Chlorhexidine on your skin: a safety profile

What is chlorhexidine?

The IUPAC name is (1E)-2-[6-[[amino-[(E)-[amino-(4-chloroanilino)methylidene]amino]methylidene]amino]hexyl]-1-[amino-(4-chloroanilino)methylidene]guanidine.

Also known as: (1E)-2-[6-[[amino-[(E)-[amino-(4-chloroanilino)methylidene]amino]methylidene]amino]hexyl]-1-[amino-(4-chloroanilino)methylidene]guanidine, Hexadol, Soretol, Fimeil.

IUPAC name

(1E)-2-[6-[[amino-[(E)-[amino-(4-chloroanilino)methylidene]amino]methylidene]amino]hexyl]-1-[amino-(4-chloroanilino)methylidene]guanidine

CAS number

55-56-1

Molecular formula

C22H30Cl2N10

Molecular weight

505.4 g/mol

SMILES

C1=CC(=CC=C1NC(=NC(=NCCCCCCN=C(N)N=C(N)NC2=CC=C(C=C2)Cl)N)N)Cl

PubChem CID

9552079

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Chlorhexidine.

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where you encounter chlorhexidine

• Personal Care — mouthwash, dental products
• Consumer Products — hand wash, surgical scrub, wound care

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Chlorhexidine:

• Hydrogen peroxide; UV disinfection; Physical cleaning
  Trade-offs: Removes 95-99% of dissolved contaminants including metals, PFAS, nitrates; wastes 2-4 gallons per gallon produced (improving with newer systems); removes beneficial minerals; $0.05-0.25/gallon; requires pre-treatment for longevity.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions