates imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin lesions and regulates macrophage polarization in dyslipidemic ApoE-deficient mice.
2025 ・ Eur J Pharmacol ・ PMID 39923825

hydrogen-rich water positive animal study
Molecular hydrogen reduces dermatitis-induced itch, diabetic itch and cholestatic itch by inhibiting spinal oxidative stress and synaptic plasticity via SIRT1-β-catenin pathway in mice.
2025 ・ Redox Biol ・ PMID 39752998

mixed routes positive animal study
Effect and mechanism of hydrogen-rich bath on mice with imiquimod-induced psoriasis.
2023 ・ Exp Dermatol ・ PMID 37391861

hydrogen bath positive animal study
Hydrogen Attenuates Inflammation by Inducing Early M2 Macrophage Polarization in Skin Wound Healing.
2023 ・ Pharmaceuticals (Basel) ・ PMID 37375833

inhalation positive animal study
Mast Cells in Regeneration of the Skin in Burn Wound with Special Emphasis on Molecular Hydrogen Effect.
2023 ・ Pharmaceuticals (Basel) ・ PMID 36986447

mixed routes positive animal study
Intermittent environmental exposure to hydrogen prevents skin photoaging through reduction of oxidative stress.
2023 ・ Geriatr Gerontol Int ・ PMID 36807963

inhalation positive animal study
Two-Dimensional MgSi Nanosheet-Enabled Sustained Hydrogen Generation for Improved Repair and Regeneration of Deeply Burned Skin.
2023 ・ Adv Healthc Mater ・ PMID 36546774

topical application positive in vitro study
Hydrogen-producing Photocatalyst at Sunscreen for Athletes in Preventing and Healing Muscle-nerve-skin Injuries.
2023 ・ Curr Top Med Chem ・ PMID 36529921

topical application not assessed review
Prophylactic Instillation of Hydrogen-Rich Water Decreases Corneal Inflammation and Promotes Wound Healing by Activating Antioxidant Activity in a Rat Alkali Burn Model.
2022 ・ Int J Mol Sci ・ PMID 36077171

topical application positive animal study
Hydrogen-rich bath with nano-sized bubbles improves antioxidant capacity based on oxygen radical absorbing and inflammation levels in human serum.
2022 ・ Med Gas Res ・ PMID 34854419

hydrogen bath positive human observational study
Retraction Note: Therapeutic effect of molecular hydrogen in corneal UVB-induced oxidative stress and corneal photodamage.
2021 ・ Sci Rep ・ PMID 33893385

not specified not assessed other
Role of Molecular Hydrogen in Skin Diseases and its Impact in Beauty.
2021 ・ Curr Pharm Des ・ PMID 32981497

mixed routes not assessed review
Antioxidant Activity of Hydrogen Water Mask Pack Composed of Gel-Type Emulsion and Hydrogen Generation Powder.
2020 ・ Int J Mol Sci ・ PMID 33419292

topical application positive human observational study
Molecular Hydrogen Protects Human Melanocytes from Oxidative Stress by Activating Nrf2 Signaling.
2020 ・ J Invest Dermatol ・ PMID 32234461

in vitro positive in vitro study
Effects of hydrogen-rich water bath on visceral fat and skin blotch, with boiling-resistant hydrogen bubbles.
2019 ・ Med Gas Res ・ PMID 31249254

hydrogen bath mixed human case report