Chlorhexidine topical for Skin Disinfection, Preoperative User Reviews

• Fit...
• June 10, 2019

"I used the chlorhexidine wipes head to toe in preparation for a surgery. My skin was on fire. It caused the worst itching and burning I’ve ever felt in my life. I have a rash and feel like I have poison ivy all over my body. I will not be letting the hospital staff put this on me before surgery. There must be an alternative."

• fos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 18, 2019

"First off, was given the wrong instructions on using it, was told to use it instead of warm salt water, so for 4 days I swished it 4 to 6 times a day. My tongue had a thick, pink granular coating that even a brush wouldn't remove, and yesterday, I woke up to find that half of my lower lip has become an oozing blister/ulcer. Lip is twice its normal size and makes drinking VERY messy, and since the surgeon turned the entire inside of my mouth into raw hamburger, I'm still on a liquid-only diet. Never again."

• Jck...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2018

ChloraPrep One-Step (chlorhexidine) "After awakening from my surgery, my mouth was so dry I could hardly speak. Water gave little relief. My mouth was dry, scratched with raw places, with an awful coating that won't go away. A week after surgery, it isn't much better. The surgery is painful enough. Why put patients through this added discomfort? I will refuse the use of this product next time. If the condition is permanent, I will find legal counsel."

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 22, 2022

Hibiclens (chlorhexidine) "I had a severe allergic reaction a few hours after my biopsy. It caused major rash, swelling, and burning. I thought it was the incision causing pain. I will be on prednisone for 3 weeks. This is a horrible product."

• Mrs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 2, 2014

"As part of my pre-op, I was instructed to use from neck to toes, avoiding mucous membranes and the genital area. Three hours later, my nose began to really itch. I have seasonal allergies, so I didn't think too much about it. Through pre-op, the itching got worse. When I came out of surgery, itching was much worse and my upper lip was swollen. By the time I got home, itching and swelling were worse, and everywhere I had used the chlorhexidine wash was red and felt like I had a bad sunburn. I took Benadryl, which reduced symptoms. I had to take it for three days to stop symptoms from coming back."

• msw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2015

"I have been suffering from chronic skin infections bodywide. Eczema-like rash on arms, yeast/heat type rashes in skin folds. All resistant to normal and even aggressive treatment. Using Hibiclens on the areas as directed daily has led to the rapid clearing and healing of all skin infections. It worked better than even anhydrous pure lanolin. Using Hibiclens has drastically improved my quality of life."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2012

"By the evening of the neck lymph node biopsy, my neck was red and itchy. By the next morning, I had huge welts/hives across the area that had been swabbed. I went back to the hospital to be checked, and the nurses confirmed it was a reaction to the chloroprep (after checking in the file for medicines used). I now have it listed as an allergy."

• Kbr...
• June 7, 2015

Bactoshield (chlorhexidine) "I also had constant recurring rashes and itching related to my obesity. I tried a lot of different ointments, creams, and prescription antibiotic powders like NyStop. The problems seemed to never go away. I had knee replacement scheduled and knew I'd be in the hospital for several days and wondered how I'd deal with the itching while in the hospital. As part of the hospital's MRSA control program, I was required to shower the morning before the surgery with BactoShield 2% Shampoo. I didn't have any problems for 4 days while in the hospital. After returning home, a couple of days later, the rashes and itching reappeared. I used my other prior remedies to no avail. Then I got to thinking about how I went so long in the hospital without problems. I still had about an ounce of BactoShield left, and when showering, I began to use it, applying it only to problem areas, especially under my apron and in the groin area, but only after the rash redeveloped. The time between episodes went from being daily or every other day to a week. I soon used up the ounce of 2% that I had left and found another small bottle available for sale on Amazon. I reordered and seemed to be able to keep the reoccurrences about a week apart. After using up the small amount of BactoShield 2%, I found an 8 oz bottle of 4%. After using it weekly for about 2-3 weeks, I found that my problem seemed to go away. I still apply it to the affected areas about every two weeks or so as a preventative or after particularly high sweat days where I can't shower till late in the evening. It's worked wonders for me, and a little lasts a long way now. I'm attributing my initial rash problem to a bacterial concentration that couldn't be 'killed' off by the other remedies and prescriptions. The BactoShield appears to have been able to kill off the bacteria that just seemed to reculture itself when using the other remedies."

• Sev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2023

Hibiclens (chlorhexidine) "Was provided with Hibiclens to shower with the night before and the morning of the surgical procedure. After surgery, I told nurses I felt like my abdomen was on fire, they initially told me, of course, you had surgery. WRONG. From my pelvis to my breasts, I was engulfed in a horrific reaction and what looked like burns. Compound that with a surgical site. Never again."

• Fun...
• November 14, 2014

"After a blood transfusion, I developed an allergy to this medicine. Moments after it is used as a topical disinfectant, I experience a severe burning sensation, much like frozen dripping acid on my skin. SEVERE pain."

• B L...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 15, 2018

"I was donating blood at a drive where I work. They swabbed my arm, and the draw was a success. Was really light-headed but went on with my workday. 24 hours later, specifically where they cleansed, I had a burning, itching, welted rash. Tried Benadryl, Cortizone cream, and ended up at urgent care. The doctor wanted to start me on steroids but then prescribed a topical cream - triamcinolone acetonide cream. In a few days, it stopped itching and the burn subsided, but my skin was really dry. I stopped applying the cream and started using vitamin E oil."

• Jda...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2020

Tegaderm CHG Dressing (chlorhexidine) "Applied Tegaderm dressing to a scraped knee 24 hours after injury. Wound was clean, dry, and beginning to heal. There was no open wound or oozing. As I applied the dressing, it began to sting. We thought it was from pressure. Within 10 minutes, the area was becoming reddened and burning, so we removed the dressing and washed the area with water and replaced it with normal non-stick gauze that did not irritate."

• Ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2023

Hibiclens (chlorhexidine) "I used Hibiclens before my surgery without experiencing any adverse effects. However, after I arrived home, my skin began to burn and blister. One of my legs was swollen, and I felt tightness in my throat and chest area. I will never use this product again, as the reaction was worse than the surgery itself."

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2020

"Chlorhexidine was used on my arm and shoulder for surgery prep. I assume it was effective for disinfecting, but it was awful what it did to my skin. Within hours to days, after my skin developed a rash with tiny red bumps and became very warm to the touch. It got worse over time, even though I washed it. After a week of oral steroid treatments, the rash is finally subsiding. Allergic reaction?"

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2020

"I was given this product by my cardiologist after my surgery to aid in my recovery. The surgical incisions healed, and my skin cleared up nicely. This product appears to have functioned nicely with no side effects. The area around the wound had a number of warts and skin tags that completely disappeared during the use of the product. A nice side effect that accompanied its use."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 20, 2022

"After 2 days I developed several white canker sores on my bottom gum. No where near where I had implant surgery-which was top row. I stopped using it and everything cleared up by the next day. Seems a lot of people are allergic to this."

• Bew...
• October 21, 2021

"While the intent of the periodontist was to help decrease bacteria after a gum tissue graft procedure, and while I could not floss the area, I would say the side effects of staining/calcium buildup outweigh the benefits of this rinse. Try Livfresh toothpaste or other gum rinses like Therabreath instead."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 9, 2020

Hibiclens (chlorhexidine) "I have been using Hibiclens for over a year for a skin condition, and I find that it can cause skin irritations (rash, itchiness, dry skin, peeling, or blistering of skin)."

• Pus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2021

Hibiclens (chlorhexidine) "Was recommended to use pre-operation. Tried it once and immediately reacted to it. Hard to breathe and tight chest."

• Liz...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 6, 2020

Hibiclens (chlorhexidine) "I used to work for a dermatologist, and he would always use Hibiclens if our patients were allergic to iodine for minor surgeries. Love the stuff."

• Lac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2022

Hibiclens (chlorhexidine) "I was given Hibiclens in the hospital and at home after a skin infection. It gave me a serious burn on my legs."

• Hiv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2018

Bactoshield (chlorhexidine) "Severe hives over all parts of the body treated, lasting three weeks after application with only one application."