Article updated: April 26, 2023
AAAHHHHHH!!!! Holy SHIT that burns!!
Sound familiar?
If you found this article, chances are you had a very unpleasant experience with a bottle of Gold Bond powder. Amiright?
A while back I wrote an article discussing whether Gold Bond powder is safe to put on the balls and since then I have received countless comments and emails from men asking me why their balls burn when they apply Gold Bond powder down there.
But before we get into the why, I want to state that Gold Bond powder is actually considered safe for most men to apply to their balls – but not all men unfortunately.
The reason why some men experience burning and stinging when they apply Gold Bond to their balls is because Gold Bond powder contains menthol.
What Exactly is Menthol?
You’ve likely heard of menthol many times before but do you know what it is?
Menthol is an organic compound that is obtained from the oils of mint plants such as peppermint and spearmint.
Menthol is added to skincare products for its cooling and soothing properties and it’s also a common flavor additive in gum, candy, beverages and even tobacco. Newports anyone?
While menthol is generally considered safe in low doses, it can cause some uncomfortable burning and stinging if you happen to be sensitive to the stuff.
For most men, menthol provides a refreshing, cooling sensation when applied to the skin and balls. For men with a menthol sensitivity, that cooling sensation is interpreted as painful stinging and burning. No bueno.
The funny thing is, even if you do have a sensitivity to menthol you still might be able to use Gold Bond powder on your body – just not your ballsack.
The reason why you’re especially sensitive to menthol down there is because the skin that comprises your balls is pretty thin – about 8mm thick – and is known to be very sensitive and susceptible to pain.
Unfortunately the balls tend to be one of the major stink zones on the male body which makes skipping out on the Gold Bond powder kind of a stinky situation – literally.
What’s a Good Alternative to Gold Bond Powder?
If you experience burning when you apply Gold Bond to your Balls, that is something you’ll definitely want to avoid.
Unfortunately all current versions of Gold Bond powder contain menthol so you should consider using an alternative body/ball powder that is menthol free.
Since most “cooling body powders” will contain some degree of menthol, I recommend sticking with a non-cooling alternative.
While there are quite a few non-cooling body powders for men on the market, my personal favorite is Galaxy Dust – Vanquish Body Powder for men. It has a masculine Citrus, Amber, & Wood scent and is completely menthol free. If Vanquish isn’t to your liking, they also offer a multiple other scents for men including an unscented option.
If you would like more suggestions you can check out my full review of the best ball and body powders for men.
Thanks for reading! If you have any questions or comments feel free to drop me a line in the comment section below.
Well that answers that. I always wondered why most people I know can use Gold Bond on their balls without an issue but not me! All I get is a painful burning sensation that is not pleasant. I need to try a body powder without menthol so that I can keep my balls fresh and dry without dealing with the painful sting.
That makes sense. I use Gold Bond everywhere else on my body but my balls won’t tolerate it. I guess I’ll have to try something without menthol from here on out.
Excellent info. I was wondering what the heck was going on! I use Gold Bond on my feet and armpits with no problems but putting it on my balls? Hell no! It burns and stings sooo bad. Now I know it’s the menthol that’s causing it. I guess I need to switch body powders all together Or maybe just get a separate body powder for my balls that is menthol free. I do like the cooling effect of menthol on my feet and armpits so I’ll probably stick with Gold Bond in those areas. Thank you for the enlightening read!
Thanks for commenting, Kevin. I’m glad you found the information useful.
I’m female and this is the only article I’ve read that answers the same question that I have (except for the location) I put it on my inner groin and holy moly I couldn’t wash it off fast enough. Like others, I use it on my feet with no problem!
Thank you for this precise info..I used baby powder before today.. No problem. Not with Gold Bond . Thank you so much !!!