Benzalkonium Chloride
What is it?
Benzalkonium chloride is a chemical used as a cleanser, antiseptic, and preservative. It is especially prevalent in topical eye drop solutions, both over-the-counter and prescription.
How can I avoid it?
Since benzalkonium chloride is widely used in the health care field, you should inform all your health care providers of this allergy. You should read the ingredients listed on all eye preparations, skin creams, and cosmetics. Contact may also occur in the industrial workplace, so reading Safety Data Sheets (SDS) may help identify potential sources of exposure. Although it is not always the case, individuals with contact allergy to benzalkonium chloride may also be allergic to certain systemic medications chemically related to it including:
- Tetraethylammonium chloride
- Decamethonium bromide
- Hexadimethrine bromide
Uses:
- Algaecides for roof tiles, swimming pools, and greenhouses
- Band-aids with antiseptics on them
- Cleaners for floor and hard surfaces
- Cold-sterilization solution for medical and dental instruments
- Eye products
- Solutions including artificial tears
- Medications
- Contact lens solutions
- Industrial use in agriculture, fabric, dyeing, and metallurgy
- Injectable medications
- Mouthwash, lozenges, and medications for mouth and throat
- Nasal sprays
- Plaster of paris
- Personal care products
- Baby products
- Cleansing products (creams, lotions, liquids, and pads)
- Cosmetics
- Deodorants
- Disinfectant wipes
- First aid sprays
- Foot powders
- Hand sanitizers
- Manicuring preparations
- Mouthwash
- Personal cleansing products
- Shampoos
- Skin creams and medications
- Skin disinfectants/Antiseptics
- Spermicidal
- Sunscreens
- Throat lozenges
- Wipes
- Wound/Burn/Ulcer treatment preparations
Other names for Benzalkonium Chloride:
- ADBAC
- Alkyl Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride
- BAC
- BAK
- Benirol
- BTC
- BZK
- Cequartyl
- Drapolene
- Dropolex
- Enuclene
- Gesminol
- Germitol
- Osuan
- Paralkan
- Roccal
- Rodalon
- Zephiran
- Zephiran chloride
How safe is it?
Related Ingredients
Alkyl (C14, C12, C16) Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride
Cetrimide
Complex 3-(Trimethoxysilyl) Propyl Dimethyl Octadecyl Ammonium Chloride
Dimethyldioctylammonium Chloride
Ethalkonium Chloride Acrylate/Hema/Styrene Copolymer
Ethoxylated Cocoalkyl Bis(2-Hydroxyethyl) Methyl Ammonium Chloride
Lauralkonium Chloride
Stearalkonium Chloride (Stearyl Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride)
