Liquid masks have become popular. Recently, a nasal spray called "liquid mask" has been selling very well on e-commerce platforms, including "category kings" who sell more than 1 million bottles annually.

According to the merchant's description, as long as the spray is gently sprayed into the human nasal cavity, it can form a "physical partition", block the virus out, and play a more effective protective role than masks. The merchant claims that this "liquid mask" can "block flow and crown", with a "blocking rate of 99.9%", and its slogan "Everyone takes off masks" is even more ambitious.

Some people like and praise this, using "liquid masks" as a "miracle tool" to prevent influenza, while others are skeptical about it. What is the origin of 'liquid masks'? Is it really "smart with just one spray" and can even replace traditional masks? The reporter from Science and Technology Daily interviewed relevant experts on this matter.

Suspected of false advertising

The popularity of 'liquid masks' may be related to the recent outbreak of H1N1 influenza, "said Li Bo, deputy chief physician of the Respiratory Department at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine." Some people have a grudge against masks, or think they are not aesthetically pleasing to wear, or feel uncomfortable due to tightening their mouth and nose. The outbreak of H1N1 influenza has made people pay more attention to protection, so' liquid masks' under the banner of high technology have become particularly attractive. "Because the spray can't be seen or touched when it is sprayed into the nasal cavity, it can also prevent viruses, which is very convenient to think about," said Li Bo.

Liquid masks are very confusing, "said Pan Helin, a member of the Information and Communication Economy Expert Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Businesses use" blocking viruses "and" invisible protection "as selling points, which perfectly meets the needs of flu season users. For users who are unwilling to wear masks," liquid masks "have become the best alternative.

Lawyer He Shengting from Guangdong Guoding Law Firm has clearly stated that multiple "liquid masks" currently on the market belong to the daily necessities field, not medical devices, and have not undergone large-scale clinical verification. Their promotion can "99.9% block viruses", which is suspected of false advertising. Consumers should not easily believe in the efficacy promoted by 'liquid masks'. E-commerce platforms should also fulfill their legal review obligations, actively screen for illegal promotional content, and avoid misleading consumers, "said He Shengting.

Not classified as drugs or medical devices

The reporter learned from multiple hospitals that traditional masks are still used for daily protection by doctors and patients, and "liquid masks" have not been put into use yet. Obviously, the merchant's claim of "everyone removing masks" is still too early. But on e-commerce platforms, merchants still use traditional masks as benchmark products and summarize the many advantages of "liquid masks".

Li Jia, attending physician of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine at Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, stated that "liquid masks" cannot replace traditional masks due to their lack of scientific persuasiveness and support. The two cannot be compared, "said Li Jia.

Traditional masks mainly reduce the transmission and inhalation of respiratory pathogens and particulate matter through physical barrier mechanisms, and their functions are supported by clear technical standards. Especially for medical surgical masks, epidemiological studies have shown that correct wearing can reduce droplet transmission by more than 70%.

In community prevention and control, daily protection, and basic protection of medical institutions, traditional masks are still a low-cost, widely covered, and effective public health intervention tool. Their scientific value lies in achieving 'group transmission reduction' and building the first line of epidemic prevention barrier, "said Li Jia.

Zhang Dawei, Deputy Chief Physician of the Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Department at the Infectious Diseases Medical Center of the Fifth Medical Center of the People's Liberation Army General Hospital, also believes that "liquid masks" cannot replace traditional masks. He said that currently, the "liquid masks" sold in China are registered as "ordinary daily necessities" and do not belong to drugs or medical devices. There is no reliable clinical evidence to prove that they can truly prevent viral infections. Therefore, "liquid masks" may become "auxiliary daily necessities" and cannot be used as the main protective equipment.

Limited protective effect

On e-commerce platforms, in order to increase the persuasiveness of "liquid masks", some merchants have displayed 24-hour in vitro activity test results and multiple "authoritative testing reports", claiming to be able to "accurately block viruses".

Zhang Dawei believes that businesses often use in vitro cell experiments to prove that "liquid masks" can prevent viral infections, but there is a significant gap between in vitro experiments and real-world infection situations. Such studies can only prove in vitro effectiveness, not clinical effectiveness.

"The core formula of the 'liquid mask' is to spray a layer of gel film containing carrageenan or other macromolecules into the nasal cavity to block the virus physically." Zhang Dawei said, "Theoretically, it can intercept some droplets or particles, but it has almost no filtering effect on viral aerosols<0.1 microns. Although the ingredients such as carrageenan are generally safe, some people will experience nasal dryness, sneezing, and irritation after use. The impact of long-term and frequent use on human respiratory mucosa has not been systematically evaluated."

Li Bo said that as far as the "liquid mask" is concerned, although gel can adsorb viruses, the adsorption effect is closely related to the size and uniformity of the spray in the nasal cavity. Even if the nasal cavity is "foolproof", the virus can still be transmitted through the mouth, so the protective effect will be greatly reduced.

A medical expert who declined to be named said that "liquid masks" belong to cutting-edge biotechnology and are still in the laboratory and early clinical trial stage. In theory, the potential is enormous, but it faces challenges such as antibody stability, cost, broad-spectrum, and effectiveness against new variants, and is far from reaching the stage of commercial popularization

(The original title was "In response to the recent popularity of the 'miracle tool' for preventing influenza, experts say that 'liquid masks' cannot replace traditional masks")

Liquid masks have become popular. Recently, a nasal spray called "liquid mask" has been selling very well on e-commerce platforms, including "category kings" who sell more than 1 million bottles annually.

According to the merchant's description, as long as the spray is gently sprayed into the human nasal cavity, it can form a "physical partition", block the virus out, and play a more effective protective role than masks. The merchant claims that this "liquid mask" can "block flow and crown", with a "blocking rate of 99.9%", and its slogan "Everyone takes off masks" is even more ambitious.

Some people like and praise this, using "liquid masks" as a "miracle tool" to prevent influenza, while others are skeptical about it. What is the origin of 'liquid masks'? Is it really "smart with just one spray" and can even replace traditional masks? The reporter from Science and Technology Daily interviewed relevant experts on this matter.

Suspected of false advertising

The popularity of 'liquid masks' may be related to the recent outbreak of H1N1 influenza, "said Li Bo, deputy chief physician of the Respiratory Department at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine." Some people have a grudge against masks, or think they are not aesthetically pleasing to wear, or feel uncomfortable due to tightening their mouth and nose. The outbreak of H1N1 influenza has made people pay more attention to protection, so' liquid masks' under the banner of high technology have become particularly attractive. "Because the spray can't be seen or touched when it is sprayed into the nasal cavity, it can also prevent viruses, which is very convenient to think about," said Li Bo.

Liquid masks are very confusing, "said Pan Helin, a member of the Information and Communication Economy Expert Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Businesses use" blocking viruses "and" invisible protection "as selling points, which perfectly meets the needs of flu season users. For users who are unwilling to wear masks," liquid masks "have become the best alternative.

Lawyer He Shengting from Guangdong Guoding Law Firm has clearly stated that multiple "liquid masks" currently on the market belong to the daily necessities field, not medical devices, and have not undergone large-scale clinical verification. Their promotion can "99.9% block viruses", which is suspected of false advertising. Consumers should not easily believe in the efficacy promoted by 'liquid masks'. E-commerce platforms should also fulfill their legal review obligations, actively screen for illegal promotional content, and avoid misleading consumers, "said He Shengting.

Not classified as drugs or medical devices

The reporter learned from multiple hospitals that traditional masks are still used for daily protection by doctors and patients, and "liquid masks" have not been put into use yet. Obviously, the merchant's claim of "everyone removing masks" is still too early. But on e-commerce platforms, merchants still use traditional masks as benchmark products and summarize the many advantages of "liquid masks".

Li Jia, attending physician of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine at Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, stated that "liquid masks" cannot replace traditional masks due to their lack of scientific persuasiveness and support. The two cannot be compared, "said Li Jia.

Traditional masks mainly reduce the transmission and inhalation of respiratory pathogens and particulate matter through physical barrier mechanisms, and their functions are supported by clear technical standards. Especially for medical surgical masks, epidemiological studies have shown that correct wearing can reduce droplet transmission by more than 70%.

In community prevention and control, daily protection, and basic protection of medical institutions, traditional masks are still a low-cost, widely covered, and effective public health intervention tool. Their scientific value lies in achieving 'group transmission reduction' and building the first line of epidemic prevention barrier, "said Li Jia.

Zhang Dawei, Deputy Chief Physician of the Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Department at the Infectious Diseases Medical Center of the Fifth Medical Center of the People's Liberation Army General Hospital, also believes that "liquid masks" cannot replace traditional masks. He said that currently, the "liquid masks" sold in China are registered as "ordinary daily necessities" and do not belong to drugs or medical devices. There is no reliable clinical evidence to prove that they can truly prevent viral infections. Therefore, "liquid masks" may become "auxiliary daily necessities" and cannot be used as the main protective equipment.

Limited protective effect

On e-commerce platforms, in order to increase the persuasiveness of "liquid masks", some merchants have displayed 24-hour in vitro activity test results and multiple "authoritative testing reports", claiming to be able to "accurately block viruses".

Zhang Dawei believes that businesses often use in vitro cell experiments to prove that "liquid masks" can prevent viral infections, but there is a significant gap between in vitro experiments and real-world infection situations. Such studies can only prove in vitro effectiveness, not clinical effectiveness.

"The core formula of the 'liquid mask' is to spray a layer of gel film containing carrageenan or other macromolecules into the nasal cavity to block the virus physically." Zhang Dawei said, "Theoretically, it can intercept some droplets or particles, but it has almost no filtering effect on viral aerosols<0.1 microns. Although the ingredients such as carrageenan are generally safe, some people will experience nasal dryness, sneezing, and irritation after use. The impact of long-term and frequent use on human respiratory mucosa has not been systematically evaluated."

Li Bo said that as far as the "liquid mask" is concerned, although gel can adsorb viruses, the adsorption effect is closely related to the size and uniformity of the spray in the nasal cavity. Even if the nasal cavity is "foolproof", the virus can still be transmitted through the mouth, so the protective effect will be greatly reduced.

A medical expert who declined to be named said that "liquid masks" belong to cutting-edge biotechnology and are still in the laboratory and early clinical trial stage. In theory, the potential is enormous, but it faces challenges such as antibody stability, cost, broad-spectrum, and effectiveness against new variants, and is far from reaching the stage of commercial popularization

(The original title was "In response to the recent popularity of the 'miracle tool' for preventing influenza, experts say that 'liquid masks' cannot replace traditional masks")