Chlorhexidine 5% Concentrated Solution: Use and Precautions
Concentrated chlorhexidine guidance for diluted use on small or superficial wounds and burns.
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Source reviewed
January 2026
Guide category
Drugs for external use and antiseptics
Safety boundary
Educational medicine information, not personal medical advice.
Kenza Health Hub presents this medicine page as structured health education. Check dose, route, interactions, pregnancy or breast-feeding considerations, and local protocol with a qualified clinician or pharmacist. Read our medical editorial policy.
Therapeutic action
Antiseptic.
Indications
Antisepsis of small or superficial wounds and burns.
Forms and strengths
5% chlorhexidine (di)gluconate concentrated solution, to be diluted before use.
Preparation
Prepare diluted solutions with clean water, or sterile water:
- For one litre of 0.5% solution: 100 ml of 5% solution plus 900 ml of water.
- For one litre of 0.05% solution: 10 ml of 5% solution plus 990 ml of water.
Use
Apply diluted solution to small or superficial wounds and burns.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not use undiluted solution.
- Do not use with soap, creams, lotions, or a different antiseptic.
- Do not bring in contact with body cavities, brain and meninges, eyes, middle ear, or inner ear.
- Avoid use on mucous membranes, especially genital mucous membranes.
- May cause skin and mucous membrane irritation and rarely hypersensitivity reactions.
- In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with water.
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: no contra-indication.
- Once diluted, use the solution within 24 hours because of the risk of contamination.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page combines source-derived medicine reference sections with Kenza editorial context, while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections from the source batch.
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