WASHINGTON - Government safety officials have not found a connection between a new kind of Pampers diapers and the severe skin reactions reported by some parents' groups.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday that it has reviewed 4,700 complaints, but found no specific cause linking Pampers diapers with new Dry Max technology to diaper rash.
"We hope that today's announcement will reassure the millions of moms and dads and child caregivers who place their trust in Pampers and Dry Max every day," Jodi Allen, vice president for Pampers, said in a statement.
Procter & Gamble launched new versions of its Swaddlers and Cruisers diapers in the United States in March. The thinner diapers use the company's Dry Max absorbent gel material to replace the paper pulp gel previously used. Parents' groups blamed the change for severe skin problems.
In May, the CPSC launched an investigation of Dry Max following complaints of babies and toddlers suffering severe and persistent diaper rashes and blisters that resemble chemical burns.
They agency said it reviewed the materials, construction, heat retention and moisture retention properties of the Dry Max diapers, along with clinical and toxicological data. CPSC also analyzed scientific information provided by Canadian health officials.
While it found nothing specific about the Dry Max diapers that causes rashes, CPSC said that most babies do get diaper rash at least once. If a rash occurs, the agency recommends changing diaper brands and consulting a pediatrician.
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