Should you be using baby powder as part of your daily routine? After all, it has the word “baby” in the name. How bad can it really be? It’s potentially dangerous and has been linked to ovarian cancer. Here’s what you need to know.
Baby powder is primarily made from talc which is a mineral that contains magnesium, silicon, hydrogen and oxygen (and unfortunately, talc and asbestos often occur in the same geological formations). This product helps to absorb moisture and minimize friction and has been promoted as a hygienic option for women to use to their genital area. However, countless women are now claiming that baby powder has caused them to have ovarian cancer.
The problem with talc is that it’s been deemed carcinogenic (can possibly cause cancer). One mine produces 95% of the talc that’s sold in the U.S. When they sell their product to manufacturers, it has a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) warning that states that exposure can cause lung and ovarian cancer. However, when the manufacturer processes the product by adding 1% fragrance, deposits the powder into plastic bottles and adds the name brand to the label, they fail to add this important cancer warning so that consumers are kept in the dark.
Evidence linking talcum powder to ovarian cancer has been reported since the 1970’s when scientists found talc particles in 75% of ovarian tumors. In 1982, Dr. Daniel Cramer published a report explaining the strong link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer. He even stated that the regular use of talc could increase a woman's risk of ovarian cancer by up to 30%. In 2006, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified talcum powder as a possible human carcinogen if applied to female genitalia. In 2013, the Cancer Prevention Research journal stated that women who used talcum powder in their groin area had a 20-30% increased risk of developing ovarian cancer than those who didn’t use this product.
There have been many studies conducted to determine if talc causes cancer and how it causes cancer. Some doctors believe that when talcum powder is applied to genitals, tampons, condoms or diaphragms, the powder can travel up through through the vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes into the ovaries and it can cause chronic inflammation that eventually may result in abnormal cells dividing and invading nearby tissues (which is called “malignancy”).
Currently, there are approximately 5,000 claims that have been filed against Johnson & Johnson, and baby powder isn’t the only product to blame. Shower to Shower and Gold Bond Medicated Powder have also been linked to ovarian cancer when applied to the genitals. Clearly women should stop using baby powder and these other talcum products to avoid the risk of cancer.
