Allergic to disposable sanitary napkins, why and what to do?

Allergic to disposable sanitary napkins, why and what to do?

Allergic reactions to sanitary napkins may be caused by the following reasons: First, allergies to certain materials in sanitary napkins, such as fragrances, fluorescent agents, and chemical fiber components; second, the skin is more sensitive. After long-term contact with sanitary napkins, the local ventilation and air permeability are poor, the humidity increases, and the skin is stimulated to cause allergic reactions.

If allergic reactions occur, stop using the current brand of sanitary napkins immediately, wash the vulva with warm water, keep the local area clean and dry, and avoid scratching. You can replace it with a sanitary napkin that is reliable, odorless, made of pure cotton, and has good breathability, or try other menstrual products such as tampons. You can also apply anti-allergic ointment as prescribed by the doctor to relieve discomfort. If the allergy is severe or persists, you need to seek medical treatment in time.

Skin reactions to pads are usually one of three things: a fragranced layer, a coarse topsheet, or just trapped heat and moisture. None mean "you're allergic to pads forever" — they mean the specific product was wrong for your skin. Switching to a plain, breathable, fragrance-free topsheet resolves most cases.

Our sensitive-skin pad guide walks through what to look for.

Irritation is usually not an allergy

True allergic reactions to disposable pads are rare. Most redness and itching come from heat, humidity, and friction against synthetic materials. Switching to a breathable cotton-style topsheet and changing more often solves the problem for most people. If symptoms persist, a dermatologist is the right call, not another product swap. We explain the humidity-versus-allergy distinction in this article, and the safety baseline in GB/T 8939.