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Incontinence Products – Tips and Advice

Incontinence Products – Tips and Advice
Anushree Kothari

Incontinence is a term that refers to the inability of controlling urine or bowel movements. It may lead to involuntary or accidental loss of urine from the bladder. Incontinence is a common problem faced by lots of men and women. Women are twice as likely to suffer from incontinence as compared to men. Children also suffer from incontinence. The situation can be inconvenient and embarrassing for such people and may lead to interference in daily living activities. Incontinence care products provide protection from loss of bladder control and let individuals live an active lifestyle.

Types of Incontinence Products

Incontinence products can either be worn with underwear or individually. Products that are worn with underwear are pads, liners and guards. Other products which are worn individually, include belted undergarments, protective underwear and disposable briefs. Users can choose among these adult care products depending on their personal requirements.

Protective underwear

Protective underwear or pull ups come in varying levels of absorbency, odor controlling capacity and moisture wicking capability. Adult incontinence pants can be disposable or reusable. Many have full-profile coverage for high leakage protection and many come with tear-away sides for easy removal.

 Protective underwear

Disposable briefs

They are also known as adult diapers. These adult incontinence diapers come with side fasteners unlike protective underwear and are highly absorbent. Disposable briefs are often used for nighttime wetting and heavy incontinence.

Select Disposable Briefs

Belted Undergarments

They are a less bulky alternative to disposable briefs and underwear. Belted undergarments include a pad with a strap or belt that can either be worn individually or with regular underwear.

Covidien Wings Belted Undergarments

Underpads

Underpads are used to protect furniture like beds and sofas from accidental leakage due to incontinence. They are made up of high-quality, durable material which provides high absorbency and is gentle on skin. Incontinence underpads come in a variety of shapes and sizes to meet varied customer needs.

 Incontinence underpads

Bladder Control Pads

Bladder Control Pads are a low-profile solution to provide protection from light incontinence. They have an adhesive strip that helps them stick to the undergarments. These inserts provide less bulky protection and are easy to use and replace when soiled.

Attends Discreet Bladder Control Pads

Pantiliners

Pantiliners are designed to be ultra thin for full discretion. They are soft and gentle against the skin and have high absorbency capacity. The strong adhesive peel strip keeps them in place to protect the users against leakage and keep their skin dry.

Dynarex Disposable Pant Liners

Male Guards

Male Guards are specifically designed to fit the anatomy of men and provide light incontinence protection. They securely stick to the underwear without causing any shifting or slippage. These guards are usually discreet, waterproof, rustle-free and neutralize odor.

Attends Discreet Male Guards

Incontinence Pants

Incontinence Pants are designed to provide extra protection from incontinence. They can easily hold pads and liners and keep them in place while sitting, standing, walking or sleeping. These pants have soft elastic cuffs which do not cause any redness or skin marks on thighs.

 Incontinence Pants

Washcloths and Wipes

Washcloths and wipes are used to provide cleanliness along with skin wellness to bed or wheelchair bound people. They provide hygienic and soothing cleansing with a variety of shapes and sizes.

 Washcloths and wipes

What to consider when buying Incontinence Products?

While buying incontinence products, it is easy to get confused with the huge variety of options available. It is not uncommon to end up buying a product that does not address your incontinence issues. To choose which product is most appropriate for you, there are several things which should be taken note of:

  • Size – Any undergarment which is too large or small will not be able to efficiently manage incontinence. Large size may cause leakage whereas small size may make user uncomfortable. Therefore, it is very important to measure oneself and order a size matching to that of manufacturer sizing guide. Sizes are not always universal, size of one manufacturer may or may not match with the other.
  • Absorbency – Choice of the type of incontinence products depends largely on the severity of incontinence user faces. If there is only light incontinence, an incontinence pad might be enough. But if there is a large volume of urine loss, adult briefs might be required.
  • Gender-specific– For different needs of each gender, gender-specific products work best. Products like Tena Women Protective Underwear and Tena Men Protective Guard are specially designed to fit male and female anatomy and meet their special needs.
  • Cost– While buying incontinence products, cost should not be the only important factor. Choice of the product should be based on absorption and leakage protection. To save money, user can either buy washable and reusable products or shop in bulk.
  • Additional Features – While not a major deciding factor, some of the additional features in a product can help determine whether or not that product is for you or worth the extra cost. They may include wicking capabilities, tear away side seams, side barriers, odor control, refastenable tabs, wetness indicator, etc.

Prevention against Incontinence Issues

While using incontinence products, users may sometimes face some issues like diaper leaks and diaper rashes. These may be caused by slight negligence of users in either choosing the right product or maintaining skin wellness. Below given are some measures which can be taken care of to prevent incontinence related issues.

Diaper Leaks

Constant use of incontinence products can lead to skin irritations and infections. Stale urine or stool, damp conditions and lack of airflow can lead to skin breakdown and cause diaper rashes. These rashes and skin infections can be prevented in following ways:

  • Use the Right Product: Wrong choice of incontinence product can cause more friction and wetness, both of which lead to diaper rashes. Right product can minimize the risks of skin breakdown and prevent diaper rashes.
  • Limit Friction: Limiting the friction can reduce the chances of skin breakdown. If the area is already affected, avoid any contact of the affected area with the clothing or diapers for faster healing.
  • Keep the Area Dry:Moisture can weaken the skin tissues and can cause damage to the skin. So it is best to let the moisture escape away and keep the skin dry to prevent diaper rashes.
  • Apply a Medical Cream: Medical creams protect the skin against skin breakdown. Applying a skin barrier, after washing the area can create a protective coating on the skin that prevents diaper rashes.
  • Expose Area to Air: Regular airflow keeps the skin healthy and prevents diaper rash. Whenever possible, remove the adult care product and allow the skin breathe to remove any moisture that might have accumulated.
  • Change Frequently: Change the incontinence products as soon as soiling occurs to prevent the rashes from forming. Thoroughly pat the skin dry before putting on a new product to prevent the moisture from trapping inside.
  • Wash Thoroughly: Thoroughly wash the skin that was covered by the incontinence product to kill bacteria that can lead to diaper rash. Use of antibacterial soap and drying the skin before putting on a new product is recommended for healthy skin.

Diaper Rashes

Constant use of incontinence products can lead to skin irritations and infections. Stale urine or stool, damp conditions and lack of airflow can lead to skin breakdown and cause diaper rashes. These rashes and skin infections can be prevented in following ways:

  • Use the Right Product: Wrong choice of incontinence product can cause more friction and wetness, both of which lead to diaper rashes. Right product can minimize the risks of skin breakdown and prevent diaper rashes.
  • Limit Friction: Limiting the friction can reduce the chances of skin breakdown. If the area is already affected, avoid any contact of the affected area with the clothing or diapers for faster healing.
  • Keep the Area Dry:Moisture can weaken the skin tissues and can cause damage to the skin. So it is best to let the moisture escape away and keep the skin dry to prevent diaper rashes.
  • Apply a Medical Cream: Medical creams protect the skin against skin breakdown. Applying a skin barrier, after washing the area can create a protective coating on the skin that prevents diaper rashes.
  • Expose Area to Air: Regular airflow keeps the skin healthy and prevents diaper rash. Whenever possible, remove the adult care product and allow the skin breathe to remove any moisture that might have accumulated.
  • Change Frequently: Change the incontinence products as soon as soiling occurs to prevent the rashes from forming. Thoroughly pat the skin dry before putting on a new product to prevent the moisture from trapping inside.
  • Wash Thoroughly: Thoroughly wash the skin that was covered by the incontinence product to kill bacteria that can lead to diaper rash. Use of antibacterial soap and drying the skin before putting on a new product is recommended for healthy skin.

 

Diaper rashes can be prevented by making some slight changes in the daily routine of incontinence care. By using the above-mentioned measures, users can help manage incontinence while maintaining healthy skin.

 

Disclaimer: All content found on our website, including images, videos, infographics and text were created solely for informational purposes. Our content should never be used for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment of any medical conditions. Content shared on our websites is not meant to be used as a substitute for advice from a certified medical professional. Reliance on the information provided on our website as a basis for patient treatment is solely at your own risk. We urge all our customers to always consult a physician or a certified medical professional before trying or using a new medical product.

 


HPFY Anushree Kothari

Anushree Kothari

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Anushree Kothari, a family caregiver and a true empath, has been a devoted contributor to Health Products For You since 2016. Her journey as a medical writer for HPFY is a result ...

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