# Bag Balm safe for human use? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 2, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522 "2003-03-02T03:52:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/41 "2012-01-09T02:16:09Z")
I was _prescribed_ Bag Balm by a noted New York City podiatrist about ten years ago. And at that time, there _wasn’t_ any notice about “Veterinary Use Only” on the tin! Fuckin’ lawyers…they’ve become a force of nature. They’ll ruin everything if you let 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/42 "2012-01-09T02:47:01Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > I was _prescribed_ Bag Balm by a noted New York City podiatrist about ten years ago. And at that time, there _wasn’t_ any notice about “Veterinary Use Only” on the tin! For what it’s worth, I have a 10-ounce tin here that I’ve had for somewhat less than 10 years, and it also has no “Veterinary Use Only” warning. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/43 "2012-01-09T05:57:14Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > I was _prescribed_ Bag Balm by a noted New York City podiatrist about ten years ago. And at that time, there _wasn’t_ any notice about “Veterinary Use Only” on the tin! > [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > For what it’s worth, I have a 10-ounce tin here that I’ve had for somewhat less than 10 years, and it also has no “Veterinary Use Only” warning. Well, you’ll notice that my original question was posted nearly 9 years ago, and I referred to the “VETERINARY USE ONLY” label in that first post, so it goes back at least that far. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/44 "2012-01-09T20:20:44Z")
> [@robby](#): > > Well, you’ll notice that my original question was posted nearly 9 years ago, and I referred to the “VETERINARY USE ONLY” label in that first post, so it goes back at least that far. Any chance you obtained that can from a Canadian source? I found this in the [FAQ](http://www.bagbalm.ca/bagbalm.ca/english/faq.asp) on their Canadian site: * * * Can we apply Bag balm on human skin? This is the most frequently asked question we receive. **Bag balm was initially created for animal usage only. The manufacturer specifies this on the packaging.** All the while over the years humans have achieved excellent results on dry, irritated and chapped skin. * * * (bolding mine) However, the US site makes no mention of such labeling, though it provides several examples of use on both animals and humans. According to Wikipedia, the stuff in manufactured both in Vermont and in Quebec, so I assume the Quebec plant is the manufacturer being referred to on the Canadian site. I wouldn’t be surprised if differences between US and Canadian labeling laws were a factor. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/45 "2012-01-10T15:08:08Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Any chance you obtained that can from a Canadian source? The can was purchased in the U.S. I can’t check the place of manufacture on the can because we no longer have the can in question after nine years. ---
**Author:** ![Hippie\_Joe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Hippie\_Joe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippie_Joe)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/46 "2012-01-23T00:14:09Z")
I have eczema on my hands. At it’s worst, my skin blisters. It becomes thick like leather. It cracks and bleeds. It hurts like a bastard. I’ve had this problem for a couple of years. Having no insurance, I just bore it. I tried hand creams. My instinct told me to avoid chemicals, and so I switched all of my soaps to natural stuff - palm oil, glycerin, etc. No perfumes, dyes, alcohol, or petroleum derivatives. I eventually found an affordable naturopath that prescribed a steroid cream. Yeah, I see the irony. I tried that, and it seemed to work. But, as soon as I ran out of steroid cream, the eczema came back… with a vengeance. I thought it over. I realized that I’d done a pretty good job of limiting the eczema’s impact on my life by switching to natural products and limiting my exposure to chemicals. I found [this stuff called ‘Badger Balm’](http://www.badgerbalm.com/p-479-badger-balm.aspx) at a local store and tried it out. It is all natural and organic (for those that care about such things). I have been treating my eczema with great success by simply keeping my hands hydrated and sealed (it contains beeswax) with this stuff. I talked with my naturopath about it, and she told me that this was the biggest factor in treating eczema - keeping it hydrated - especially with all of the pressure to sanitize oneself regularly. We constantly dry out our skin with solvents, detergents, and anti-bacterial solutions. Our skin needs moisture (as well as its natural defensive bacteria) to be healthy. If we take it away, we have to put it back. She agreed that doing so in a natural way was probably the safest and smartest approach. I’ve found Badger Balm at Fred Meyer and New Seasons. I think that if you explore their website, it has a store locator function somewhere. For the record, my grandma swore by Bag Balm. She (and by extension, we) used it all of the time to aid in healing, treat rashes, cool burns, un-chap lips, etc. It’s only since becoming an adult and a parent that I’ve started thinking more critically about the stuff that I slather on my body. ---
**Author:** ![Time4Latte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/258eb7/32.png) [@Time4Latte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Time4Latte)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/47 "2013-01-05T01:35:58Z")
Seems to be an old thread, but as I was googling “medical uses for bag balm” this thread popped up. Just thought the readers would like to know that a small tub of it was given to me in the hospital following the birth of my first son to apply to my stitches. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/48 "2013-01-05T02:58:34Z")
Yes, old thread, but I think it’s worth mentioning that the lanolin is probably the ingredient that gives the wonderful results that everyone is talking about. There is a product called Lansinoh that was recommended by a nurse when my wife was breastfeeding that is pure lanolin. I believe that pure lanolin is also available under other brand names. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/49 "2013-01-05T03:56:53Z")
Bag Balm is good, but I generally use Neutrogena. That stuff is absolutely amazing. Paul Harvey advertised it heavily, and my family has used it for decades. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/50 "2013-01-05T08:23:49Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > Bag Balm is good, but I generally use Neutrogena. That stuff is absolutely amazing. Paul Harvey advertised it heavily, and my family has used it for decades. From the ingredients list, they’re pretty much the same. But bag balm is cheaper than Neutrogena. (Probably because bag balm companies don’t pay Paul Harvey to advertise. Cows are too smart to be influenced by what Paul Harvey says.) ---
**Author:** ![Marg\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Marg\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marg_A)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/51 "2014-03-28T14:35:45Z")
If you have ever suffered with hemorrhoids, you will be very happy to find that bag balm works better than any over the counter medication for hemorrhoids. It reduces the swelling and pain within 24 hours instead of days. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/52 "2014-03-28T15:39:19Z")
> [@SeldomSeen](#): > > I personally think Bag Balm is safe, I’ve used it often. But if you’re still concerned, [Badger Balm](http://www.badgerbalm.com/p-479-badger-balm.aspx) is just as effective, and entirely safe. Smells better too. > SS Aquaphor works better on dry, chapped skin I’ve found. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/53 "2014-03-28T15:48:12Z")
Quadruple zombie resurrection – a new SDMB record? ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/54 "2014-03-29T11:43:19Z")
> [@Marg\_A](#): > > If you have ever suffered with hemorrhoids, you will be very happy to find that bag balm works better than any over the counter medication for hemorrhoids. It reduces the swelling and pain within 24 hours instead of days. Bag Balm has no active ingredient aimed at hemorrhoids. The active ingredients of Bag Balm are 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate 0.3% (antiseptic) in a petroleum jelly USP and lanolin base.[2] Hemorrhoids do not need the antiseptic active ingredient. Hemorrhoid creams have a steroid to reduce the swelling. There’s no magic to the lubricant properties of Bag Balm… ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/55 "2014-03-29T15:07:38Z")
Zombies have found [a product](https://www.samplestore.com/product/details/2798/0/name-killing-me-zombie-cc-cream-spf30-pa) that beats bag balm, hands down. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/56 "2014-03-29T16:57:29Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > Bag Balm has no active ingredient aimed at hemorrhoids. > > The active ingredients of Bag Balm are 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate 0.3% (antiseptic) in a petroleum jelly USP and lanolin base.[2] > > Hemorrhoids do not need the antiseptic active ingredient. > Hemorrhoid creams have a steroid to reduce the swelling. > There’s no magic to the lubricant properties of Bag Balm… If it works, why not? I’ve used it for chapped lips, and have heard of parents using it for diaper rash. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/57 "2014-03-29T20:52:57Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > If it works, why not? Because, as a general principal, it’s a bad idea to take more medications than are needed. Especially antibiotics – our overuse of these is already breeding germs that are drug resistant. Of course, bag balm doesn’t have the huge markups of hemmeroid creams in the pharmacy, so it sells much more cheaply. But if the effective part of it is the lubricant & anti-drying part, a jar of Vaseline would probably be even cheaper. And without unneeded antibiotics. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/58 "2014-03-29T22:18:10Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > If it works, why not? > > I’ve used it for chapped lips, and have heard of parents using it for diaper rash. See post #21 in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/59 "2014-03-29T22:45:54Z")
Medical advice is best suited to IMHO. Please note that this thread was started in 2003. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522/60 "2014-03-30T18:30:02Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Medical advice is best suited to IMHO. As the OP, I must protest. I wasn’t asking for medical advice back in 2003, nor was I asking if Bag Balm worked or not. Instead, I was asking a specific **factual question** as to whether or not Bag Balm was safe for use by humans. Indeed, if you read my OP, it’s all about the ingredients and safety, not about whether or not the product is effective or not. While I concede that several people subsequently posted various anecdotes about its effectiveness (including the latest resurrector), most of the discussion has been on-topic. > [@robby](#): > > I’ve been meaning to post this for some time now… > > My 6-year old son has mild eczema on his face, particularly in winter, when his face gets chapped and windburned, leading to a rash. Our pediatrician prescribed a number of hydrocortisone-based creams that were marginally effective. > > Some time ago, however, my wife started putting [Bag Balm](http://www.bagbalm.com/) on my son’s face, and it seems to be very effective. I was concerned about the “VETERINARY USE ONLY” label, but my wife (who is a nurse, BTW) continued to use it. After all, she reasoned, it’s in all of the drug stores. Not to mention, [a lot of people](http://www.epinions.com/content_36576661124) [are using it.](http://www.easterntownships.com/bagbalm/our_story.html) > > Anyway, I finally looked up some info about the safety of the stuff. According the container, the active ingredients are “8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate 0.3% in a petrolatum, lanolin base.” > > I looked up the active ingredient, and found the following info: > > [http://ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/HY/8-hydroxyquinoline.html](http://ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/HY/8-hydroxyquinoline.html) > [National Organic Program | Agricultural Marketing Service](http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/NationalList/TAPReviews/Hydroxyquinoline.pdf) > > Now I’m more than a little concerned. The pure form of the active ingredient may be a carcinogen in animals and a mutagen in humans! Now, Bag Balm only contains a 0.3% concentration, but… > > So my question is: Is Bag Balm safe for humans? > [@Colibri](#): > > Please note that this thread was started in 2003. > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator And despite the fact that this thread is now over 11 years old, and has been resurrected at least four times (with mostly on-topic and relevant responses), it only _now_ gets sent from GQ to IMHO? :dubious: BTW, my son is now 17 years old. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bag-balm-safe-for-human-use/158522.md?page=4)