Periods are an inconvenience at the best of times – but one expert claims this is amplified in summer, as the hot weather can induce a condition you may be completely unaware of
Getting a period in the summer is a massive inconvenience. From taking a dip in the pool, to wearing that all-white bohemian dress – we’ve all fretted over the stains that may crop up when we’re least expecting it.
And now, one hygiene expert claims there’s something else we should be aware of too, as she took to Instagram this week to talk about something called ‘pad rash’. While this may sound a bit scary, Madame Sweat claims it’s easily preventable, providing you follow a few simple steps.
Posting to her page (@madamesweat), she said: “If you’re wearing these in the summer months you’ll want to listen to this. A lot of people use these,” pointing to her period pads, “…even outside of their menstrual cycle, they use them just for hygiene purposes…
“[But] let me tell you, when there’s moisture, there’s going to be trouble.” Madame Sweat explained that many pads are made from wood fibre, which may be handy for absorbing period blood, but often isn’t so good at dealing with sweat.
During the hot summer months, this can develop into a ‘pad rash’. This generally involves sore chafing and skin irritation around the inner thighs – a condition that may worsen further if your legs rub together as you walk.
Madame Sweat claims this can happen to anyone – even if you’ve never experienced it before now – but it’s simply fixed with the right treatments. She continued: “It’s easily addressed, you can use a powder… or use a chaffing stick or cream to address that.
“This happens especially in the summer months and people never suspect, and I get that you want to use this. Just keep using it, just make sure you’re using the chafing powder or the cream.”
Madame Sweat’s post has been met with countless appreciative comments, with many users also shining a light on alternative ways to deal with the dreaded pad rash. One person wrote: “Using menstrual cups is a great alternative. You feel cleaner and they are also cheaper.”
Another later added: “Menstrual disc for me. I couldn’t use anymore pads since I live in a tropical country,” as someone else chimed in: “A lot of us didn’t grow up with mothers to teach us these things.
“And it can be an uncomfortable conversation to have with female friends, so thank you for these little nuggets.”
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