History of Baby Powder

Baby powder has been on the market for decades and is readily available to anyone who needs it.  It is used primarily for cosmetic uses and can help cure diaper rashes and can be used as a deodorant, found in makeup products like eyeshadows as well as many other cosmetic purposes. One of the first items on the market was Johnson & Johnsons baby powder which was created in 1893 and then sold in stores in 1894.  It came in a tin and was labeled for “toilet and nursery” use.  Some of the earliest baby powder creations had a pleasant and clearly recognizable scent, which pleased the consumers.   This item as a long, extensive history as a core cosmetic product, but a history that has demonstrated prevalent issues as well as concerns with it including a cancer risks. Women who develop cancer after talcum powder use may be eligible to seek justice through an talcum powder lawsuit.

Baby powder is a very fine, white substance.  It is an astringent powder and can be made from talc or have corn starch in the creation of the powder.  Talc, also known as talcum powder is a mineral composed of silicon, magnesium, and oxygen.  When in powder form, it absorbs moisture and helps prevent friction, which makes it an excellent candidate for curing rashes and helping to keep the skin dry.  Baby powder is considered a mild substance because it is usually made up of mostly cornstarch with a few other additional elements like zinc oxide, kaolin, rose extract, chamomile extract, and other soothing factors to create a powder that helps calm red and irritated skin.  These types of elements also make it safe for use on young children and infants.

Talcum powder can be replaced with corn starch which can be found at most supermarkets or grocery stores.  It has also been used to help stop and prevent squeaky floorboards, used for chalk making and used in the paper-making processes.  It is ground down from mineral form, but it is known as one of the softest minerals in existence.
Talcum powder and talc have had some conflict with health issues, especially with extended use.  Today, there are substitutes available in products or for direct use that do not contain talc or talcum powder.  Products have incorporated other ingredients such as milled oats, corn starch, which is the most popular and heavily used, and silk powders.  With the birth of newer companies that are both health and environmentally conscious, the fate of talcum powder may be forever changed with the addition of alternative ingredients such as these.

Talc in pure form can be considered healthy.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) runs tests on talc and talcum powder products and can clarify if it is pure enough in form to avoid any health hazards it may have the potential to cause.  Companies such as the baby company Johnson & Johnson have jumped on board with the FDA to have their products containing such powders regularly tested for purity.
Today, there are many on-going studies about talc and talcum powder and results about the effects it can cause as well as the ailments it can cure.  The use of such powders is still widely used by many consumers in the market today, but its safety is still being studied.