Baby powder
Baby powder is an astringent powder used for preventing diaper rash and for cosmetic uses. It may be composed of talcum or corn starch. Baby powder can also be used as a dry shampoo, cleaning agent, and freshener.
Talcum powder, if inhaled, may cause aspiration pneumonia and granuloma. Severe cases may lead to chronic respiratory problems and death. The particles in corn starch powder are larger and less likely to be inhaled.
Some studies have found a statistical relationship between talc applied to the perineal area by women and incidence of ovarian cancer, but there is not a consensus that the two are linked. In 2017, more than 1,000 women in the United States sued Johnson & Johnson for covering up the possible cancer risk associated with its baby powder. The company stopped selling talcum powder in the United States and Canada in 2020.
