You've been familiar with talc since you were a baby in the literal sense of the word, because it is part of baby powder. But even as an adult, you continue to use talc, because without it, powder and blush, highlighters and bronzers would have a completely different, often completely unpresentable appearance. So who are you, Mr. Talc? Now we will find out in detail.
In this article:
Where are you from, beautiful child? Composition and properties: Benefit or harm: Indications and contraindications: Where is it found? Is there any point in cosmetics without talc?
In what industries is it used?
What talc is is now known to everyone, but few people know that this mineral is used in many areas. Below we list the industries in which this white powder is used:
- Medicine. The well-known talc powder is used by parents to prevent diaper rash from appearing on the child’s body.
- Paper industry – production of thick expensive paper.
- Textile industry – bleaching of hard fabrics.
- Paint and varnish industry – production of waterproof paints.
- Perfumes and cosmetics are an essential component in the production of powder, eye shadow, and toilet soap.
Type of substance
Additive E 553b refers to magnesium silicates.
Performs the same functions as other compounds in this group: acidity stabilizer, anti-caking agent. It is a magnesium salt of silicic acid.
The product is obtained by calcining natural talc and other minerals, mainly consisting of hydrous magnesium silicate (for example, chrysotile).
Another method of obtaining the substance is popular: in special autoclaves, silicate glasses crystallize at temperatures from 1000 to 1100 ° C.
Talcum powder for diaper rash and sweating
This mineral is often known to a wide range of people as baby powder. That is, body talc is used to prevent and eliminate sweating and diaper rash. You can use this product often, but it becomes relevant in the summer.
By applying it to dry, clean skin, you will ensure that the areas of your body treated with talc remain dry and pleasant to the touch throughout the day. You can apply this product to the entire body, or selectively, only to those places that sweat the most: chest, feet, armpits, palms.
Where are you from, beautiful child?
Photo by cottonbro: Pexels
Essentially, it is a mineral from the class of layered silicates (acid magnesium metasilicate), ground into powder. It feels greasy to the touch, and this is a distinctive feature of talc. It is not a synthetic product; talc is a natural substance, like zinc or magnesium. The structure of the mineral is crystal, which is why it adheres well to the skin and absorbs odors.
The main property of the substance is hygroscopicity, which is the reason for its widespread use in medicine and cosmetology. Just imagine that you can take an inactive chemical substance and use it to relieve diaper rash, burns, and wounds, absorbing moisture and without having any effect on other biological processes.
At the same time, talc is a medium completely unsuitable for the proliferation of microbes. Plus? Undoubtedly! This remarkable ability of talc was known back in Ancient Egypt. Such a long-term presence of a substance in everyday use is considered a guarantee of its safety. True, the Egyptians had no problem using mercury in lipstick and lead in skin brighteners, but who remembers this!
Since talc in cosmetics is not disguised in any way, but is called by its proper name - talc - it cannot be confused with anything else. And everything would be fine, but since the mid-seventies of the last century, here and there articles appear discrediting white and fluffy talc. What's the matter?
It turns out that mineral deposits are always adjacent to asbestos deposits and cannot be absolutely free from asbestos dust, a carcinogen that causes lung cancer. Of course, baby powder should not be poured into the nose, but contact with the skin of even traces of asbestos is extremely dangerous. Its carcinogenic effect does not depend on the dose of asbestos; it is a priori harmful in any quantity. So, is it better to abandon talc in medicine and cosmetology? But there are two points of view here.
Some believe that it is better to play it safe and remove talc from everyday use than to later treat cancer tumors caused by it. Others argue that talc is cleaned well by modern manufacturers, and there is no reason to worry. But the real problem is that in Russia asbestos is not considered a prohibited substance and is widely used in construction. That's why talc is still included in baby powders without any concerns. How to treat this is up to everyone to decide for themselves.
Flavored powder
Body talc can also play the role of perfume. This applies to flavored products. The use of talcum powder can relieve not only sweating, but also the unpleasant odor of sweat, and it also creates a special fragrance around a woman. By the way, using this powder as a deodorant or perfume saves the family budget. Women also use this scented product to give clothes, towels and, of course, bed linen softness and a pleasant fresh aroma. To do this, you need to apply a little talc on your palms, rub it and simply spread it over the surface with your hands.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
| Mineral color | colorless, white, greenish-white, pale green |
| Stroke color | white |
| Transparency | translucent, opaque |
| Shine | greasy, pearly, dull |
| Cleavage | very perfect in {001} |
| Hardness (Mohs scale) | 1 |
| Kink | not uniform |
| Strength | cut and easily wrinkled |
| Density (measured) | 2.58 – 2.83 g/cm3 |
| Radioactivity (GRapi) | 0 |
Where can I buy?
In general, in our country it is not difficult to purchase talc. In a pharmacy, in specialized stores of household chemicals or in children's supermarkets, in catalogs of cosmetics manufacturers, on the Internet - this is where you can buy this popular product. True, talc is most often sold in powder form. But recently, liquid body wash has begun to gain popularity. It was talc in this form of release that began to attract the attention of women. And this is not surprising. After all, the advantage of this product in liquid form is that it will be easier to apply and distribute over the skin. In addition, such a processed mineral will not leave marks on clothing.
Rules of application
A few words about how to use talc correctly.
For skin
It is very important to apply powder to clean, completely dry skin. Otherwise, it is unlikely to cope with its task, in addition, it can also cause itching and inflammation. For all its versatility, it has one quality that we are not at all happy with - its flowability. Therefore, you should apply it before getting dressed.
With hair
How to use perfume talc on hair?
It is also better to take off your clothes or cover them with something. After applying the powder, you need to comb your hair thoroughly so that its particles are not visible. On light hair it is practically invisible, but for brunettes and brown-haired women it will lighten the color slightly until the next wash. By the way, by absorbing fat, it also gives noticeable volume to the hair. Beginners may have a logical question: how to use the composition so that it is distributed evenly and then does not have to be cleaned from everything around. “Experienced” people recommend using a wide cosmetic brush or powder sponge for these purposes. And remember: try not to inhale its small particles and it is better to do this away from children.
Talc: price of the product
The cost of this drug may vary. After all, the price depends on several factors, such as:
- Release form: in the form of powder or liquid.
- The volume of the jar or bottle in which talc is sold. Naturally, the larger the packaging, the more expensive the product will be.
- Presence or absence of odor.
- Manufacturer. Various manufacturers set their own prices for talc. Someone may inflate it, and someone will sell the product at a completely reasonable price.
- The presence or absence of vitamins in talc.
- Place of sale. Pharmacies may put a small markup on this drug, while in large supermarkets and stores the same product may cost 2 times more.
Now it has become clear what parameters should be taken into account when choosing an inexpensive product called talc. The price of the cheapest odorless powder can be 60 rubles. But liquid perfumed talc for the body and legs can be sold for 600 rubles.
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
| Type | biaxial (-) |
| Refractive indices | nα = 1.538 – 1.550 nβ = 1.589 – 1.594 nγ = 1.589 – 1.600 |
| Maximum birefringence | δ = 0.051 |
| Optical relief | moderate |
| Pleochroism | weak colorless, pale green |
| Dispersion | r > v tangible |
| Luminescence in ultraviolet radiation | fluorescent, with short-wave UV - orange-yellow, with long-wave UV - yellow |
What dangers does powder pose?
There is an assumption that inhalation of this drug can cause talcosis, a benign disease. However, studies conducted by the European Association of Talc Developers have shown that this powder is harmless to the body.
However, American scientists have discovered that daily use of powder in the female genital area increases the risk of developing uterine cancer several times. As the researchers themselves explain, this dependence is due to the fact that small particles of talc penetrate into the vagina, and then into the uterus, and are fixed there for a long time. At the same time, women may develop chronic inflammatory processes against this background. And such prolonged inflammation creates favorable conditions for malignant degeneration of the cells of the inner mucous membrane of the uterine body, as a result of which women can be diagnosed with cancer.
If you didn’t know before, then after reading this article you now definitely have an idea of what talc is and where it is used. This product can be a great way to save your family budget if you use it instead of deodorant or perfume. But you should not constantly use it in the female genital area, since talc can cause the appearance of malignant tumors.
So is it good or bad?
Let's be honest: since talc is included in baby powders everywhere (not only in Russia), this speaks in favor of its safety. Yes, that is right. In fact, talc as such is harmless - a mineral and nothing more. But:
- firstly, talc is a powder, its smallest particles can involuntarily, accidentally enter the bronchial tree, accumulate there, provoking fibrosis (talcosis) and all the troubles associated with it;
- secondly, absorption dehydrates the skin;
- thirdly, talc clogs pores and provokes inflammation (for acne-prone dermis, this is a death sentence);
- Finally, the proximity of talc in rocks to asbestos raises some concerns.
In all likelihood, the risk of negative consequences may be exaggerated. No concrete evidence of the carcinogenicity of talc has yet emerged. But, if you want to eliminate even minimal danger to your health, and it is simply impossible not to use beauty products with talc, pay special attention to the daily algorithm for cleansing your skin in the morning and evening. This especially applies to problematic, oily skin that is prone to clogging pores with sebum.
Main manufacturers
The only company in Russia supplying talc to the food industry, cosmetics industry and medicine is the TALKSIB mining and processing enterprise. The company extracts the mineral from the Onot deposit (Irkutsk region).
Leading world src=»https://vkusologia.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Depositphotos_104581982_l-2015.jpg» class=»aligncenter» width=»360″ height=»238″[/img]
- STORIVIA (France);
- Polyment GmbH (Germany);
- Ventruz Minérios (Brazil).
Interesting fact! Jewelry made of talc, presumably created in the 4th century BC, has been found in Egypt.
Talc is not an ornamental jewelry material, but in some eastern countries it was used to imitate expensive jade.
A unique icon depicting St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki, carved from talcum powder in the 11th century, has been perfectly preserved to this day.
A Healthier Alternative
For children
There are safer and more natural ways to prevent diaper rash in babies. Instead of commercial products, try making your own diaper rash cream that includes beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter, calendula and witch hazel. The cream will help reduce inflammation and irritation on the skin without putting your baby at risk.
Also try magnesium oil. It has anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties that will help restore the skin after diaper rash appears.
