Talc, used for many years to clean the buttocks of babies, is now strongly discouraged.
Doctor Jimmy Mohamed recommends using soap or water instead, or liniment, a mixture of lime water and olive oil.
In the collective imagination, talc is used above all to wash a baby's bottom. However, many studies published in recent years suspect it to be carcinogenic and advise against its use. But then, which products should be applied to the buttocks of a newborn baby? Doctor Jimmy Mohamed answered this question on Wednesday afternoon, in the program Sans rendez-vous on Europe 1.
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Talc, not recommended for children
"Talc is not recommended for children, especially not for babies, and even less for mucous membranes. Indeed, it is suspected of being a potential carcinogen. In the United States, a court case has defrayed the chronicler in 2016. A woman put talcum powder in her panties every day, believing the product to prevent sweating. After developing ovarian cancer, she took the case to court and the judges considered it there was a causal link between talc and cancer.
Other studies show, however, that there may not be a link between talc and cancer.
But when in doubt, it is better to avoid talcum powder, and never on the mucous membranes, so never on the buttocks of babies. "
Do not use wipes
Another product to be banned: wipes, "which are filled with perfumes and sometimes contain traces of endocrine disruptors. They are also very expensive and are bad for the planet. So many reasons not to use them."
The preferred solutions: water or soap and liniment
To clean a baby's bottom, you can simply use "soap or water".
Jimmy Mohamed also advises to put liniment, which can be bought in pharmacies.
You can also make it yourself.
"You take 100 milliliters of lime water, and 100 thousand liters of rather organic olive oil and a little yellow beeswax", explains the doctor.
"The liniment works very well, we often see it in maternity hospitals."