Menstruating individuals wear sanitary pads during their period cycle and change them after regular intervals depending on their menstrual flow. If you are a sanitary pad user, you would have definitely experienced skin irritation in the form of rashes, redness, swelling, and itching because of skin sensitivity.
Sanitary pads are menstrual hygiene products that have been used by many individuals for a long period of time. However, a majority of them face irritation while using it since the skin of the groin region is sensitive as compared to the rest of the body’s skin.
Tips For Preventing Irritation Due To Sanitary Pads
In order to prevent your skin from getting irritated because of wearing sanitary pads, you can follow these tips:
- Switch to a different brand: Most of the menstrual hygiene brands include plastic in their sanitary pads. Apart from being a contributor to the degradation of the environment, the plastic lining of these sanitary napkins makes the skin prone to chafing as the groin region has high humidity and heat.
So, you should opt for plastic-free sanitary pads to avoid skin irritation. You may use the following sanitary pads:
- Reusable Sanitary Pads: The reusable sanitary pads are made up of breathable and absorbent fabric, that not only absorbs the menstrual fluid but also the moisture in the groin region. So, the possibility of chafing is reduced with the use of these reusable sanitary pads. These are the best sanitary pads as they are cost-effective as well as eco-friendly.
- Biodegradable Sanitary Pads: The biodegradable sanitary pads are made up of organic cotton, which is a comfortable and absorbing fabric. Hence, it does not cause inflammation or irritation in your groin region. Since they are biodegradable, they are the best sanitary pads for protecting the environment along with maintaining menstrual hygiene.
- Ultra Thin Sanitary Pads: The ultra thin sanitary pads are cottony soft and absorbing in nature. They are gentle on the skin and suitable for sensitive skin. Thus, the chances of skin irritation are very low while using these sanitary pads.
- Change your sanitary pad after every few hours: It is recommended to change the sanitary pad after every six hours. However, you should change it more frequently, after every four to five hours to reduce the chances of skin irritation.Avoid wearing skinny jeans
Skinny jeans are body-hugging, making it a bit difficult for the skin to breathe. Wearing sanitary pads with skinny jeans will create more humidity in the groin region, resulting in skin irritation. Therefore, wear loose-fitted pants to ensure more breathability.
- Wear cotton panties: Cotton being the most breathable and absorbent fabric ensures that the groin region stays dry. Keeping yourself dry would reduce the chances of itching, redness, and rashes.
- Maintain Hygiene: The menstrual flow containing bacteria and microorganisms may disrupt hygiene if good sanitary pads are not used. Along with using good quality sanitary pads, you should wash your private area with water when using toilet and avoid using any products that may contain fragrances or some kind of alcohol.
Conclusion
Sanitary pads have been used by menstruating individuals for so many years. Even though the sanitary pads are helpful in maintaining menstrual hygiene but they can cause irritation to people with sensitive skin. In order to prevent irritation, you can use plastic-free sanitary pads such as reusable sanitary pads, biodegradable sanitary pads, or ultra thin sanitary pads. These are the best sanitary pads as they are free from plastics, reducing the risk of getting swelling, redness, irritation, and rashes in the groin region. To know more, visit the Pee Safe website.
-
✍️ This article was curated by Komal Gupta
