Contact dermatitis to chlorhexidine

In a 3-year period, 551 patients were patch tested with chlorhexidine gluconate 1% in water. 14 patients showed a strong and obviously relevant reaction. A severe dermatitis developed during treatment with a chlorhexidine preparation in 10 patients with venous or traumatic ulcers of the leg, and in 4 patients with skin infection on the face and/or scalp. So far the sensitizing potential of chlorhexidine has probably been underestimated.