Guys use baby powder because it is extremely useful in mitigating and preventing sweat, bad odor, as well as preventing skin chafing and irritation.
The use of these powders on certain parts of the skin is especially common for men.
Especially those who work in industries that require a lot of manual labor and standing under the sun, such as those working in construction.
Baby powder has been traditionally used to help prevent diaper rash.
And it does that by absorbing the moisture that could irritate babies’ sensitive skin and cause a rash.
But baby powder is easily effective enough to work on adult men as well.
There are two main ingredients in a baby powder that make it pretty effective in preventing sweat, skin chafing, and deodorizing your armpit/down there – fragrance and talc
Table of Contents
What is Talc?
Talc is a soft natural clay mineral that is mined from underground deposits all over the world.
Most of the world’s talc is mined in China. Other notable mining deposits are located in Brazil and the United States.
It is pearly white and slightly translucent in color in its natural condition.
And because it is the softest known mineral on the planet, it is easily crushed into a fine powder.
Talc has many uses in cosmetics, food, and the drug industry.
But in this article, I will focus on the many benefits it has for men.
Johnson & Johnson originally formulated its first batch of baby powder in 1894, using talc as the main ingredient.
Traditionally, it was used to help prevent diaper rash by absorbing moisture that could irritate babies’ sensitive skin and cause a rash.
Fast forward to today, it is still used by households across the world. Even if they have no babies.
Adults have realized the many benefits of body powder.
And are using it to alleviate a lot of men’s problems that can arise from strenuous activities.
These include such as sweat, odor, chafing, and irritation.
Is Baby Powder Safe for the Skin?
So now we know that guys use baby powders because it is effective in mitigating sweat, bad odor, and skin chafing.
However, there is probably one more question on your mind:
- Is it safe to put baby powder on your skin?
I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but baby powders’ main ingredient talc, sort of has a bad reputation when it comes to skincare and grooming products.
According to media reports, there have been more than 6,600 baby powder lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson.
Mostly related to women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
The general claim is that they got cancer from years of talc use down there.
Because of all the controversy, the simple fact is that over the past several years there has been a massive, massive shift in the marketplace away from talc.
Consumers are concerned about the possible health effects of using talc long-term on their bodies.
There have been some conflicting studies that have purported to show a link between talc usage and a higher chance of contracting cancer.
However, to date, research still shows mixed results and scientists still do not have enough evidence to definitively show that baby powder does cause cancer.
So you may ask: What’s the bottom line then? Is baby powder safe for you?
Since the jury is still out on a definitive answer to this question, it is hard to put 100% conviction in saying that baby powder is safe to use for your use.
I personally don’t use baby powder down there anymore just to have that peace of mind, which I will discuss in more detail below.
Use Talc-Free Alternatives Instead
If you’re worried about your exposure to baby powder (made of talc), don’t worry.
This is because there are a lot of great alternatives to baby powder that are completely safe (talc-free) and specifically made for men to use.
Most of these products use talc alternatives such as cornstarch, baking soda, and arrowroot powder, among others…
The only real downside to these alternatives is that…
- They typically don’t last as long as talc-based powders.
- They oftentimes don’t soak up as much moisture as talc-based powders.
Nonetheless, these talc-free alternatives are still very good.
They help in mitigating and preventing sweat, bad odor, skin chafing, and irritation.
Plus, you also get the benefit of not having to worry about putting anything on your body that might increase your risk of cancer.
My own personal recommendation is the Chassis Premium Body Powder. It is talc-free.
Instead, it uses baking soda, pumpkin seed, hops extract, oatmeal, and other natural ingredients.
One of the cool things about this product is that the aloe and other plant extracts give a soothing feeling after applying the powder.
Feels cool and refreshing to the touch.
It also has a pretty useful applicator nozzle, which makes it easy and simple to use.
I have a complete guide on the best men’s body powders available on the market right now. If you’re interested in learning more, click here.
Summary
Going back to the original question: Why Do Guys Use Baby Powder?
The answer is that baby powder is effective at mitigating and preventing sweat, bad odor, as well as preventing skin chafing and irritation.
But…
As I discussed above, there has been a lot of controversy regarding baby powders’ main ingredient talc.
Particularly that it increases the risk of getting cancer.
However, the jury is still out on whether or not this is truly the case, as scientists still do not have enough evidence to show this.
Thus, I personally would recommend using body powders that use talc alternatives, such as cornstarch, baking powder, and arrowroot powder, among others.