Though originally developed to help baby bottoms stay dry and free from skin irritation, women quickly learned that baby powder could be an asset to their daily hygiene routine. With its ability to absorb moisture, protection against chafing, and odor control,  talcum powder became a staple for many women looking for help with their own, often embarrassing, conditions.

As the product buzz grew and more and more women began to share their non-baby uses for talcum powder with others, the original baby powder manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson caught on. Instead of the classic square white bottle that everyone associated with Johnson’s Baby Powder, the company introduced a product called “Shower to Shower” in pastel shades of pink, blue, purple and green. The bottle was shaped like a shampoo bottle and the earliest commercials asked, “Have you had your sprinkle today?”

Daily baby powder product use among women is still going strong, with an estimated 40% of all women including it as part of their daily hygiene routine.

The Dark Side of Baby Powder Use

Most women did not think twice about using a sprinkle of powder in their underwear or on their genital area to help them to stay fresh and dry. However, for some women, using baby powder on themselves led to serious health consequences.

Over the past four decades, more and more women have been reporting that their ovarian cancer was linked to their genital application of talc powder. Back in 1971, a research study found that talc particles were part of the ovarian tissues in women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Research studies since that initial study have demonstrated an association between talcum-based powder and ovarian cancer, with an increased risk of about 41%.

Baby Powder Ingredients

With the exception of a few cornstarch-based baby powders, most baby powder is made from talcum powder. Talc is a naturally occurring mineral made up of magnesium, silicon and oxygen. It is found in mines and the mineral compound is ground up to make talcum powder.

It is only when genitals are exposed to talcum powder that there seems to be a problem. It appears that the talc particles are able to enter the body and thus potentially affect the ovaries.

Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuit Information

In 2013, a woman sued Johnson & Johnson for the ovarian cancer that she believed was caused by the daily use of talcum baby powder. Johnson & Johnson was found guilty of negligence, as they failed to warn women of the risk of ovarian cancer. Oddly, the woman was not awarded any damages for her claim in the baby powder lawsuit.

Nevertheless, since that historic lawsuit a couple of years ago, over 700 more product liability and personal injury lawsuits alleging the link between baby powder and ovarian cancer are currently in the courts.

If you or a loved one was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and has used talcum-based baby powder or Shower to Shower type products as part of a feminine hygiene routine, you may qualify for legal compensation.

In general, baby powder cancer lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions