Can I use talcum powder inside my child’s diaper?

We regularly see children in diapers with liberal amounts of talcum powder dusted onto them. Parents do this ostensibly because:

• It smells nice and counteracts the smell of poo and pee.
• It absorbs moisture, keeps the area dry, cuts down friction, and prevents the development of diaper dermatitis.

While it indeed does provide these benefits, we don’t recommend it.

What does the research say about the use of talcum powder?

Plenty of research has proven that it is harmful to humans.

Talcum powder comes from talc, a mineral made up mainly of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen.

Regular use has been implicated in developing two serious and incurable illnesses.

1. Ovarian cancer: a liberal dusting of the genital area over a prolonged duration may cause the development of cancer of the ovary.
2. Lung talcosis: the fine powder can get inhaled into the lungs and if inhaled over the years, get trapped in the lung tissue and cause a rare disease called interstitial lung disease. A person afflicted by this disease cannot breathe well and absorb oxygen from the atmosphere.

Doctor, we don’t use Johnson’s talcum powder; we use the all-natural Ayurvedic variety! That should be OK, isn’t it?

While in most things, natural is always better than synthetic, here the issue is that of minute particle size. The tiny particle size in talc ensures that the particles can be inhaled and may cause talcosis.

Some powders use cornstarch, boric acid, and soda bicarbonate but can get absorbed through the skin, especially if there are cracks in the skin and mucus membranes. These can be quite toxic to the body, causing different illnesses. Their fine particle size ensures that the particles can be inhaled and may cause talcosis.

My child is suffering from prickly heat. My mother has strongly advised using talc. Should I use it?

Occasional use of talcum powder on a one-off basis is not an issue. However, do remember to get the powder on your hands in another room, so your child does not inhale a cloud of powder. There are better ways to prevent and treat prickly heat.