Some people are not aware that skin cleansers, such as shower gels and body washes, can be pretty useful for showers. Using them can offer you a few benefits for your skin and overall health.

For instance, a lot of skin cleansers are formulated to be hydrating and can aid in moisturizing the person’s skin during the cleansing. It’s a good idea to look for products that contain moisturizing ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin, to prevent the skin from drying out.

Thanks to the official website of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (mskcc.org), we can now learn how to shower the right way using the 4% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) solution and antiseptic cleanser. CHG qualifies as a strong antiseptic, meaning a liquid used to overcome germs and bacteria.

How to use a 4% CHG solution

Feel free to carefully follow these steps to use the 4% Chg Solution the right way:

1. Use shampoo and a conditioner to wash your hair. Rinse it well.
2. Grab your usual soap and wash your face, as well as the genital (groin) area. Use warm water to rinse your body well.
3. Open the bottle containing the 4% CHG solution. Add some of it in your hand or use a clean washcloth. You must not mix the CHG solution with water before this process.
4. Move away from your shower’s stream. Otherwise, the CHG solution could be rinsed off too soon.
5. Rub the 4% CHG solution over your body, all the way from your neck to your feet. You must not add the solution to your head, face, genital area, or wounds or scrapes that are deeper than the first layer of your skin. You must ask your healthcare provider if you have a wound and you’re not sure if you can use the solution.
6. Rinse the 4% CHG solution off by using warm water.
7. Use a clean towel to dry yourself off.

When should you use 4% CHG solution for showers

Did you know that taking a shower with a 4% CHG solution will help lower your infection risk? Here are other situations when you may need to use the solution:

• Before and after surgery
• If you suffer from blood or lymphatic system cancer, such as myeloma, leukemia, or lymphoma
• If you’re going through a stem cell transplant
• Every day if your central venous catheter (CVC) is in its place.
• If you are in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit)

When you should NOT use 4% CHG solution

If you have an allergy to CHG or any other ingredients, you must not use a 4% CHG solution. It’s also prohibited to use it on children who are younger than 2 months old.

If after using 4% CHG solution you go through an irritation or suffer an allergic reaction, you must stop using it, grab your phone, and call your doctor or Poison Control.

If you accidentally get 4% CHG solution in your eye, you must not rub it as your natural instinct might tell you in such a moment. Instead, you must use water at room temperature to rinse your eyes. You should keep your eyes wide open as you’re rinsing. You must also take out your contact lens if you have one and keep rinsing for about 15 to 20 minutes.

If, after an hour, you still feel irritation in your eye, you should go to the emergency room or to an urgent care center.

CHG solution should be available to buy from your local pharmacy. At the same time, you can even buy it online.

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