Photo from Drugstore.com
Today I am going to take an in depth look at a popular diaper rash ointment called Aquaphor Healing Ointment by Eucerin. If you're a mom, chances are you know of it. Chances are you've tried it...and even thought it worked wonders on baby's diaper rash.
Without further adieu, let's took at the brief list of ingredients. The ones in green are of concern:
Active Ingredient: Petrolatum (41%)
Inactive Ingredients: Mineral Oil, Ceresin, Lanolin Alcohol, Panthenol, Glycerin, Bisabolol
Petrolatum: 41% of this product is Petrolatum. Petrolatum was banned in the EU in 2004, as it then became classified officially as a carcinogen. This is part of the UNECE 2004-EU's Dangerous Substances Directive (which is viewable on the official EU site and list of regulatory links). In September 2004 the ban went through and the sale of products containing petrolatum is prohibited unless the manufacturer can provide the completely refining history, that it is free of any contaminants, and that it does not come from a carcinogen. It may be sold only if "...the full refining history is known and it can be shown that the substance from which it is produced is not a carcinogen." (Source: UNECE 2004).
Back to this dirty ingredient... This crude oil derivative has been shown to contain a contaminant called Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which get a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10 for the most toxic chemicals in the Cosmetics Database.
Many say petrolatum is harmless and unfairly "gets a bad rap." It's considered gentle for sensitive skin, most find it to be non-comedogenic, and doctors recommend it. I disagree with the generalization that it's OK to use on your body.
You see, the Food and Drug Administration does limit the amount of petrolatum when it comes to using it in food or medication. However, there is no regulation at all in terms of how much can be used in cosmetics and toiletries. That's how Vaseline and other products containing petrolatum are still sold in the US. You may also remember when it came to light in early 2007 that several dozen popular baby products on US shelves from brands like Johnson & Johnson, Gerber, and L'Oreal were contaminated with a known carcinogen called 1,4 Dioxane. PAHs fall into the same league as 1,4 Dioxane. You don't want to be applying this toxin on your face--or anywhere.
Mineral Oil: This is a very inexpensive bi-product of petroleum. It is, in fact, LIQUID PETROLATUM (See above).
Ceresin: This comes from a wax called Ozokerite and is purified, then bleached white. Ozokerite is a wax sometimes substituted for beeswax, as works similarly. However, it comes from petroleum or mineral oil. You will see this ingredient in about 1/3 of lipsticks on the market.
Lanolin Alcohol: A thickener and emollient found in most lipsticks. A non-drying alcohol, this can be highly irritating to some. Note to vegans: Animal derived (from sheep's wool).
Panthenol: Vitamin B5, conditioning and nourishing
Glycerin: Humectant
Bisabilol: Skin conditioning; a terpene (hydrocarbon); can be anti-irritating. Not great, but not a horrible ingredient either.
The Bottom Line on Aquaphor:
We've seen before how products recommended for years are actually not worthy of skin application--case in point, Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser.
Aquaphor falls into that category. Once again, the EU is way ahead of the FDA when it comes to banning potentially harmful ingredients. Why has this been banned over there for 5 years and it's still so popular here?
I am the first to admit I used to be skeptical of claims that petrolatum, mineral oil, and the like are bad. I used to think that since it was recommended by my pediatrician for my boys' diaper rashes that it must be OK.
Now I cannot believe I ever let that stuff touch their skin. Would I recommend Aquaphor to anyone? No way.
What Can I Use Instead?
Even one of the most recommended "better" diaper rash balms, Boudreaux Butt Paste, contains the harmful ingredients mentioned above.
Burt's Bees Baby Bee Diaper Ointment is a fair choice. Nick couldn't tolerate it with the natural extracts--it was too strongly scented. Ben did great with it. It all depends on baby.
Magic Stick from the Natural Baby Company has a nice list of all-natural ingredients in their stick balm.
Weleda Calendula Diaper Cream is a fair choice (although the lanolin may irritate some).
DIYers can easily make their own diaper balm. I did this when Ben was still in diapers. Here is the recipe:
Melt 1/4 cup of beeswax over low heat.
Add in 1 cup of avocado oil, 1 teaspoon of jojoba oil and 1 heaping Tablespoon of shea butter. Stir, making sure it's all blended together. Pour into tins.
I used to infuse the avocado oil first, though, with a handful of calendula petals and about a spoonful of dried lavender. Let the oil and the petals steep overnight if you're doing this. You can also add chamolile to the mix, if desired. I have found that the fewer ingredients the better for baby's sensitive skin.
NEXT WEEK WE WILL EXAMINE A POPULAR SHAVING CREAM FOR MEN.
