New four-part video series:

The Truth about Dakin’s Solution

Examining four of the most common myths surrounding one of wound care’s longest-used solutions—so you can support wound healing with confidence.

Sodium hypochlorite has been used in wound care for over a century.

But decades of changing practices and products have complicated the conversation around it. 

Sodium hypochlorite-based Dakin’s Solution has been shown to disrupt biofilm, soften and remove wound debris, and support healing in injuries like pressure ulcers, diabetic foot infections, and tunneling wounds. Yet concerns about cytotoxicity, tissue compatibility, and product concentration have kept some clinicians from using Dakin’s Solution in their practice.

The four-part series, Dakin’s Myths: Busted, featured on Wounds, addresses these misconceptions and more.

Tap below for concise, data-supported conversations around four of the wound care myths we hear most often:

  • Skin-pH products are biocompatible and more effective at treating infection.
  • Dakin’s is “too cytotoxic” to use on healing wounds.
  • Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is gentler and more effective than sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl).
  • All sodium hypochlorite solutions are created the same.

If any of these myths sound familiar, watch the series to separate misconception from evidence—and make informed choices for even the most complex wounds in your care:

Watch Now

The biggest wound care myths, busted.

Four 10-minute sessions examine the data-supported truth about Dakin’s Solution.

Alternatives to antibiotics

Tissue Tolerance and Cytotoxicity

Explore how concentration, exposure, and wound context affect cytotoxicity—and the role buffering plays in tissue tolerance.

HOCl vs NaOCl

Learn how these closely related compounds behave very differently when exposed to air, tissue, fluids, and biofilm.

Concentration and pH

Compare self-mixed “Dakin’s” solutions with carefully prepared, pre-mixed formulations—including differences in pH, shelf life, and concentration.

There’s a lot of conflicting information out there.

Clinicians need wound care products they can trust—especially when treating complex or chronic wounds.

Interest in hypochlorous acid-based solutions surged after the COVID-19 pandemic renewed the call for safe, effective disinfectants that don’t irritate skin. Changes in home healthcare needs, wound infection protocols, and antibiotic resistance have further highlighted the need for adaptable solutions with demonstrated efficacy. 

But clear, reliable information about these products—and how they perform—can be difficult to find.

Dakin’s Myths: Busted addresses the clinical questions you’re already asking.

So you can make informed decisions about the wound care products you rely on.

Dakin’s sodium hypochlorite-based formula is a data-supported solution for acute, chronic, and complex wounds, backed by more than two decades of clinical research and over a century of use. It’s the only wound cleanser available in four concentrations, allowing clinicians to adapt treatment plans as wound conditions change—without self-mixing or diluting stable formulations.

Whether you have questions about pH, cytotoxicity, HOCl, concentration, or all four, tap below to choose a myth and explore the evidence for yourself.

Watch the Series

Still not sure how Dakin’s fits your wound care protocols?

Explore our science-backed research, use cases, and case studies:

how pH impacts healing and efficacy

These 5 Factors Matter More Than Wound Cleanser pH

Are wound cleansers with the pH of intact skin more biocompatible? Find out how pH impacts healing and efficacy, and why skin-matched cleansers may not be as effective as they sound.

Keep Reading
Sodium hypochlorite vs hypochlorous acid

Comparing Sodium Hypochlorite vs Hypochlorous Acid

Compare sodium hypochlorite and hypochlorous acid in wound care. Learn why buffered Dakin’s offers stability, safety, and clinical versatility.

Keep Reading
Wound Care Debridement

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy and Dakin’s SolutionCase Study: Dakin’s for Debridement

How one APRN uses Full Strength Dakin’s Solution in wound care debridement to effectively remove necrotic tissue and prepare the wound bed for the next stage of healing.

Keep Reading

Dakin’s is a simple solution backed by powerful science.

Trusted by clinicians for three generations and counting. 

Originally developed on World War I battlefields to combat life-threatening infections, Dr. Henry Dakin’s sodium hypochlorite-based solution has supported wound care for more than a century.

Today, under third-generation family leadership, Century Pharmaceuticals manufactures four specialized formulations—including two FDA-cleared medical devices—that continue Dr. Dakin’s legacy of safe, simple, and affordable wound care, so healthcare professionals can approach even the most challenging wounds with confidence.

Archive headshot of Dr. Henry Dakin's

Frequently Asked Questions

Don’t see yours below? Tap here to talk to our team.

Q: Are Dakin's products available over the counter?

Yes, all of our products are available over the counter (OTC) and do not require prescriptions. View our list of current wholesalers here. For other sales inquiries please contact us.

Additionally, anyone can buy Dakin’s online through our store and through Amazon.com. Dakin’s can also be requested for pickup at any CVS Pharmacy or Walmart Pharmacy, as well as many other pharmacies across the US.

Q: How do I use Dakin's?

Flush wound or affected area until clean. For wound management, use as an irrigant, cleanser, or as the wetting agent for a wet-to-moist dressing.

Apply once daily for 5-10 minutes for a wound with light or moderate discharge. Apply twice daily for 10-15 minutes for a wound with heavy discharge.

 

Q: Can I dilute Dakin's?

We do not recommend further dilution of our Dakin’s products, due to the fact that we cannot control the process, nor the quality of the water used for the dilution. Although we are aware some facilities dilute our products, we cannot guarantee the diluted product’s effectiveness, nor its stability. If dilution is necessary, the final product should be stored in a poly bottle, protected from light, and used immediately.

Typical Sodium Hypochlorite Solutions deteriorate quickly, especially when exposed to light, heat, or contamination with metallic ions. The United States Pharmacopeia, current revision, states that Sodium Hypochlorite Topical Solution has a shelf life of seven days after the day on which it was compounded.

In contrast to typical Sodium Hypochlorite Solutions, Dakin’s products use high quality, purified water with low metallic ions, and the products are manufactured with special equipment, under current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). Due to this extra care, the stability of our Dakin’s products is much longer than typical Sodium Hypochlorite Topical Solutions.

Where is the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) or other technical information??

The SDS can be found here. If you’re having trouble finding what you need, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Questions

(317) 849-4210

Sales

(317) 849-4210 x120

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