Desitin Maximum Strength

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

skin protectant & rash ointment

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Ingredient List

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Is this kid-friendly to use Desitin Maximum Strength?

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NO - AVOID

Danger Score: 11 (Lower is safer)

Quick Answer: Desitin Maximum Strength contains 10 ingredients. 1 concerning, 1 caution. Concerning - Has Problematic Ingredients ⚠️ Kids may have different tolerance levels.

Check for Different Age (6 available)

Ingredients Analysis (10 found)

talc

🚨6/10

For school-age children (5 years and older), touching talc on the skin is less risky than for babies, but there are important safety concerns: talc can sometimes be contaminated with asbestos-like fibers and some authorities have raised cancer-related worries. Breathing talc dust is the main short-term danger.

Cancer - Government and health review bodies have linked talc to cancer. The ingredient record includes listings of 'known human carcinogen' and notes evaluations by an international cancer research agency (IARC) that found evidence connecting talc exposure to cancer in some uses. This means using talc (especially powdered forms that can be inhaled or used in the genital area) has been tied to increased cancer risk in some studies.

Banned - Several regulators limit or restrict talc in cosmetics. The ingredient record shows use and manufacturing restrictions cited by the EU Cosmetics rules and Health Canada, meaning some governments have banned or tightly limited talc in certain products or concentrations.

Organ Risk - A national environmental health agency (Environment Canada) classifies talc as expected to be toxic or harmful to non-reproductive organs and gives it a medium human-health priority. The record also flags contamination with asbestos-like (asbestiform) fibers, which can damage lungs after inhalation.

Long-Term Risk - The harms linked to talc (cancer and organ damage) are tied to repeated or long-term exposure. Agencies that reviewed talc list these long-term health concerns, so regular use over time raises added risk.

Absorbed - The ingredient record notes enhanced skin absorption for talc in some uses. That means talc or impurities in talc may more easily get past the skin and into the body in some product forms.

Confidence: HIGH

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

petrolatum

✅2/10

Safe for most school‑age kids when you pick a high‑purity, fully refined petroleum jelly and use it on healthy skin.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Zinc Oxide

✅1/10

Zinc oxide is very safe for topical use on children 5 years and older, it protects skin and acts as a sunscreen ingredient with low risk of harm

Confidence: HIGH

beeswax

✅1/10

Safe for most young children (5+ years) when used on the skin. It helps lock in moisture and protect the skin.

Confidence: HIGH

cod liver oil

✅1/10

For children aged 5 and older (school-age kids), topical cod liver oil is generally safe and has a low risk of harm. It is often used to soften or soothe skin.

No Known Risk - Available safety notes rate cancer, allergy, reproductive, and use-restriction concerns as low for topical use. Environment Canada classifies cod liver oil as not expected to be toxic, a low human-health priority, and not suspected to be an environmental toxin. Taken together, these findings show no identified health risks for topical use.

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

lanolin

✅1/10

Lanolin is generally safe for children over 5 years old in topical use and is used as a moisturizer and skin protectant

Confidence: HIGH

sorbitan sesquioleate

✅1/10

For school-age children (ages 5 and up) this ingredient is generally low risk. It’s used to help water and oil mix in lotions and wipes and safety reviews find it unlikely to cause serious health problems.

No Known Risk - Current safety reviews and a government health assessment find no health hazards from normal topical use and classify it as low priority for human health. An industry safety review notes some data gaps and recommends limits on how it is used, but no concerns above low were identified.

Confidence: HIGH

tocopheryl acetate

✅1/10

Safe for most school-age kids when used in small amounts on healthy skin. A few children may get redness or a mild rash.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Common Questions About Desitin Maximum Strength

Kid-approved? Desitin Maximum Strength

Desitin Maximum Strength is not recommended for 5+ year old children due to potentially harmful ingredients.

What ingredients should I watch out for?

We analyzed 10 ingredients in Desitin Maximum Strength. 1 concerning, 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.