We’ve all heard of talcum powder. You may have used it on your kids when they were babies, and you might currently use it to prevent thigh chafing.

Talcum powder’s main ingredient is a mineral called talc. Talc aids in absorbing perspiration. Plus, it creates a smooth surface that prevents chafing and rashes. 

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), talc is even used in cosmetics like facial powders. This can keep makeup from “caking” or give it the opaque appearance that some women strive for when it comes to achieving a polished look. It also can make a product feel smoother. 

Here’s the thing: Talc may be detrimental to your health. Experts cite concerns over the fact that talcum powder may increase a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer if it’s used on the genitals regularly. Plus, it is said to contribute to respiratory issues. 

Early warnings about the safety of talc “down there” first appeared in the early 1970s. Some health experts warned that talc could be dangerous to the ovaries, but the medical director of Johnson & Johnson disputed the claim.

“This warning was confirmed in a 1992 publication in Obstetrics & Gynecology which reported that a woman’s frequent talc use on her genitals increased her risk of ovarian cancer by threefold,” Dr. Frank Lipman writes on his website. “The talc in question was simple brand or generic ‘baby powder.’” Multiple articles had already discussed the association between talc and ovarian cancer. 

But the biggest blow appeared in 2003. Lipman says that, in that year, a journal called Anticancer Research reviewed 16 studies that had already been published. It found talc increased a woman’s chance of developing ovarian cancer by 33 percent. 

Ovarian cancer can be deadly. According to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, an estimated 21,290 new cases of ovarian cancer were diagnosed in 2015. And 14,180 people died of ovarian cancer during the same year. In fact, ovarian cancer is the fifth-leading cause of death related to female cancers.