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 [log in to unmask]