Uses, Benefits, and Side Effects

Chlorhexidine gluconate is an over-the-counter (OTC) antiseptic used to clean and prepare skin for injections, surgeries, and other procedures. It is also available as a prescription oral rinse to treat oral conditions such as dry socket, gingivitis, and periodontal disease.

Chlorhexidine is designed to kill bacteria and help prevent infections. It’s important to use this powerful agent only as directed by a healthcare provider and not regularly. Misusing chlorhexidine can result in significant adverse reactions.

Chlorhexidine gluconate is an OTC antiseptic that cleans and prepares skin before surgery or injections. It may also be applied to a shallow scrape or wound to kill bacteria that could cause skin infections.

Chlorhexidine works by destroying the protective covering of bacterial cells. It may also fight against some fungi and viruses, but research is limited. Most pharmacies and big box stores have chlorhexidine in the first aid section. You will have the option of topical solutions, washes, sponges, and swabs.

Chlorhexidine gluconate is sometimes prescribed as an oral rinse to manage dental plaque, reduce gingivitis and dry socket symptoms, and kill bacteria. To treat periodontal disease, a healthcare provider may prescribe chlorhexidine as an oral chip inserted between the gums and teeth.

Chlorhexidine is also used in some medical devices, like intravenous (IV) lines.

It’s important to use chlorhexidine exactly as your healthcare provider recommends. Varying from these instructions or using the product longer than recommended could cause adverse reactions.

To clean a skin wound, start by rinsing the affected area with water. Apply a minimal amount of the chlorhexidine product around the wound. Use gentle movements to wash the area and then rinse it thoroughly.

If you are prepping your skin for an injection at home, apply a small amount of the chlorhexidine solution to a cotton pad and swipe it over the skin area where you’ll administer the injection.

In medical settings, when chlorhexidine is being used to prepare your skin for an injection or surgery, a healthcare provider will apply the chlorhexidine product to your skin.

Some medical professionals use chlorhexidine as a surgical hand scrub. In this case, they would wet their hands and arms with water, apply about five milliliters of the product, and then scrub the skin with a soft brush for three minutes. Once complete, they would rinse thoroughly with running water, repeat the process, and dry thoroughly.

There are a few potential side effects when using an OTC chlorhexidine cleanser or prescription oral rinse, the most significant being an allergic reaction. In 2017, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety announcement after increased reports of serious allergic reactions.

Allergic reaction symptoms can occur within minutes of exposure to chlorhexidine and may include wheezing, difficulty breathing, facial swelling, and hives. You may experience one, several, or all of these symptoms if you are allergic to chlorhexidine.

Without treatment, these symptoms can quickly progress to anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow.

Chlorhexidine Cleanser

Despite being an OTC product, chlorhexidine cleanser is very strong and can potentially cause burns or irritation, especially to sensitive skin and delicate areas of the body.

Keep the cleanser out of your eyes, ears, and mouth. This product can cause serious and permanent eye injury. It also can cause deafness if it gets in the middle ear through perforated eardrums. If you get chlorhexidine cleanser in one of these areas, rinse with cold water immediately and contact a healthcare provider.

Refrain from repeatedly cleansing large areas of your body unless a healthcare provider recommends it. You should not apply this product to deep wounds on a consistent basis.

Do not put chlorhexidine on your head, face, or genital area. Avoid contact with wounds or scrapes deeper than the top layer of skin.

Chlorhexidine Oral Rinse

Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions when using a prescription chlorhexidine oral rinse, as this product has several risks and side effects. Common side effects include dry mouth (xerostomia), altered taste sensations for salty and bitter foods (hypogeusia), and a discolored or coated tongue.

Less frequent side effects include burning sensations, peeling of the oral mucosa (skin inside the mouth), parotid gland (salivary gland) swelling, and tingling, burning, or numbness in the mouth.

Another potential outcome of using chlorhexidine oral rinse is tooth staining, which typically occurs when the rinse is used for more than several weeks.

Chlorhexidine was developed in the United Kingdom by Imperial Chemical Industries in the early 1950s. It wasn’t introduced to people in the U.S. until the 1970s.

As a powerful antiseptic, chlorhexidine is best used under the guidance of a healthcare professional. Your provider can prescribe or recommend the right chlorhexidine products for your health needs.

If your provider recommends using a chlorhexidine cleanser, several OTC brands exist. Your healthcare provider will typically suggest which one to purchase.

Your selection will likely depend on the percentage of chlorhexidine in the product. Cleansing solutions are diluted to a certain amount; a cleanser with a higher chlorhexidine percentage will be a more powerful antiseptic and may have an increased potential for skin irritation.

Chlorhexidine gluconate is an OTC antiseptic used to clean wounds or prepare skin for injections, surgeries, and other procedures. It’s also available as a prescription oral rinse to treat oral conditions like gingivitis.

Chlorhexidine is a powerful compound that kills bacteria and helps prevent infections. The cleansing agent can also be irritating and may result in severe adverse reactions when used improperly. It’s best to use chlorhexidine products under the guidance of a healthcare provider.