Should you use talcum powder after Johnson & Johnson cancer lawsuits?

Women are suing Johnson & Johnson because of a potential link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer, but you shouldn’t throw out your own baby powder quite yet. The science is still out on a proven connection, and the company is fighting off additional lawsuits and appealing its lost cases.

Most recently, 62-year-old Gloria Ristesund alleged that Johnson & Johnson hadn’t adequately warned consumers about a possible link between talc powder and ovarian cancer on their products. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 after using the company’s talc-based powders for feminine hygiene for four decades.

Missouri jurors awarded Ristesund $55 million after hearing her case. Two earlier cases also found the company was negligent, though one did not award money to the victim.

More than a thousand additional plaintiffs are suing, and the next case is expected in September, according to Bloomberg.

The company said it would appeal Ristesund’s case, and maintains it adequately labels its products.

"Multiple scientific and regulatory reviews have determined that talc is safe for use in cosmetic products and the labeling on Johnson's Baby Powder is appropriate," said Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman Carol Goodrich in a statement.

What is in talcum powder?

Talcum powder comes from the mineral talc, and it isn’t just used in powder. The mineral is commonly found in other cosmetics too, in part because it keeps skin dry and can prevent chafing.

The Johnson & Johnson lawsuit concerns women who have used the powder on their genital areas.

Does it cause cancer?

It’s unlikely, according to the American Cancer Society. Studies so far have shown either a slight increase in cancer or none at all. Some of those studies rely on participants to remember how much talc they’ve used over many years, rather than measuring it over time, and memories are not always reliable.

According to the ACS, “if there is an increased risk, the overall increase is likely to be very small.”

A possible link between talc and lung cancer has also been studied, though those cases only concern miners who encounter natural talc containing some asbestos. Cosmetic talc powder is purified and does not pose an asbestos risk.

What else could I use?

If you want to reduce how much talcum powder you use, there are cornstarch-based alternatives, particularly for feminine use.

But whatever kind of powder you use should still be kept away from infants’ faces, per the American Academy of Pediatrics. And if you continue using talc, make sure you to avoid inhaling or swallowing it.

This story was originally published May 3, 2016 at 9:37 AM with the headline "Should you use talcum powder after Johnson & Johnson cancer lawsuits?."