Talcum powder’s main ingredient is a mineral called talc. Talc aids in absorbing perspiration. Plus, it creates a smooth surface that prevents chafing and rashes.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), talc is even used in cosmetics like facial powders. This can keep makeup from “caking” or give it the opaque appearance that some women strive for when it comes to achieving a polished look. It also can make a product feel smoother.
Here’s the thing: Talc may be detrimental to your health. Experts cite concerns over the fact that talcum powder may increase a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer if it’s used on the genitals regularly. Plus, it is said to contribute to respiratory issues.
Early warnings about the safety of talc “down there” first appeared in the early 1970s. Some health experts warned that talc could be dangerous to the ovaries, but the medical director of Johnson & Johnson disputed the claim.
“This warning was confirmed in a 1992 publication in Obstetrics & Gynecology which reported that a woman’s frequent talc use on her genitals increased her risk of ovarian cancer by threefold,” Dr. Frank Lipman writes on his website. “The talc in question was simple brand or generic ‘baby powder.’” Multiple articles had already discussed the association between talc and ovarian cancer.
But the biggest blow appeared in 2003. Lipman says that, in that year, a journal called Anticancer Research reviewed 16 studies that had already been published. It found talc increased a woman’s chance of developing ovarian cancer by 33 percent.
Ovarian cancer can be deadly. According to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, an estimated 21,290 new cases of ovarian cancer were diagnosed in 2015. And 14,180 people died of ovarian cancer during the same year. In fact, ovarian cancer is the fifth-leading cause of death related to female cancers.
Lipman says that some estimates show that one in five women uses talcum powder on her genitals on a regular basis. And most concerningly, some may not know it.
That’s because tampons and maxi pads can be covered in talc.
The issues associated with talcum powder resulted in a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson in recent years. According to CNN, “Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay a $72 million settlement to the family of a woman who died of ovarian cancer after using the company's talcum body powder for nearly 50 years.”
The company still disputes these claims. "The recent U.S. verdict goes against decades of sound science proving the safety of talc as a cosmetic ingredient in multiple products, and while we sympathize with the family of the plaintiff, we strongly disagree with the outcome," Carol Goodrich, a Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman, said in a statement sent to CNN.
So what does the American Cancer Society have to say about the concerns about talc and cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society, one of the first things to know about talcum powder and cancer is that there can be two types of talc -- talc that has asbestos, and talc that doesn’t. The first type of talc is said to cause cancer if inhaled, and it hasn’t been used in products for quite some time. But the second type of talc may or may not cause cancer.
Lab studies regarding animals and talc that does not contain asbestos have cited mixed conclusions. Some studies have shown that talc can cause tumors. But other studies have had the opposite result.
Studies on humans have also yielded mixed results. The American Cancer Society says that some experts feel that talcum powder could contribute to the development of ovarian cancer when the particles of the powder travel through the body by way of genital exposure. Some of these studies show an elevated risk, but others don’t. Researchers are still investigating the matter.
Some also say that using talcum powder in the vaginal region may elevate the risk of uterine cancer. However, studies on this matter have also found mixed results, making it tough
to know just how it affects women.
Another area of concern involves talc and lung cancer. The American Cancer Society reports that some studies regarding talc miners and millers have pointed to an elevated risk of lung cancer and other respiratory issues among this group, but others haven’t. Miners are exposed to many risk factors underground (like radon), so it’s hard to tell which factors pose the greatest risk.
Right now, it’s said that talc products are possibly carcinogenic, but the jury is still out, and research from major agencies has yet to be conducted. In fact, the American Cancer Society says that the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) hasn’t even fully reviewed both types of talc at this time to determine whether they are carcinogenic.
Talc inhalation has been said to cause respiratory problems. "This substance may have effects on the lungs, resulting in talc pneumoconiosis," the International Chemical Safety Card for talc reads, as reported by CNN. The network says that talc aspiration has led some pediatricians to tell parents to steer clear of using these products on babies. These warnings are said to date back to the 1960s due to the risk of aspiration.
If you’re concerned about the possible risks associated with talcum powder, there is a way to make a change to avoid talc in general. The American Cancer Society says that you can switch from talcum powder to cornstarch-based products. No concerns have been raised about cornstarch.