If you are a male using talcum powder on his genitals, do not use it before having sex with a woman. Talcum powder may be linked to ovarian cancer, and so you should make sure you are not exposing your partner to it. Wash the powder off before having sex or consider using an alternative product.

Recent studies by the FDA have found no asbestos in talc cosmetic products. Talc can be found in face powders, eye shadows, and blushes.

Make sure to shake out talcum powder in small doses. Don’t shake a lot out at once because it can introduce talcum spores into the air. Inhaling talcum powder can cause respiratory distress.

Women should also refrain from putting talcum powder on sanitary napkins, diaphragms, condoms, or genitals.

This may be difficult since talc can be a very fine powder. To keep from breathing it in, use small amounts. Refrain from shaking the talc container vigorously. Be gentle and avoid spreading the talcum powder around and dispersing it in the air. Inhaling significant amounts of talcum powder can cause a type of chemical pneumonia and is considered a medical emergency.

Make sure you shake the powder out away from your baby’s face. The biggest concern for babies is negative side effects due to inhalation.

Children can easily spill or shake talcum powder out of the container. This releases particles into the air that they can inhale. Keeping it safe from them reduces their risk of exposure.

Cornstarch and tapioca starch can serve as “food” for skin bacteria and yeast, especially Candida. If you or your baby have a yeast rash, refrain from using this alternative because it can make a yeast infection worse. [8] X Research source These yeast rashes tend to show up in the folds between the thighs and the groin. If you are concerned about talc-based makeup, you can even face powder, eye shadows, and blushes made with cornstarch.

Rice powder and chickpea powder will absorb moisture and help keep you dry. They are good alternatives to cornstarch or talc. Try corn flour or oat flour. They also work well to absorb moisture. You can find these flours and powders at the grocery store. Make sure you keep them in airtight containers so they stay fresh.

Make sure to grind the herbs into a fine powder. You can use a coffee or spice grinder. Before using, sift the ground herbs to separate any larger pieces.

Use equal amounts of arrowroot and kaolin clay. Add three drops of lavender essential oil for every four tablespoons of the arrowroot and clay mixture and mix well. You can substitute any of the talc alternatives listed for either the arrowroot or the clay. For example, try mixing ½ cup of rice powder with ½ cup of oat flour. You can substitute dried herbs for the essential oil if you have a young baby or your baby has sensitive skin.

Overall, the use of talc is a smaller risk for ovarian cancer as compared to obesity, the use of hormone replacement therapy, and family history, but is does appear to be real. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, a division of the World Health Organization, has talc listed as a possible carcinogen. [15] X Research source

Inhaling talcum powder may cause coughing, eye and throat irritation, difficulty breathing, wheezing, shallow breaths, chest pain, lung failure, diarrhea, vomiting, and even urinary or circulatory problems. In severe cases, comas or fever may occur. You can buy talc-free baby powders, use an alternative, or skip the powder all together and use creams or ointments.

Since the 1960’s, there have been concerns that asbestos-contaminated talcum powder may be associated with cancer, particularly ovarian cancer in women who used talc around the genital area. Recently, a study was conducted by the FDA to survey “currently marketed cosmetic-grade raw material talc, as well as some cosmetic products containing talc” for contamination with asbestos. [18] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source The study ran for a year, and the results found no talc products contaminated with asbestos. The FDA, however, was only able to test four separate talc suppliers, and a larger number of personal care products. The results were considered informative but not definitive.