Gear
What is HOCL & Why Do You Need It In Your Gym Bag?
Whether you’re a casual runner or keen sportsperson, there are some very good reasons to have some hypochlorous acid in your back pocket.
One might think a simple shower after a hard workout or sports session is more than enough to keep your body clean and healthy; however, sometimes a little more is needed, especially when competing or enjoying more demanding exercises that could lead to a skin infection.
Issues such as staph infections pose a huge problem to athletes, especially those in mixed martial arts and contact sports. This is where SportShield founder Caity Graaf — a doctoral researcher and martial artist — realised a gap in the market for a simple hygiene solution to avoid this issue.
The flagship SkinSpray product offers athletes comprehensive, preventative protection against all common skin infections without damaging or drying your skin like harsh soaps. This is because SportsShield features an active ingredient called Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), which is a naturally occurring substance produced by the human immune system.
HOCl is highly effective at killing pathogens, making it anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and sporicidal, and it even promotes minor wound healing and reduces inflammation. Furthermore, it’s non-toxic, safe on sensitive skin, and environmentally friendly for use on surfaces.
SportShield leverages the highest quality HOCl, manufactured in Cape Town, with the product being accredited, lab-tested, and specially formulated to balance the efficacy and safety required by contact sport athletes. It’s also non-sticky and quick-drying, making it extremely easy to spray on.
“While SportShield SkinSpray is a gym bag essential, we recognise that good hygiene takes a system of daily practices and quality products,” explains the brand. “We focus on deeply researched educational tips and innovative products that solve real hygiene problems for everyday athletes.”
SportShield SkinSpray is available for R135 (100 ml) on the official website.
