2018 · Zhu — Positive Effects of Hydrogen-Water Bathing in Patients of Psoriasis and Parapsoriasis en Plaques
Super-Abstract
In a parallel-controlled trial, hydrogen-water bathing achieved at least 75% improvement in psoriasis severity (PASI-75) in 24.4% of patients versus 2.9% in controls, with over half the patients reaching PASI-50 improvement. This is one of the few controlled H₂ studies in dermatology, targeting chronic inflammatory skin disease via topical H₂ exposure. (Scientific Reports, 2018.)
Commentary
Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease affecting approximately 2–3% of the global population. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are well-established contributors to its pathogenesis, making H₂ as a selective ROS scavenger a mechanistically sound candidate. This study uses hydrogen-water bathing — a topical delivery route distinct from drinking or inhalation — which allows direct skin contact with dissolved H₂. The parallel-controlled trial design (not a crossover) is appropriate given the chronic nature of psoriasis. The results are clinically meaningful: PASI-75 response (the standard threshold used in psoriasis clinical trials, also used for biologics) was achieved by 24.4% with H₂ bathing vs. 2.9% with control (OR = 0.094, P = 0.022). PASI-50 was achieved by 56.1% vs. 17.7% (P = 0.001). Pruritus (itch) also improved significantly. For the small parapsoriasis subgroup (n=6), complete response was seen in 33.3% and partial response in 66.7%. The study was published in Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group), lending additional credibility.
Key quotes
- „24.4% of patients (10/41) receiving hydrogen-water bathing achieved at least 75% improvement in Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score compared with 2.9% of patients (1/34) of the control group (Pc = 0.022, OR = 0.094, 95%CI = [0.011, 0.777]).“ — PASI-75 response rate — the clinically standard psoriasis benchmark — clearly favors H₂ bathing
- „56.1% (23/41) who received bathing achieved at least 50% improvement in PASI score compared with only 17.7% (6/34) of the control group (P = 0.001).“ — PASI-50 response: over half of H₂-bathing patients achieved meaningful clinical improvement
- „hydrogen-water bathing therapy could fulfill the unmet need for these chronic inflammatory skin diseases.“ — the authors' clinical conclusion — pointing to a real treatment gap H₂ could address
Our assessment
A clinically relevant controlled study in an indication with real unmet need. Published in a peer-reviewed Nature group journal. The PASI-75 benchmark gives this study contextual comparison with established psoriasis therapies. Limitations: the study is not blinded — it is difficult to blind patients to hydrogen-water bathing vs. regular water bathing; total n = 75 (41 treatment, 34 control) is modest; the H₂ concentration of the bath water and the bathing protocol (frequency, duration, water temperature) are not detailed in the available abstract; the parapsoriasis sub-analysis involves only 6 patients and is purely descriptive; no long-term follow-up data. The results are sufficiently strong to justify a larger, ideally sham-controlled trial.
Study design
- Type: parallel-controlled trial · n: 41 (H₂ bathing) + 34 (control) = 75 total · H₂ delivery: hydrogen-water bathing (topical); some patients also drank HRW
- Duration: 8 weeks · Primary outcomes: PASI score improvement (PASI-75 and PASI-50); pruritus score
- Result: PASI-75: 24.4% vs. 2.9% (P = 0.022); PASI-50: 56.1% vs. 17.7% (P = 0.001); significant pruritus improvement (P = 3.94 × 10⁻⁴); parapsoriasis: complete response 33.3%, partial 66.7% (n=6, descriptive only)
Abstract
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 diseases. We now report that hydrogen water, an effective ROS scavenger, has significant and rapid improvement in disease severity and quality of life for patients with psoriasis and parapsoriasis en plaques. At week 8, our parallel-controlled trial revealed 24.4% of patients (10/41) receiving hydrogen-water bathing achieved at least 75% improvement in Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score compared with 2.9% of patients (1/34) of the control group (Pc = 0.022, OR = 0.094, 95%CI = [0.011, 0.777]). Of patients, 56.1% (23/41) who received bathing achieved at least 50% improvement in PASI score compared with only 17.7%(6/34) of the control group (P = 0.001, OR = 0.168, 95%CI = [0.057, 0.492]). The significant improvement of pruritus was also observed (P = 3.94 × 10-4). Besides, complete response was observed in 33.3% of patients (2/6) of parapsoriasis en plaques and partial response in 66.7% (4/6) at week 8. Our findings suggested that hydrogen-water bathing therapy could fulfill the unmet need for these chronic inflammatory skin diseases.
Source & links
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