Allergies are increasingly common and can also affect commonly used items such as sanitary pads. Here’s how to recognize it and what to do to overcome it.
Let’s talk about irritation after the period: can you be allergic to the tampon? Today allergies are more and more widespread, they concern many foods, the pollens of some plants with blooms in spring, the hair of certain animals, nickel, some dyes … And yes, to the list we can also add the allergy to absorbents. All are based on the same mechanism, that is an excessive response of the immune system to contact with certain substances (natural or chemical) that it no longer recognizes as “harmless”. These reactions can affect different systems of the body, and manifest themselves with immediate symptoms as generally happens in the case of food allergies or with delayed symptoms in the case of contact allergies, including the one that can be caused by sanitary napkins. If you think this is happening to you too, let’s clarify the symptoms to recognize, remedies to alleviate them and solutions to put an end to the problem.
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ALLERGY TO SORBENTS: SYMPTOMS
How to recognize a sorbent allergy? The most common symptoms are:
- intense and persistent itching
- redness of the skin
- vaginal burning
- sense of swelling of the lips
Other indicators of allergic reactions could be dry mucous membranes or a bad intimate smell. Episodes of leucorrheawith losses of white or yellow color, on the other hand, they could be linked to a problem of transpiration of the pads. Secondly, skin reactions such as bubbles or small cuts can occur. These symptoms can manifest themselves from the first uses of a new type of absorbent, as a reaction to a certain material or some chemical molecule that can be used to improve its absorbency or to neutralize odors, or only in particular periods. In the latter case, the allergic reaction is triggered by external factors such as periods of high stress that can alter the immune defenses, including those of the epidermis, or the warmer climate that involves greater sweating and therefore problems of perspiration and rubbing of the skin.
When these symptoms occur frequently, it is advisable to contact your gynecologist . First of all to exclude the presence of infections or other inflammations, and then to be referred to a dermatologist who can arrive at a diagnosis of allergy or contact dermatitis by carrying out specific tests (such as specific series patch tests or patch by patch) and accurate.
ABSORBENT ALLERGY: NATURAL REMEDIES
Having ascertained that it is allergy to sanitary napkins, there are some measures and natural remedies that can be used to relieve the symptoms. The first thing to do, or rather not to do, is scratching : even if in some moments it can be difficult to resist, and the initial feeling is of great relief, scratching only worsens the skin irritation by causing swelling and turning bubbles. or vesicles in small lesions.
If you prefer to opt for natural remedies and softer solutions to soothe the itching and other symptoms of absorbent allergy, consider that you can use pharmacological products both of natural origin with emollient action and real antihistamines , while in case of vaginal dryness they can be evaluated ointments based on vitamin E, but all these solutions must be carefully evaluated with your doctor before contacting your herbalist or pharmacist in order not to worsen the symptoms with incorrect DIY therapies.
SORBENT ALLERGY: WHAT TO DO
The main thing to do in case of allergic reactions, once the triggering cause has been identified with certainty, is to stop contact. In this case, it is a question of changing the type of sanitary napkin to find the most ‘tolerable’ one for the skin of the intimate area. The solution, in many cases, is cotton, which is naturally hypoallergenic fiber. One of the advantages of cotton pads is their total compatibility with the skin, even the most sensitive and prone to irritation or allergies. If you have been advised to try this type of sanitary napkin, you can also evaluate the new range of absorbent pads in LINES Cotton. Cotton will be the only material in contact with your skin, precisely to limit the risk of allergic reactions. The breathable filter helps keep the intimate area dry and clean, and the softness of the cotton reduces the onset of chafing. It is a full range of absorbent for the day and night, panty shields and tampons , approved by gynecologists AOGOI (Italian Association of Hospital Obstetricians and Gynecologists).
To relieve the sense of discomfort and itching typical of contact allergy, overly aggressive intimate cleansers and products containing perfumes should also be avoided, which can be detergents but also intimate deodorant sprays and toilet papers. For ‘ordinary’ intimate hygiene you need a delicate cleanser with a pH compatible with that of the vaginal environment, ie between 3.5 and 5.5. After, be careful to dry thoroughly but without rubbing.
Also on the other days of the month, when menstruation is over, it is necessary to pay attention to the fabrics that are in contact with the intimate area: it is better to wear pure cotton underwear, preferably white, and avoid trousers, jeans or leggings in synthetic or too tight fabrics .
If you want to know more, we recommend that you learn more by reading the article Hypoallergenic absorbents, safe for the skin .
