HOCl vs. Bleach: What’s the Difference?

A common—and understandable—mix-up: hypochlorous acid and bleach (sodium hypochlorite) sound alike and are even distant chemical relatives, but they behave very differently on skin.

Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), commonly associated with household bleach, are different chemical species with different properties and applications.

Bleach is highly alkaline and can be caustic. Lumi Derma is formulated at a near-neutral pH, which is why it can be used directly on the face and neck without the harshness associated with bleach. Think of it less as “diluted bleach” and more as a lab-made version of what your own immune cells already produce.