As babies, many of us were given a generous post-bath sprinkling of powder; as mothers, we’re tempted to follow in the steps of our mothers, and reach for talcum powder to keep our babies smelling fresh and their young skin dry. However, in recent years, there has been a lot of conflicting information on the safety of talcum powder. In fact, a well-known baby product manufacturer in the United States is being sued by consumers for not explicitly stating that the company was aware of a possible link between talc and cancer.
“Some of the ingredients in talcum powder can cause allergies and irritation on soft baby skin,” says Kolkata-based Dr Sandipan Dhar, professor and consultant at the Department of
