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Therapeutic actionIndicationsForms and strengthsDose and durationContra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
1 May 2026Drugs for external use and antisepticsSource update: January 2026

Chlorhexidine 7.1% Dermal Gel: Use and Precautions

Chlorhexidine dermal gel guidance for umbilical-cord antisepsis and adjunctive treatment of omphalitis.

Also searched as

Chlorhexidine 7.1% dermal gelCHX 7.1% dermal gel

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.

This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.

Therapeutic action

Antiseptic.

Indications

  • Antisepsis of umbilical cord in specific settings such as home birth or contexts where unhygienic substances are used on the umbilical cord.
  • Adjunctive treatment of omphalitis.

Forms and strengths

7.1% chlorhexidine (di)gluconate dermal gel, in 3 g single-dose sachet and 20 g tube.

Dose and duration

The gel should be applied to the stump and base of the umbilical cord.

Antisepsis of umbilical cord

  • Apply 3 g of gel once daily for 7 days, starting as soon as possible after birth.
  • If the neonate was born at home, start as soon as possible within the first 7 days of life.

Adjunctive treatment of omphalitis

  • Apply 3 g of gel 3 times daily, as long as required.

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

This gel is intended for use on the umbilical cord only. Do not use on other parts of the body.

  • Do not use with soap, creams, lotions, or a different antiseptic.
  • May cause skin irritation and rarely hypersensitivity reactions.
  • In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with water.
  • To prevent the risk of gel contamination, the 3 g single-dose sachets are preferred over the 20 g tube. If only 20 g tubes are available, each tube must be used for a single patient.

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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