How Often Should I Change My Incontinence Pad?

Incontinence pads and products are becoming an incredibly popular hygiene product. However, due to the frustrating social “taboo” that still surrounds incontinence, many people don’t know the best practices for their products and health. So join us today as we discuss how when to change your incontinence pads, incontinence pants and other products.

How Often Should I Change Incontinence Pants?

Incontinence briefs are made very similar to underwear, making them comfortable and often preferable to other incontinence products.  However it is important to always change incontinence pants and briefs before they become too wet. This ensures you don’t experience any accidental leakage, no matter how small. Further it is important to remember that wearing wet incontinence briefs for too long can lead to poor skin hygiene and bad odour.

How Do I Control Incontinence Brief Odour?

While most incontinence pants and briefs have inbuilt odour control features, recent studies show that odour is still a fear of most consumers. In fact the fears of odour, loneliness and social isolation are key consequences for most incontinence individuals. It is important to remember that incontinence products do feature odour control and that you can also purchase further odour control products for peace of mind.

Do Not Reuse Incontinence Pants

Wet incontinence briefs or pants are likely to deteriorate more quickly, causing unwanted leakage. Further, reusing incontinence products put you at risk of developing skin conditions, like dermatitis.

What If the Incontinence Brief Isn’t Absorbent Enough?

If your incontinence pants aren’t absorbent enough, you may need to choose an incontinence product with a high absorbency. You can also add an insert pad for extra security.

How Often Should I Change Incontinence Pads?

If you use incontinence pads it is always advised that you change it often to protect your skin. This means changing your pad around 4-6 times a day.

Change Your Incontinence Pad When It’s Wet

You should always change an incontinence pad when it is wet. You should be wearing a pad that caters to your absorbency needs and most pads come with wetness indicators which will let you know when you need to change your incontinence pad.

Why Do Some People Change Dry Pads?

Some incontinence pads are designed to only last 3-5 hours. Wearing them for longer leads to poor skin hygiene, bad odours, and uncomfortable fungal and skin conditions. You should change your pad frequently, wet or dry, to prevent your skin becoming irritated which will then lead to chaffing and can irritate underlying conditions like eczema.

How Do I Treat Skin Irritation?

If your pad does cause a skin irritation, it is important to treat it properly. First pat down the area with a dry towel to ensure it is entirely dry. Carefully wash the skin to decontaminate it and pat dry again. Then treat it with a protective cream or a similar product that will soothe the pain and heal the skin. Avoid using a thick, barrier cream on the skin as this can rub off and reduce absorption. Further, remember that skin irritations and infections can easily reappear, even if the area seems to have healed. If the irritation seems to be recurring, consult your doctor.

Changing Your Incontinence Pad at Night

Sleeping, of course, gets in the way of changing your pad every 3-4 hours. For that reason there are pads with higher absorbency that are designed for overnight usage. These are not generally appropriate for use during the day as they are bulkier and, as a result, won’t sit as subtly under your clothing. It is also important to change your overnight pad as soon as you wake up in the morning.

Living with incontinence is already an uncomfortable experience. It is important to ensure you don’t make it worse by causing yourself distress through skin infections and personal health negligence. Protect your skin, keep odours contained and prevent accidental leakage by changing your incontinence pad as recommended. Seek recommendations from your health profession and explore the Holistic Incontinence website today to find the right product for you, your condition and your lifestyle.

And, finally, don’t forget to always treat your skin if it is dry or irritable and change your pads as recommended or as soon as they are wet.