What is the Difference Between Chlorhexidine and Chloroxylenol

The key difference between chlorhexidine and chloroxylenol is that chlorhexidine has a high residual activity, whereas chloroxylenol has minimal residual activity.

Chlorhexidine is a disinfectant and antiseptic that is useful in skin disinfection. Chloroxylenol is an antimicrobial useful in controlling bacteria, algae, and fungi in adhesives, emulsions, paints, and wash tanks. These two chemical substances are different from each other according to their residual activity. The residual activity refers to the changes in activity after the treatments.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Chlorhexidine
3. What is Chloroxylenol
4. Chlorhexidine vs  Chloroxylenol in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Chlorhexidine vs Chloroxylenol

What is Chlorhexidine?

Chlorhexidine is a disinfectant and antiseptic that is useful in skin disinfection. The most common commercially available chlorhexidine salts are chlorhexidine gluconate and chlorhexidine diacetate. Chlorhexidine gluconate is a product used as a mouth wash to kill the germs inside the mouth. In other words, it is a germicidal mouthwash that can reduce the bacteria in the mouth. It is an oral rinse that is important in treating gingivitis. This medication is generally recommended by dentists.

Chlorhexidine diacetate is an acetate salt of chlorhexidine that is important as a disinfectant for hospitals, agricultural and domestic environments. Chlorhexidine diacetate acts as an antibacterial agent, an anti-infective agent, and an antifungal agent. Sometimes, it can be used as an antifouling biocide. However, it’s important to note that this is a toxic substance.

What is Chloroxylenol?

Chloroxylenol is an antimicrobial useful in controlling bacteria, algae, and fungi in adhesives, emulsions, paints, and wash tanks. It is an antiseptic and disinfectant useful in skin disinfection together with alcohol for cleaning surgical instruments. Moreover, it has many uses within a number of household disinfectants and wound cleaners.

It acts by disrupting microbial cell walls and inactivating cellular enzymes. Furthermore, it is less effective than some other available agents, and it is available as a liquid. The chemical formula of chloroxylenol is C8H9ClO. It was first made in 1927. Dettol is the most common trade name of this compound.

Dettol is a brand name introduced by Reckitt (a British company). It is useful as a cleaning supply, and we can use it for antiseptic and disinfectant purposes. This antiseptic is sold in Germany under the brand name Sagrotan. However, some products of Dettol were named Dettox before 2002. The Dettol market is worldwide.

What is the Difference Between Chlorhexidine and Chloroxylenol?

Chlorhexidine and chloroxylenol are different from each other according to the residual activity. The residual activity refers to the changes in activity after the treatments. The key difference between chlorhexidine and chloroxylenol is that chlorhexidine has a high residual activity, whereas chloroxylenol has minimal residual activity. Moreover, chlorhexidine is suitable for skin disinfection, whereas chloroxylenol is not suitable for skin disinfection. Chloroxylenol is more suitable for controlling bacteria, algae, and fungi in adhesives, emulsions, paints, and wash tanks.

Below is a summary of the difference between chlorhexidine and chloroxylenol in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Chlorhexidine vs Chloroxylenol

Chlorhexidine is a disinfectant and antiseptic that is useful in skin disinfection. Chloroxylenol is an antimicrobial useful in controlling bacteria, algae, and fungi in adhesives, emulsions, paints, and wash tanks. The key difference between chlorhexidine and chloroxylenol is that chlorhexidine has a high residual activity, whereas chloroxylenol has minimal residual activity. Moreover, chlorhexidine is suitable for skin disinfection, whereas chloroxylenol is not suitable for skin disinfection.

Reference:

1. “Chloroxylenol.” Uses, Interactions, Mechanism of Action | DrugBank Online.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Chlorhexidin” By Yikrazuul – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Chloroxylenol” By Harbin – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia