I recently wrote an article listing the best ball and body powders for men, and while Gold Bond wasn’t on the list, I have been receiving questions from readers asking me if it’s safe to put Gold Bond powder on their balls.
Even though Gold Bond powder didn’t make my best ball and body powders list, it remains one of the most popular body powder for men due to it’s effectiveness, availability, and affordability.
And although I’m not really a fan of Gold Bond powder – there are much better options out there in my opinion – I decided to do a little research on this body powder that has seemingly been around forever. 1882 to be exact.
The first things I wanted to know were:
What’s in Gold Bond powder?
And is it safe for guys to be dousing their ball sacks in the stuff?
Since I had a bottle of Gold Bond powder on hand, I was able to take a quick look at the ingredient list and see exactly what’s inside.
Gold Bond Powder Ingredients
Talc
Talc is a clay mineral that’s commonly used in personal hygiene products and cosmetics to help prevent chaffing and absorb excess moisture. Unfortunately talc has developed a reputation as a possible carcinogenic due to the fact that some talc in it’s mineral form is known to contain cancer causing asbestos.
Although studies have found no conclusive evidence that talc causes cancer, Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay $4.7 billion to 22 women and their families that claimed the companies talcum powder products caused them to develop ovarian cancer.
As a precaution it’s generally recommended that women avoid talc based body powders, and stick to cornstarch based alternatives.
While this ultimately shines a negative light on talc based products, including Gold Bond, it’s worth noting that talc is currently recognized as safe by the FDA.
Verdict:
Zinc oxide
An inorganic compound that has deodorizing and antibacterial properties. While zinc oxide occurs naturally as the mineral zincite, most is produced synthetically. Aside from being a main ingredient in Gold Bond, zinc oxide is commonly found in calamine lotion, food packaging, oral care products, baby powder, dandruff shampoos, and sunscreen.
While some consumers have expressed concerns that zinc oxide could theoretically be absorbed into the epidermal layer of the skin with toxic consequences, researchers have concluded that repeat use of zinc oxide is completely safe and doesn’t present any toxicity risks.
Verdict:
Acacia senegal gum
A natural fiber that is harvested from the hardened sap of acacia senegal trees. Commonly used in cosmetics, oral care products, skin care products, and dietary supplements, it’s primary purpose in Gold Bond powder is for it’s soothing and conditioning properties.
In regards to safety, acacia senegal gum is non-toxic and generally recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration.
Verdict:
Eucalyptol
A colorless organic essential oil that is primarily found in eucalyptus, but is also present in camphor laurel, bay leaves, tea tree, sweet basil, rosemary, wormwood, sage, and cannabis sativa. It’s inclusion in Gold Bond gives the powder it’s distinct fragrance.
Verdict:
Methyl salicylate
A colorless viscous liquid produced by many species of plants including wintergreens and commonly used as a fragrance due to it’s sweet odor. It also helps sooth muscle and joint pain, and provides the distinct refreshing chill found in Gold Bond powder.
Although methyl salicylate is generally considered safe when used properly, it can be potentially deadly when ingested orally in large doses. For this reason, it’s highly recommended to keep out of reach of children.
Verdict:
Salicylic acid
A beta hydroxy acid derived from willow bark thats most common use is to remove the outer layer of skin, and is used to treat warts, acne, dandruff and psoriasis. It’s inclusion in Gold Bond powder however is likely for its bactericidal and antiseptic properties that help prevent the growth of odor causing bacteria.
As for the safety of salicylic acid, topical use can cause moderate chemical burns to the skin when used at very high concentrations. But before you cringe at the thought of Gold Bond burning a hole in your ballsack, rest assured that they use a completely safe, low concentration level of salicylic acid in their powder.
Verdict:
Thymol
Extracted from the plant thyme, thymol has a pleasant odor that is full of antiseptic properties and is commonly used to treat a wide range of conditions including: ringworm, hookworm, internal parasites, and mold. Aside from it’s use in Gold Bond powder, It’s also a common ingredient in toothpaste and mouthwash for it’s bacteria inhibiting properties.
Verdict:
Zinc stearate
A naturally occurring fatty acid that’s primary function in Gold Bond powder is to repel sweat and moisture. It’s also commonly used in the production of rubber, polyurethane, and polyester for it’s non-stick properties. Magicians have also been known to use it while performing card manipulation to help reduce friction between the playing cards.
Zinc stearate is generally considered safe for topical use although it is known to cause some mild eye irritation.
Verdict:
So, Is Gold Bond Safe for your Balls?
Basically, yeah. In regards to safety, there isn’t anything in Gold Bond powder that should prevent you from safely putting it on your balls. If talc concerns you (it really shouldn’t) there are plenty of talc-free powders out there that perform even better than Gold Bond. For a great talc-free ball powder, I recommend Brickell Stay Fresh Powder (available on Amazon) or check out my list of best ball and body powders for men.