There are several hypochlorous acid (HOCl) wound cleansers on the market. Still, throughout my experience as a wound care nurse, Vashe Wound Care Solution has been the standard product used across health systems, and I have seen excellent results with it. Vashe is a gentle wound-cleaning solution designed to clean your skin and help it heal safely. Its main ingredient, hypochlorous acid (HOCl), is a natural chemical your body already makes to fight germs. Unlike traditional wound cleansers (antiseptics) such as hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, iodine, merthiolate, and witch hazel, Vashe does not harm healthy skin cells, making it a kinder, more effective option for wound care.
Many older antiseptics are cytotoxic, meaning they can damage healthy cells in the wound and slow recovery. While some have clinical uses, they should be used only under a healthcare professional’s guidance. Vashe avoids this problem by providing strong antimicrobial action without harming your skin.
Where to Find Vashe
Vashe is available through several retailers online, but you can also find it conveniently on Amazon here.
How Vashe works
Vashe cleans wounds by gently washing away germs, dirt, and dead tissue. Its HOCl ingredient mimics your body’s natural infection-fighting chemicals. This broad-spectrum antimicrobial action helps prevent infection without being harsh on healthy skin.
Vashe can be used on a variety of small but important wounds, including:
- Scrapes and minor cuts
- Small burns or skin irritations
- Pressure sores from sitting or lying for prolonged periods
- Post-surgery cleaning
- Chronic wounds, such as diabetic or venous ulcers
Benefits
- Gentle and Safe: Vashe is soft on your skin and won’t sting or hurt healthy skin cells. Your healthy skin cells (such as fibroblasts and keratinocytes) remain intact and can help repair the wound. In a study on chronic wounds, stabilized HOCl (the active ingredient in Vashe) reduces bacterial “bioburden” (the number of microbes in a wound) while supporting wound closure, unlike some more potent agents, which can impair healing.
- Skin-Friendly pH: Your skin has a natural pH of around 5.5, and Vashe is formulated with a pH of 3.5 to 5.5. This skin-friendly pH and the absence of harsh chemicals make it well-suited for older or sensitive skin, reducing irritation and improving comfort.
- No Harsh Chemicals: Vashe (HOCl) doesn’t depend on alcohol, peroxide, or other strong chemical antiseptics, which can affect wound healing and be painful. Clinical evaluations suggest it avoids many of the drawbacks of older antiseptics.
- Clinically trusted: it is used in many U.S. hospitals, and in an outpatient clinical study, Vashe therapy (HOCl) was added to standard wound care for patients with leg ulcers. After treatment, 86% of wounds healed, and in those that did not fully close, the average wound size reduced by nearly half. Patients also reported no pain by the end of the study, and the wound odor completely resolved.
How to Use Vashe at Home
When using Vashe, be sure to follow all the recommended steps for proper minor-wound care.
- Apply enough Vashe to cover the wound and a little surrounding skin.
- With sterile gauze, gently clean the area.
- Cover the wound with a dressing and change it at least once daily or sooner if it gets wet or dirty. Clean wound with Vashe and sterile gauze at each dressing change.
- Stop using Vashe and contact a healthcare provider if there are any signs of infection.
Follow the instructions on the package and consult a doctor if the wound isn’t improving or appears to be worsening.