Is Your Sanitary Napkin Causing Rashes? 6 Tips To Deal With Pad Rash During Your Periods
I remember the time when I used to use sanitary pads instead of a menstrual cup. Just a day or two into using the pad I would get a pad rash that made my life extremely difficult as if periods weren’t bad enough. Wearing sanitary pads is a choice but with this choice comes the trouble of pad rash which makes your vaginal area and butt itchy and causes redness and swelling. This usually happens due to the material of the pad or due to the heat, moisture and bacteria buildup that happens when you wear a pad. And having to deal with pad rash along with periods is just brutal. Back when I was using pads, I would switch to using a tampon after 2 days to deal with the rash better but I failed to evade the mayhem caused by it. But I’ve got some easy solutions and treatments to deal with pad rash for all you pad users.
1. Make A Change
One way to deal with pad rash is to try changing your period product. If a menstrual cup or disc is not your cup of tea, you can try using a reuseable pad or a cotton pad or maybe switch to period panties. But if you want to continue using the normal pads, try changing the brand.
2. Keep Changing
No, I’m not asking you to keep changing the brand or product. What I mean to say is that change your pad regularly at the interval of 4 hours. Most of us try to keep the pad on till it’s full or for the entire day when we have less bleeding. But never do that, remember to change your pad every 4 hours. This will reduce the chances of developing pad rash.
3. Pick Your Clothes
Don’t wear tight clothes or tight panties. So, drop those skinny jeans and pick that pair of palazzo pants or that flowy little summer dress when you’re on your period. This is important because wearing loose clothes ensures that your vagina has airflow and keeps it sweat-free and rash-free as well.
4. Stay Clean
Keeping your vagina clean and dry is important for hygiene as well as for a rash-free period. Make sure that you wash your vaginal area with water every now and then. Use talcum powder or an intimate area powder to keep the pubic area dry.
Also Read: Menstrual Hygiene Day: How To Maintain Period Hygiene And What Are The Dos And Don’ts Of It? Know It All Here
5. Hot And Cold Helps
If you fail to prevent pad rash, you can treat it with some hot or cold compress. This reduces inflammation and soothes the skin and reduces irritation. If you don’t want to apply a hot or cold compress to your pubic area directly, you can soak a cloth in hot water, squeeze it and keep it on the area. You can do the same with cold water or wrap ice cubes in a cloth and apply it to the area.
6. Steer Clear Of Fragrance And Products
Avoid using any product that has a fragrance. Use unscented pads and intimate wash. Having said that, it’s best to not use an intimate wash on your pubic area during your periods if you want to prevent pad rash. The chemicals in the intimate wash can irritate the skin and worsen pad rash.
Also Read: On Menstrual Hygiene Day, We Are Debunking Some Common Myths About Using Menstrual Cups
Hoping you ladies have a rash free period!
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