Alex Tarnava: what hydrogen really does to your skin

Molecular hydrogen is often described as a selective antioxidant, but that framing is incomplete. In this episode, we explore hydrogen as a mitochondrial hormetic signal that can influence redox balance, inflammatory regulation, and adaptive stress pathways. The key distinction is that delivery route changes mechanism. Oral, inhaled, and topical hydrogen act differently in the body, with different kinetics, tissue distribution, and biological implications.

We dive deeper into this in the Biohacking Beauty Podcast with Alex Tarnava. We discuss why topical hydrogen is gaining attention for skin outcomes, how gut-mediated signaling may drive systemic effects, and why interpreting evidence requires understanding study design, delivery method, and real-world product variability.