How to Get Rid of Rashes Caused by Napkins

Rashes caused by sanitary napkins are common and can be quite uncomfortable. These rashes are also known as irritant contact dermatitis. Because sanitary pads consist of foreign chemicals like dioxin, they can sometimes cause painful irritations. Dioxins are byproducts of the pad- and tampon-manufacturing process. Most sanitary napkins are made of cotton and rayon. The process of producing rayon involves bleaching wood pulp, which produces dioxin. Fortunately, there are alternatives to wearing these types of sanitary napkins as well as cures for the rashes they may cause.

The Best Options

• 1

  Changing your pads often helps keep bacteria from accumulating. Also, wearing synthetic-lined pads can irritate your skin, so try pads made from unbleached cotton. Don't feel limited to pads and tampons; they are not the only options. There are also cloth napkins (which must be washed and cleaned), menstrual cups (which can be reused or disposed of) and sea sponges (which are placed inside the vagina to absorb the blood flow).

• 2

  Apply creams to the infected area. Topical steroids like 1-percent hydrocortisone are recommended, but should always be approved by a doctor. Staying away from the sanitary pads that caused a rash, cleaning the area with warm water and unscented soaps, and using unscented moisturizing lotions are simple remedies.

• 3

  Checking with a medical professional is best if the rash becomes worse or does not go away within three or four days. There could be a more serious problem, like toxic shock syndrome (TSS). TSS is caused by two bacteria: staphyloccocus aureas and group A streptococcus. Symptoms include: headaches, fever, rash and vomiting. The main cause of this potentially deadly disease is leaving tampons in for long periods of time. It is best to change tampons every four to eight hours.