Dermatologist Inna Petrosova told socialbites.ca that rubbing the face with chlorhexidine solution for acne can lead to disruption of the skin’s protective barrier, causing dryness and provoking the appearance of new rashes. People apply chlorhexidine to their faces in the hope that the antiseptic will suppress the activity of acne-causing bacteria, she said.
“Chlorhexidine is an antiseptic that can target different types of bacteria on the skin. By rubbing the skin with chlorhexidine, we affect the bacteria that are essential for the skin and can cause various inflammations. When people see acne appearing as pustules on their skin, they start using chlorhexidine, believing that this antiseptic can suppress the activity of bacteria. However, the nature of acne is “It is more complex than the activity of bacteria on the skin; we cannot deal with it with chlorhexidine alone. In this case, the only thing we can do is disrupt the microflora of our skin, causing dryness and thus disrupting its protective layer, leading to more acne and the development of dermatitis,” he said.
Previously dermatologist gave advice Skin care in autumn.