Back a week or two ago there was discussion of mineral oil,
constipation and and fat soluable vitamins. I would like to raise
another concern, which is the potential effect of ingestion of
mineral oil and petrolatum from nipple topicals which contain this
common ingredient.

I recently researched the possible effects on the baby of ingestion
of a range of products in nipple topicals, for a paper I was
writing. I found that infant ingestion of products used on nipples
is a real, rather than theoretical, concern:

Corticosteroid excess, with hypertension and profound suppression of
pituitary-adrenal function, has been reported in an infant whose
mother used a corticosteroid on her nipples for two months (De
Stefano et al 1983).

Elevated Vitamin E levels have been detected in babies who have
ingested it from the nipple (Marx 1985). Vitamin E is also a potent
sensitiser and can produce both delayed allergic contact dermatitis
and immediate allergic urticaria (Fisher 1986).

Aloe vera ointment has been known to cause diarrhoea in a breastfed
baby (Mohrbacher & Stock, Breastfeeding Answer Book)

Papain (in pawpaw ointment) hydrolyses protein and is more commonly
used as a meat tenderiser; allergic reactions are well documented
(Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia).

Many ointments on the market contain petrolatum or paraffin (mineral)
oil, a mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum. Both these
products are oxygen occlusive and comedogenic (clog pores).
Ingestion of petrolatum or paraffin oil has the potential to
interfere with the absorption of the oil soluble vitamins A, D, E,
and K (Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia).

Products which contain beeswax, plant or flower extracts may have
pesticide residues.

Products which are bleached (eg white beeswax, white paraffin, pale
lanolins) may contain chemical bleach residues.

Lanolin, and products which contain lanolin, may contain high levels
of pesticide and detergent residues unless these have been
specifically removed as in USP Modified Lanolin.  Even within this
category, different products have different degrees of purity.

References available on request.

Ros Escott
Hobart, Tasmania
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