a closer look at sudocrem
Sudocrem. The ‘cure-all’ cream included in virtually every new parent pack or baby sample bag, used in childcare centres everywhere + marketed as ‘Australia’s #1 nappy rash cream’.
But should this be the new baby staple that it’s made out to be? Let’s have a look at the ingredients listed on the their website:
- Zinc Oxide
⇢ Benzyl Alcohol B.P. (potential liver, immuno + neurotoxicity)
⇢ Benzyl Benzoate B.P. (associated with endocrine disruption)
- Benzyl Cinnamate
- Lanolin
- Purified Water
⇢ Liquid Paraffin (a product of highly refined petroleum. Contains 1,4-Dioxane, listed by the WHO as a probable carcinogen as well as toulene + benzene - both products you do not want anywhere near your body)
⇢ Paraffin wax (also a product of refined petroleum + poses the same issues as liquid paraffin)
- Beeswax
- Microcrystalline wax
⇢ Sodium Benzoate (potential for contact dermatitis, suspected cardiovascular, liver, kidney + neurotoxicity)
- Linayl Acetate
⇢ Propylene Glycol (petroleum derived + can cause skin irritation + eczema)
- Citric Acid (often created from black mould, not from citrus fruits as you might think)
⇢ Butylated Hydroxyanisole (a recognised carcinogen, linked to asthma, endocrine disruption + MUCH more).
- Sorbitan Sesquioleat
⇢ Lavender fragrance (this is not the same as lavender essential oil. Click here to read about the problems with artificial fragrance)
It’s hard to believe all of this is even allowed into products that are formulated for babies. We have a long way to go with regulating the ingredients that go into our household products.
So what alternatives are there?
Personally, I love the Weleda nappy creams (you should be able to purchase this at your local health food store). Their website breaks down the ingredients in each product - hooray for transparency - and explains the reason for it’s inclusion in the product. They also confirm that all fragrance is from a blend of essential oils - so you know you’re not getting synthetic fragrance when you see the word ‘parfum’ in the ingredients list. If you still prefer to avoid the fragrance, you might want to try their white mallow nappy cream rather than calendula.
You can also make your own at home - stay tuned for a nappy cream recipe coming soon!
Much of the information on these ingredients came from The Chemical Maze app. This is an amazing resource for navigating the ingredients lists of anything you bring into your house. If you’re looking for more information on the ingredients we’ve looked at here, or any others, this is your go-to resource.
While it can feel overwhelming trying to find the safest products for your family, remember to take small steps + let go of the guilt. When we know better, we do better, and small, sustainable changes are much better than stress + overwhelm leading to no change at all. You’ve got this, mama.