Desitin Maximum Strength Zinc Oxide Diaper Rash Paste

skin protectant & rash ointment • For 5+ year old children • Skin contact 🧴

skin protectant & rash ointment

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Desitin Maximum Strength Zinc Oxide Diaper Rash Paste - Front

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Ingredient List

Desitin Maximum Strength Zinc Oxide Diaper Rash Paste - Ingredients

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Is this kid-friendly to use Desitin Maximum Strength Zinc Oxide Diaper Rash Paste?

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USE WITH CAUTION

Danger Score: 5 (Lower is safer)

Quick Answer: Desitin Maximum Strength Zinc Oxide Diaper Rash Paste contains 26 ingredients. 1 caution. Use with Caution ⚠️ Kids may have different tolerance levels.

Check for Different Age (6 available)

Ingredients Analysis (26 found)

Fragrance

⚠️5/10

Perfume is a common ingredient in baby products for scent but can cause irritation or allergies in sensitive children aged 5 and above. Use with caution.

Irritant - Fragrance mixtures often contain chemicals that can cause skin irritation, redness, or rashes, especially on sensitive baby skin.

Eczema - Fragrances are known triggers for eczema flare-ups and can worsen symptoms in babies with sensitive or atopic skin.

Asthma - Fragrance chemicals can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may worsen asthma or breathing issues in babies and children.

Hormones - Some fragrance ingredients, such as certain phthalates, are suspected endocrine disruptors that may interfere with hormone development.

Absorbed - Certain fragrance chemicals can be absorbed through the skin and detected in the bloodstream, raising concerns for systemic exposure.

Breast Milk - Some fragrance components, including phthalates, have been detected in breast milk, indicating they can pass from mother to baby.

Banned - Some fragrance ingredients are banned or restricted in the EU and other countries due to health concerns.

Builds Up - Certain fragrance chemicals, such as some phthalates and musks, can accumulate in the body over time with repeated exposure.

Long-Term Risk - Long-term exposure to some fragrance chemicals has been linked to chronic health effects, including hormone disruption and allergic diseases.

Confidence: HIGH

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

✅3/10

For children 5 years and older, this ingredient is usually OK in shampoos and washes that are rinsed off. It helps make foam and clean without being very harsh for most kids. A small number of people can get skin irritation or allergic rashes, and regulators have raised concerns about possible contaminants from manufacturing.

Confidence: HIGH

Citric Acid

✅2/10

For children 5 years and older (school-age kids, tweens, teens), citric acid in everyday skincare like wipes, shampoos and lotions is usually safe when used at the low levels found in those products. It may sting if it gets in the eyes or is placed on sore or broken skin.

Confidence: HIGH

Ethylhexylglycerin

✅2/10

For children aged 5 years and older (school-aged kids, children, preteens), this ingredient is generally low risk when used on the skin at normal levels. The main issues are possible skin or eye irritation and, rarely, an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive.

Confidence: HIGH

PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate

✅2/10

For school-age children (5+ years), this ingredient is probably low risk when used in normal skin products. It’s mainly a texture/emulsifying ingredient and is not commonly linked to cancer or allergy problems. The main concern is possible contamination with solvents (ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane) if a manufacturer does not control impurities.

Confidence: MEDIUM

PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate

✅2/10

For kids aged 5 and up, this ingredient is usually okay in small amounts on normal skin, but it can cause skin reactions in some people and the ingredient report raises concerns about contamination with impurities.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Phenoxyethanol

✅2/10

For school-age children (ages 5 and up), phenoxyethanol is commonly used as a preservative and is usually low risk when products contain it at low concentrations (around 1% or less). The biggest concern is irritation — some kids may get redness, stinging, or eye irritation.

Confidence: HIGH

Polysorbate 20

✅2/10

For children aged 5 years and up (school-age kids), Polysorbate 20 is usually low risk when used at the small amounts found in everyday wipes, shampoos and lotions. It can sometimes irritate sensitive skin or eyes, and the main safety concern is tiny amounts of manufacturing impurities that brands should control.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Sodium Benzoate

✅2/10

For school-age kids (5 years and up), sodium benzoate is usually safe in the small amounts used in lotions, wipes and creams. It helps stop bacteria and mold. Serious problems like cancer or widespread allergies are not expected, but some safety groups and countries set limits on how much can be used.

Confidence: HIGH

Sodium Hydroxide

✅2/10

For school-age children (5 years and older): when sodium hydroxide is in regular skin products it is usually at very low levels and is safe if the product is made for skin and has a skin-friendly pH. Sodium hydroxide itself is a strong chemical that can burn if concentrated.

Confidence: HIGH

Carbomer

✅1/10

For school-age children (5 years and older) carbomer is usually safe when used on normal, unbroken skin. Most safety checks show low risk for cancer, allergies or effects on growth, but there are notes about possible impurities from manufacturing.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Cetearyl Alcohol

✅1/10

Cetearyl alcohol is a common ingredient in lotions and creams and is usually safe for children aged 5, older kids, and teens. Most experts say it is low risk when used on the skin.

Confidence: HIGH

Cetyl Alcohol

✅1/10

For children aged 5 and up (school-age kids and teens), cetyl alcohol is usually safe in regular lotions, creams and cleansers. It’s a common softening and thickening ingredient and most reviews call it low risk.

Confidence: HIGH

Decyl Glucoside

✅1/10

For children 5 years and older: this is generally safe. It’s a gentle cleanser used in many kid shampoos and washes. Most children won’t have a problem, but a small number of people can get skin irritation or an allergic rash.

Confidence: HIGH

Glycerin

✅1/10

For children 5 years and older (kids, school-age children, teens), glycerin is usually safe when used in regular lotions, cleansers or wipes. It helps skin hold on to moisture and is not linked to major health risks.

Confidence: HIGH

Glyceryl Stearate

✅1/10

For school-age children (5 years and older) Glyceryl Stearate is generally safe. It’s used to make creams and lotions smooth and soft, and most health reviews find low risk for long-term harm.

Confidence: HIGH

Isopropyl Palmitate

✅1/10

For children 5 years and older, this ingredient is usually safe and is used to soften skin and help creams spread. Most authorities consider it low risk.

No Known Risk - Reviews and government assessments did not find health hazards above a low level for normal topical use. Safety panels note use limits and some data gaps, but regulators have called it low priority for human health, do not expect it to build up in the body or the environment, and allow limited food uses. Taken together, current evidence does not show any health risks above low for typical use.

Confidence: HIGH

Magnesium Aluminum Silicate

✅1/10

For school-age children (5+ years), this ingredient is generally safe in creams, lotions and cleansers. It is usually an inactive ingredient used to thicken or stabilize products.

No Known Risk - Independent safety reviews and government assessments (Environment Canada and an industry safety review) find this ingredient is not expected to be toxic to organs, not likely to build up in the body, and show only low concern for cancer, allergies, or reproductive harm. A European chemicals agency notes limited evidence of respiratory irritation, but that finding is minor. Overall, no health hazards above a low level were identified for typical topical use.

Confidence: MEDIUM

PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide

✅1/10

For kids aged 5 and up, this ingredient is generally low risk. It helps products make foam and clean skin. Most safety checks show low concern for serious health issues, but it can cause mild irritation in some people.

No Known Risk - A cosmetic safety review panel evaluated this ingredient and found it safe for use in skin products when kept to the recommended amounts. The panel noted a small chance of skin or eye irritation and said it should be formulated to avoid irritation, but no higher-level hazards were identified.

Confidence: HIGH

Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate

✅1/10

For children aged 5 and up, this is a mild cleansing ingredient commonly found in kid-friendly shampoos and washes. Overall it has low concern, but it can irritate eyes and may help other ingredients get into the skin more easily.

Confidence: HIGH

Stearic Acid

✅1/10

Stearic acid is generally safe for kids aged 5 and up when used on the skin. It helps creams and wipes hold together and usually does not cause serious problems.

Confidence: HIGH

Titanium Dioxide

✅1/10

For children aged 5 and up (school-age kids), titanium dioxide in creams and lotions is generally low risk when used on healthy skin. It stays mostly on the surface and is commonly used in kid-friendly sunscreens and products.

Confidence: HIGH

Xanthan Gum

✅1/10

For children aged 5 and up, xanthan gum is generally safe when used in normal skin products. It is mainly a thickener and usually does not get into the body or cause problems. Most children will not have any reaction.

No Known Risk - Safety reviews and regulatory assessments find no health hazards above a low level for topical use. It is approved for limited use in food, classified as not expected to be toxic and a low human-health priority, and not suspected to be an environmental toxin. Cosmetic industry reviewers note only guidance on concentrations or purity. Because no concern was rated above low, no specific risks were identified for babies or children.

Confidence: HIGH

p-Anisic Acid

✅1/10

For children 5 years and older, p-anisic acid on the skin is generally low risk. Most experts find it safe at the small amounts used in skin products, though some people may get mild irritation.

Confidence: HIGH

Coconut Oil

✅0/10

Coconut oil is widely used in baby care for moisturizing and is safe for topical use in children over 5 years

No Known Risk - Coconut oil is widely used topically for babies and is generally considered safe. There is no strong evidence linking it to irritation, allergies, hormone disruption, cancer, or other health risks when used on healthy baby skin. Rare allergic reactions are possible, but not common enough to warrant a risk label based on current research.

Confidence: HIGH

Water

✅0/10

For kids aged 5 and up (school-age children, children, older kids), water used on the skin is very safe. It’s the basic ingredient in cleansers, lotions and wipes and carries very low health concern when clean and used in normal products.

No Known Risk - Regulatory reviews (Environment Canada) find plain water is not expected to be toxic, not bioaccumulative, and not an environmental toxin. Safety summaries list no concerns above a low level for organ harm, reproductive effects, or other long‑term risks for topical use, so no specific health risks are identified for use on skin.

Confidence: HIGH

Common Questions About Desitin Maximum Strength Zinc Oxide Diaper Rash Paste

Kid-approved? Desitin Maximum Strength Zinc Oxide Diaper Rash Paste

Use caution with Desitin Maximum Strength Zinc Oxide Diaper Rash Paste for 5+ year old children. Some ingredients may pose concerns.

What ingredients should I watch out for?

We analyzed 26 ingredients in Desitin Maximum Strength Zinc Oxide Diaper Rash Paste. 1 caution. Check the detailed analysis above for specific concerns.

When can kids start using skin protectant & rash ointment?

The appropriate age depends on the specific ingredients. This analysis is for 5+ year old children. Use the age selector above to check other ages.

⚠️ Important Disclaimers

Product Recognition: Product names are identified programatically and may be incorrect. Always verify product identity yourself.

Safety Analysis: Evaluations are for research only - consult pediatricians for medical decisions. Do not rely solely on this analysis.

No Guarantees: Results may be incomplete or inaccurate. Do not rely solely on this analysis.