Is Baby Powder Safe for Adults to Use?

Baby powder is king when it comes to eliminating moisture and preventing diaper rash from developing on a baby's butt, but have you ever wondered if baby powder is safe for adults to use?

After all, why should babies be the only ones around here with dry asses and chafe free skin? That hardly seems fair.

To help us answer this question, let's take a look at the ingredient list from a very popular brand of baby powder:

As you can see from the photo, there really isn't many ingredients used to make baby powder. While the ingredients will vary slightly from brand to brand, expect to see a lot of similarities in the ingredients used. 

For the purpose of this article, we will discuss the ingredients from the example above and we will also take a look at some common ingredients found in other brands of baby powder. 

Let's get into it.

Zea Mays (Corn) Starch

Commonly known as cornstarch, this carbohydrate is extracted from the endosperm of corn and is the most common ingredient found in baby powder due to its ability to absorb sweat and eliminate chafing. 

Prior to 2022 many baby powders on the market were made with talc as the primary ingredient, but when concerns over the safety of talc began to rise most baby powder manufacturers made the switch from talc to cornstarch as the primary ingredient. 

Nowadays you're very unlikely to find a brand of baby powder that contains talc. 

So is cornstarch a safe ingredient? Yes, cornstarch is considered safe for both babies and adults. In fact cornstarch is edible and is a commonly used ingredient to thicken soups and stews and is used in baked goods such as cookies and cakes. 

Hydroxyapatite

While cornstarch is a pretty commonly known ingredient, hydroxyapatite is a bit more of a mystery and considerably harder to pronounce. 

The good news is that hydroxyapatite is a naturally occurring mineral and is generally considered safe for both babies and adults. 

It serves as an anti-caking agent in baby powder to help prevent clumping and improve pourability of the powder. 

Fragrance

No mystery here. Fragrance is added to baby powder giving it that easy to recognize, baby-like scent. While some people are against the use of synthetic fragrances, it's worth noting that they are considered safe for the skin when used in small quantities.  

Sodium Bicarbonate 

While not an ingredient found in the above example, sodium bicarbonate is an ingredient found in some brands of baby powder. Commonly referred to as baking soda, sodium bicarbonate is a PH neutral salt that is great at eliminating body odor and it also helps suppress bacterial growth.

The good news is that sodium bicarbonate is considered safe and is commonly mixed with water and used to treat a wide range of skin conditions including: Eczema, psoriasis, acne, bee stings, psoriasis, mosquito bites and even fungal infections. 

So, is Baby Powder Safe for Adults to Use?

Yes, absolutely.

Now that baby powder is no longer made with talc, it is completely safe for both men and women to use to help prevent sweat, odor and chafing. So go ahead and confidently douse yourself in the stuff knowing full well that it's 100% safe for adults to use.

Wait, is There a Better Option?

Baby powder is totally safe for adults to use, but the question now is: is it the best option for adults?

The answer: No - not by a damn sight. 

The reality is baby powder is formulated for the sensitive skin of a newborn baby's butt. 

I don't know about you, but when it comes to sweat, odor, and chafing - I need something a lot stronger than a product designed for a baby. Do babies even have BO?

The Alternative?

Galaxy Dust Body Powder - Clearly