A Canadian diaper cream label is organized in panels, and each panel answers a different question: what is this, what is in it, how do I use it, and what should I watch for. Read them in the order below and a tube that looks like a wall of small print becomes a short checklist.
The front of the tube: descriptors and claims
The front carries the product name, the size in grams or millilitres, and descriptor words. Words such as gentle, natural, sensitive or maximum strength are the maker's wording. They do not tell you how well a product will suit your baby.
Look instead for the factual items: a zinc oxide percentage in the name, the size, and statements like fragrance free. A title such as Penaten Medicated Creamy Diaper Rash Cream, Zinc Oxide, 113 g uses the word medicated, and the back panel is where you see what that refers to for that product.
The product number: NPN or DIN
In Canada, Health Canada issues a Drug Identification Number (DIN) to drug products and a Natural Product Number (NPN) to natural health products. Both are printed on the label. Products sold as cosmetics carry neither, and list their ingredients instead.
Which category a product falls into depends on how it is classified, so two similar-looking tubes can have different panels. A number means Health Canada has issued it. It is not a recommendation for a particular baby. Health Canada keeps public online databases where you can look up a DIN or NPN.
Medicinal ingredients and their percentages
On products with a DIN or NPN, the medicinal ingredients are listed separately, each with an amount, such as zinc oxide 15% w/w. These are the ingredients the maker names as the working part of the product. Near them you may find a heading like uses or purpose, which states what the maker says the product is for.
For example, Zincofax Cream 15% Original 130 Ml shows a percentage right in the name, and the panel on the package says which ingredient it belongs to. The w/w means weight in weight: the share of the product's total weight that the ingredient makes up.
Non-medicinal ingredients: a short glossary
Non-medicinal ingredients are everything else, from bases to preservatives. Cosmetic-style labels put all ingredients in one list, usually from the largest amount to the smallest. Many names follow an international system that uses Latin and chemical terms, which is why shea butter appears as Butyrospermum parkii.
| Name on the label | What it is |
|---|---|
| Zinc oxide | A white mineral powder |
| Petrolatum | Refined petroleum jelly; a clear, slippery base |
| Paraffinum liquidum | Mineral oil |
| Dimethicone | A silicone-based ingredient that gives a smooth, slippery feel |
| Cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol | Waxy thickeners, not the same as the drying alcohol in hand sanitizer |
| Glycerin | A clear, syrupy liquid used in many skin products |
| Cera alba | Beeswax |
| Butyrospermum parkii | Shea butter |
| Lanolin | A wax from sheep's wool |
| Aqua | Water |
| Parfum | Fragrance |
| Tocopherol | Vitamin E |
| Phenoxyethanol | A preservative |
Products that contain water usually need a preservative. Balms made only of oils and waxes may not.
Directions and warnings: read these first
Directions say how often to use the product, how much, from what age and on which part of the body. Warnings often include statements such as for external use only, keep out of the reach of children, and when to ask a doctor. Read both before you open the product, every time you buy, even from a brand you know, because each product has its own directions.
Our diaper rash creams and ointments collection gathers the products the store carries, and each package has its own label to read.
Shop this guide
- Vaseline Blue Seal Baby Petroleum Jelly, Fragrance Free, 450 ml (ships via Amazon)
- Vaseline for Babies, 50 ml, 3-Pack (ships via Amazon)
- ATTITUDE Plastic-Free Diaper Cream Bar, Zinc, Baby, 30 grams (ships via Amazon)
- Souris Verte Organic Liniment, 350 ml (ships via Amazon)
- See all: Diaper Rash Creams & Ointments
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
Expiry date, lot number and bilingual panels
- Expiry date: may be printed as year, month and day, or with an abbreviated month, so read it twice. Do not use a product past its expiry date. Some cosmetics also show a small open-jar symbol with a number and an M, which is the number of months the maker suggests using the product after opening.
- Lot number: identifies the production batch. If you ever contact the maker, they will usually ask for it.
- Bilingual panels: packaging sold in Canada normally carries English and French. If you only see one language, check the reverse or the fold-out panel.
What to do when the label does not answer your question
Ask a pharmacist, who can read the label with you at the counter. If a customer line is printed on the package, the maker can answer product questions. For anything about your baby's skin, such as a rash that looks raw, broken, bleeding or blistered, or one that is not improving, ask a doctor, nurse or pharmacist. We can help you find a product, but we cannot give medical advice.
Common questions
Does medicated mean stronger?
It is a word in a name. Check the medicinal ingredients panel for what it refers to, and ask a pharmacist if it is unclear.
What if my product has no DIN or NPN?
It is probably classified differently, for example as a cosmetic. The ingredient list is then your main source of information, and a pharmacist can help you read it.
Can I check the label before I buy?
Product titles often state the size and, for some products, a percentage. If you need a detail that is not on the product page, ask us before you order. When the package arrives, compare it with the title, and contact us if something does not match.
Need help comparing two products? Send us a note through our contact page and we will help you narrow them down.