Make Your Own Medicinal Chafing Powder

If you are or are caring for an incontinent adult using either cloth diapers or paper diapers, prevention of chafing is important. Diaper creams are expensive and hard to apply and talcum powder is not advisable due to problems with breathing it.

Make your own medicinal powder with cornstarch and zinc oxide powder. It will keep the skin dry and the zinc oxide is also a great fungicide, lowering odor. For a woman, add a cotton ball moistened with a favorite essential oil, shake the powder and store in any wide mouthed container. For a man, leave scentless or use a cotton ball with lime scent or his favorite aftershave or cologne, though the latter will have to be replaced more frequently because it is "weaker" than oil. This powder is also good for summer use when chafing from heat is a problem.

Finally, instead of using hands or a regular powder puff, use a new unused Swiffer duster as the "puff". The handle makes it easier for impaired people to reach the necessary areas and the dusting pad holds the powder so that less falls off until patted on the skin. You can also cut slits in a cheap wash cloth and slide the handle prongs in to make an easy to use cleaning wipe that will save money over baby wipes.

By Saylorscreek from Tyro, NC