Babies and personal hygiene come in your mind when you think of talcum powder. However, thousands of baby powder lawsuits are making things all the more serious.
Multiple studies have found that women who used talcum powder regularly had a 20 to 30% increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Johnson & Johnson’s baby talcum powder has a low-level exposure to asbestos and inhaling asbestos can cause mesothelioma and other respiratory issues in babies.
Below mentioned talc-free substitutes are readily available in local grocery stores.
Tapioca Starch
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Tapioca comes from the cassava plant and it is commonly known as a pudding-like treat. It is a starchy white flour with a sweet flavor. Tapioca flour is popularly used as an alternative to regular wheat flours and can also be used for baking.
It absorbs oil and moisture to keep your body dry. You can find it easily in local grocery stores or you can order it online from specialty groceries.
Prices range of tapioca starch ranges from $1.96 to $17.00.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is not just for baking cakes. It is safe to use on the body as an alternative to baby powder.
However, using baking soda in its natural form can be abrasive for sensitive skin and can cause rashes. To avoid this, choose a blend of baking soda with kaolin clay or cornstarch.
You can easily find baking soda in your nearest bakery or grocery store. Prices range between $0.80 to $9.00, depending on the quality of baking soda.
Cornstarch
Cornstarch is the best alternative to talcum powder. It is easily available, you can find this in drugstores, grocery stores, local bakery, and at other general stores like Walmart or Target.
Cornstarch easily absorbs sweat and prevents chafing. It can also be used on razor burns and heat rashes to avoid redness and itchiness.
For making it a great substitute as a loose finishing talcum powder, you can grind it for about 30 seconds for fine powder. Save your time and energy by getting medicated cornstarch baby powder instead of cornstarch at its natural form.
Arrowroot
Arrowroot is an all-natural starch alternative to talc. Similar to tapioca, arrowroot comes from several tropical South American plants. It is an affluent source of potassium which is a great alternative for those people who are allergic to corn.
It supplies a moderate amount of minerals like zinc, magnesium, iron, and more to regulate the heart rate of your baby and help the growth of your baby.
The cherry on the cake is that it’s also free of gluten, hence, it reduces the chances of allergies. Get the best of use of arrowroot starch powder by adding powdered chamomile powder and store it in an airtight glass jar.
A natural or health food store is the best place where you can buy this product. Prices vary between $2.50 to $14.00.
Kaolin Clay
Kaolin clay is popularly known as cosmetic clay, as it is one of the main ingredients of many cosmetics, deodorants, scrubs, and soaps. This is highly absorbent to reduce oil from sensitive skin.
It is also an excellent alternative cleanser that detoxes and purifies the pores, germs, pollution, grime, removing dirt, etc.
The price of pure Kaolin clay starts from $0.89 and you can buy commercial powder blends at $9.00.
Oat Flour
Oat flour is very much similar to rice starch, it is made up of ground-up oats. It is slightly coarser than the above-mentioned powders. Due to its moisturizing properties, it is healthy and contains lubricating fats which act as a protective barrier for the skin dryness.
By adding a bit of oat flour on your skin can help you soothe irritated and itchy skin. Add a bit of water to form a paste and apply on the acne and chickenpox scars to get relief from the pain and fade them out.
DIY Body Powder
By using a base of baking soda, tapioca starch, rice powder, cornstarch, etc., you can create your body powder. Add a light floral scent by adding essential oils or crushed chamomile leaves/lavender buds.
These talc-free baby powders alternatives may be slightly more expensive than the common powder, but they are probably the safest to use and protect you from talcum powder ovarian cancer.
Conclusion
Talcum powders can be poisonous especially when swallowed or inhaled. It can cause ovarian cancer, lung cancer, and other respiratory problems.
So you may want to consider using these healthy and natural alternatives baby powder to live a healthy life in the future.
