There is a groundswell happening right now in wound care environments.

That is, clinicians are increasingly recognizing that healing extends beyond the wound bed itself.

While wound bed preparation and infection control remain foundational, the health of the periwound region (the skin immediately surrounding the wound) is becoming increasingly recognized as an important wound care element that can influence healing trajectories, patient comfort, and long-term outcomes¹⁻³.

Why Periwound Care Matters

The periwound and regional skin are dynamic structures that not only protect the wound from external insult but also support the physiological processes essential to re-epithelialization and closure¹. When this area is compromised, whether through maceration, inflammation, or microbial colonization; healing can stall, and complications such as infection or wound enlargement may occur¹.

As comprehensive wound management gains recognition, hypochlorous acid (HOCl) has emerged as an innovative solution for improving wound management and wound care outcomes⁴. This blog explores the importance of periwound care and examines how HOCl may enhance periwound care outcomes.

Understanding the Periwound Environment

The periwound encompasses a small but critical zone of skin extending several centimetres beyond the wound edge¹. This tissue is often exposed to excess exudate, adhesives, and repeated mechanical irritation¹⁻³. Its role is both structural and biological: it serves as a barrier against infection while maintaining a moisture gradient that facilitates cell migration³.

However, challenges such as maceration, dermatitis, and periwound inflammation are frequent and can reduce not only healing potential but also patient satisfaction and quality of life³. Patients experiencing periwound breakdown often report¹⁻³:

• Increased pain and discomfort
• Odour
• Skin irritation

These factors can impede compliance with treatment and dressing changes¹⁻³. A comprehensive wound care protocol must therefore include strategies to: cleanse, protect, and preserve the periwound area³.

The Role of Wound Bed Preparation in Periwound Health

According to scholars, effective wound bed preparation (WBP) requires clinicians to remove devitalized tissue, manage moisture, and reduce bioburden while protecting the viable tissue that supports epithelial migration². Importantly, these principles must also extend beyond the wound margin². The periwound environment should be treated as an integral part of WBP². Maintaining the delicate balance between cleansing and protection can reduce the inflammatory burden and foster an environment conducive to granulation and epithelialization².

This is where hypochlorous acid (HOCl) can play a transformative role. Let’s take a deeper look into why this is the case.

HOCl: A Biocompatible Approach to Infection Control and Inflammation Management

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a naturally occurring antimicrobial agent produced by neutrophils during the innate immune response⁴⁻⁶. In stable manufactured formulations, HOCl provides broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy against bacteria, fungi, and viruses while remaining non-cytotoxic to keratinocytes and fibroblasts⁴⁻⁷.

In fact, HOCl has been recently described as a “gold standard” for wound care and scar management, emphasizing its ability to control infection, reduce inflammation, and promote optimal wound healing⁴. Its oxidative mechanism neutralizes pathogens without inducing tissue damage or irritation, making it ideal for both the wound bed and periwound zone⁴⁻⁷.

Clinically, HOCl may contributes to improved periwound outcomes through it’s ability to⁴⁻⁷:

• Reduce microbial load and biofilms
• Support moisture balance to mitigate maceration risk
• Calm inflammation to preserve skin barrier integrity
• Promoting general comfort and adherence, enhancing patient compliance

The Bottom Line on Periwound Care and HOCl

Periwound care is no longer an afterthought in advanced wound management; more and more, it is becoming a critical component of care that is now known to directly influence healing outcomes, patient comfort, and long-term success¹⁻³. As clinicians continue to refine their approach to wound bed preparation, the periwound zone must be recognized as an active participant in the healing process.

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) offers a biocompatible solution that may support the multifaceted challenges of periwound management. By reducing microbial burden, moderating inflammation, and supporting skin barrier integrity, HOCl helps create an optimal environment for wound closure without compromising tissue viability or patient safety⁴⁻⁷.

For wound care professionals seeking to improve clinical outcomes while enhancing patient experience, integrating HOCl into periwound protocols represents a meaningful step forward. As the field continues to evolve, solutions like HOCl that honour both the science of healing and the needs of patients will remain at the forefront of comprehensive wound care.