Chlorhexidine

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Chlorhexidine gluconate is a chemical antiseptic. It is effective on gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Chlorhexidine gluconate is useful against fungi and enveloped viruses. It is harmful in high concentration and is safe in low and is usally found in products such as mouthwash and contact lens solutions. Other uses include skin cleansers. Chlorhexidine is often used with animals to nurse wounds.===== It is also used in some acne skin washes. It is also used as part of a treatment for athlete's foot. In some countries, it is available by prescription only. Together with benzalkonium chloride it is one of the active ingredients in Dermol, an emollient medicine that helps treat and prevent dry, rough, and itchy skin associated with conditions such as dermatitis and eczema.

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A common compound containing chlorhexidine gluconate is used along with regular tooth brushing/flossing to treat gingivitis, a gum disease that causes red, swollen, and easily bleeding gums. Chlorhexidine belongs to a class of drugs known as antimicrobials. It works by decreasing the amount of bacteria in the mouth, helping to reduce swelling and redness of the gums and bleeding when you brush. It may also be used to help prevent tooth decay in those who are not able to brush their teeth (due to a broken jaw, periodontal surgery, etc.). Chlorhexidine has also been used in those with weakened immune systems to decrease the formation of mouth sores (mucositis), and used to help prevent pneumonia in hospitalized patients breathing through a ventilator.



Chlorhexidine is present in oral rinses and skin cleansers, and in small quantities it is used as a [|preservative].

It is sometimes marketed under the brand names Foam Safe, Hexicleans, Peridex, Periochip, Perichlor or Periogard Oral Rinse. In the [|UK] it is mainly marketed under the brand name Corsodyl (or Chlorohex); in [|Italy] as Curasept (Curaden Healthcare srl); in [|Germany] as Chlorhexamed; in [|Australia] and [|New Zealand] as Savacol; in [|Greece] as Chrolhexil (Intermed S.A.); in [|India] as Suthol (G. D. Pharmaceuticals), Sterimax (Bioshields), Clohex or Dejavu-MW (QUADRA); in [|Venezuela] as Perioxidina or Peridont, in [|Japan] as Oronine and in some Central American countries as Clorexil.In Slovenia and Serbia it is known as Hibitan.

As a skin cleanser, it is marketed under brand names such as Hibiclens, Savinox plus (Bioshields), Surgiprep-CHX (Bioshields), Hibiscrub, or Dexidin mainly as a surgical scrub, Hexigard 4 as surgical hand wash, Hexigard HR as hand rub (Mil Laboratories Pvt Ltd) and is also available as a wound wash. It is also used in some acne skin washes. It is also used as part of a treatment for athlete's foot. In some countries, it is available by [|prescription] only. In the United States, it used to only be available by [|prescription] only, but is now available over-the-counter.

Together with [|benzalkonium chloride] it is one of the active ingredients in Dermol, an emollient medicine that helps treat and prevent dry, rough, and itchy skin associated with conditions such as dermatitis and eczema.