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Subject:
From:
Dawn Kersula <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 10 May 2008 13:38:24 -0400
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My first thought on those oozy nipples was eczema. In our small community
hospital (360 births/year) we've had one moms with eczema on nipples this
year (diagnosed by dermatologist) and also several cases of Raynaud's - most
I've seen in 25 years. The babies in my mom's group have also had a bad year
for skin. It's been a very long and cold winter here. (Yes, we've been doing
dietary changes and etc - but for babies something in the aquaphor family is
often suggested.)
Bag balm is an old farmer's friend. When I first started as an LLLL, local
doctors here in Vermont often suggested it for sore nipples. It is still on
our exchange carts on the medical and surgical floors at the hospital as one
of our old surgeons has nurses use it on the old-timers' skin -- often they
use it at home! Here's the info from Wikipedia:

*Bag Balm* is a salve <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salve> originally
intended to soothe irritation on cows'
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle>udders. Although the product only
mentions use "For chapped conditions and
superficial abrasions" it is used as a treatment for chapped and irritated
skin <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin> on humans and can be found in drug
stores <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacy> and ski
resorts<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ski_resort>.
It has also gained popularity as a
post-tattoo<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattoo>skin soother.

Bag Balm is made by the Dairy Association Co. in
Lyndonville<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndonville%2C_Vermont>,
Vermont <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont> and Rock
Island<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanstead%2C_Quebec>,
Quebec <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec>. The product is known for its
characteristic 10 oz <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ounce> green tins
featuring a cow's head and red clovers
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clover>on the lid. It has been in
production since
1899 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1899>.

The active ingredients of Bag Balm are 8-hydroxyquinoline
sulfate<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8-hydroxyquinoline_sulfate>0.3% (
antiseptic <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiseptic>) in a
petrolatum<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrolatum>and
lanolin <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanolin> base.
Bag Balm used to contain 0.005
mercury<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_%28element%29>`from
ethylated sterols`. This earlier formulation was much more effective
at fighting infection in wounds and was known to completely clear infected
wounds overnight.[*citation
needed<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed>
*

Dawn Kersula
becoming an old-timer in southern Vermont!

             ***********************************************

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