Ask Dr. Sue

BABIES AND TALCUM POWDER

Dear Dr. Sue,

Is it o.k. to use talcum powder on my baby? It's what my family has always used, but I recently heard it's not really safe.

 

Dear Mom,

Talcum powder contains an assortment of very finely ground materials, particularly silicas, which are easily carried through the air and can easily filter down into the smallest areas of the lung. There have been many reports of pneumonias and even some deaths related to accidental large exposures to talcum powder. It may be safe to use in small quantities if you turn away from the baby and apply a little to your hand before putting it on the baby's bottom. However, we all know how fast a toddler can be, and most of the large exposures have happened within the close presence of an adult (usually one who had just changed or was just about to change a diaper). The bottom line is that powder doesn't offer any advantage over the newer creams and ointments that are available, and it could be dangerous. I say don't use it!

Research continues into the relationship between talcum powder and ovarian cancer. So far there is no proven link, though most studies suggest some increased risk of ovarian cancer in women who had used talc-containing products in the genital area. Older talcum powders often were contaminated with asbestos, which is not present in modern varieties, so it is not clear which substance was the culprit. Interestingly, talcum powder has been found even in the healthy ovaries of women who never applied it to themselves. It's unknown whether they may have been exposed as adults powdering their own babies, or earlier, when they were babies themselves.

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