Itching with sanitary towels and tampons - your options

It itches and tingles, the skin burns and small pimples form: a rash in the genital area is extremely uncomfortable. Sometimes tampons and pads are to blame. However, doctors and those affected are not the focus of allergic reactions to menstrual hygiene. There are ways to soothe the skin!

Tampon allergy? Never heard!

Tampons, sanitary napkins and menstrual bleeding are still taboo subjects. Despite all the clarity, there is not enough talk about it, and the knowledge is insufficient for most of those affected. With you, too? No problem: we will help.

If it itches, burns and tingles "downstairs", doctors first advise not to use perfumed soaps and hygiene sprays, and recommend laundry made of cotton and pure white, unprinted and chlorine-free bleached toilet paper. You should avoid moist toilet paper and environmental paper, because this can also cause itching. What hardly anyone thinks about: The sanitary napkin and tampon can also cause itching. Is the skin irritated every time you have your period? It could be related. Even so, officially there is no such thing as a tampon allergy.

ÖKOTEST has found chemicals

The consumer magazine ÖKOTEST has already checked monthly hygiene products for chemicals several times. The focus is always on the health of the consumer, so the tests are primarily about limit values. The good news is: pads and tampons on the German market do not contain pesticides, dioxins or glyphosate in quantities that are harmful to health. The bad news: Chemicals were found in eleven out of fifteen single-use hygiene products.

Just because EU-wide limits are not exceeded doesn't mean that your body doesn't care about these chemicals. Itching is usually a sign that your immune system is responding. Of course, we don't know whether this reacts to superabsorbents, DMDM hydantoin, sorbic acid or benzoic acid. Probably nobody wants to do an allergy test in the intimate area. It is more important for you that the itching disappears again.

Disposable hygiene products can promote fungal infections

Many women suffer from infections in the genital area, especially in stressful situations. It used to be said that you can only get infected through sexual intercourse. Today we know better: Pathogens are everywhere, and if the skin is irritated, under stress or if the diet is poor, the immune system simply cannot counter it. If the skin is irritated by chemical additives in the sanitary napkin and tampon, it is a gateway for bacteria and fungi. Your immune system is simply overwhelmed - and your gynecologist will prescribe antibiotics or an antifungal agent. It works - and after a month you have the same problem again. Why?

The sanitary napkin and panty liner have a plastic layer that is supposed to keep moisture "inside". This creates a warm, humid climate in your underpants, which irritates the skin even more and provides optimal living conditions for pathogens. So from now on no more bandages and goodbye itching?

Alternatives: reusable products

You don't have to do without a pad and tampon. There are panty liners as well as pads made of cotton and silk that are guaranteed to be free of chemicals, do not irritate your skin and do not favor infections. Alternatives to the conventional tampon are the menstrual cup and the natural sponge (also known as soft tampons). And with that, the itchiness is probably really overcome!