There are plenty of viral skincare ingredients floating around the internet right now. PDRN, a.k.a. salmon sperm? Check. Volufiline, a.k.a. filler in a bottle? Check. But of all these sexy, slightly mysterious newcomers, diaper cream has to be the one I was most surprised to spot on my TikTok FYP.
Zinc oxide is the true hero behind the diaper cream craze, which has been a lauded for its skin-soothing properties for decades. In addition to these benefits, "zinc [oxide] forms a seal over the skin," says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and Associate Professor of Dermatology and the Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. "This allows, the skin to heal itself from the inside out, preventing environmental aggressors from damaging the skin barrier."
