Corn starch, Candida albicans, and diaper rash.

The growth of Candida albicans experimentally inoculated onto the skin of human volunteers was not enhanced by the addition of either cornstarch powder or talcum powder. Sufficient nutrients for growth of C. albicans exist on human skin, provided sufficient moisture is present. Cornstarch and talc powders were shown to minimize frictional injury experimentally induced in human volunteers. These studies indicate that cornstarch and talc powders do not enhance the growth of yeasts on human skin and do provide protection against frictional injury.