IS POWDER WITH TALC SAFE TO USE DOWN THERE?
If you grew up like I did, chances are you were taught to use powder “down there” to stay fresh, however with all the controversy in previous years about powder with talc and its potential links to ovarian and lung cancer, it can be challenging to find a clear answer on what the concern really should be about.
With the 66,000 cases against the famous white bottled Johnson & Johnson baby powder – now talc-free – making headlines for not only weeks and months, but years, the questions remain: Should you be using powder with talc? Is talc the problem or the asbestos? Or are all powders risky to use “down there” due to the particles?
Well, I’m here to set the record straight and give you the answers to all these questions.
IS POWDER WITH TALC HARMFUL?
THE TROUBLE WITH ASBESTOS CONTAMINATIONS
Baby powder with talc (talcum powder) used by women in their undergarments to freshen up or on babies, at one time contained asbestos which is said to be carcinogenic. There is a plethora of scientific studies that date back to the 1970s suggesting that long term use of talc-based baby powders containing asbestos on female genitals have correlation to ovarian cancer.
After asbestos was eliminated from baby powder formulations, talc-free baby powder started appearing on the shelves of many drugstores. The American Cancer Society notes that “talc that has asbestos is generally accepted as being able to cause cancer if it is inhaled. The evidence about asbestos-free talc is less clear.”
OVARIAN CANCER
A study released by the American Association for Cancer Research points to reports that suggest women who use genital powders have more than a 40% increased risk of cancer.
The reason of this correlation was discovered when women with ovarian cancer were examined and found to have powder particles on their ovaries. When applying the powder, the powder particles migrated from the vagina to the ovaries and through the reproductive tract.
IMPLICATIONS TO THE LUNGS
Boobs don’t necessarily sweat more than other areas of the body; however, their shape creates the ideal environment for excess sweat accumulation.
Your breasts are like two mountains with a valley in between – this is what I call the “golden triangle”. Gravity leads the sweat from the chest, down the breastbone, into the “valley” making sweat settle in the skin folds underneath your boobs where they meet your torso.
The moisture in this area gets trapped more easily and doesn’t evaporate as quickly as other parts of the body might.
IT'S ALL IN THE LABEL
Most powders, regardless of whether they are talc based or not always have a caution statement regarding inhalation, and it advises that this product is for external use only. External meaning not the genital area, as that can quickly transfer internally.
All this said, I recommend avoiding talc-based body powders.
HOW TO SAFELY APPLY POWDER DOWN THERE
This doesn’t mean all body powders are harmful and that you should stop using them, it just means you have to be cautious and use them the correct way. Follow these 3 tips and you won’t have any problems.
1. USE TALC-FREE BODY POWDER
Some people may feel comfortable using talc-based powders as they no longer contain asbestos, however I strongly advise against this as powder particle travel can be very dangerous and it’s better to be on the side of caution.
I recommend using the sweat powder which is 100% talc-free and uses natural and safe powders to absorb excess sweat and help manage odor down there. It is made with magnesium carbonate, zinc oxide (the same ingredient used in diaper rash creams) and rice starch powder for a silky feel.