Clinical Study of the Acceptability of a New Sanitary Pad “LAURIER-F®” in Thailand
Abstract
Background: The use of sanitary pads often causes contact dermatitis (sanitary pad dermatitis).Some possible causes of sanitary pad dermatitis are over-hydration by occlusion, irritation by menstrual blood, infestation of bacteria and friction with surface materials. Modern disposable sanitary pads were developed to reduce those causes. In this study, we examined the effects of a new sanitary pad product on subjects with skin eruptions in Thailand.
Methods: The subjects of this study were healthy adult women with symptoms of sanitary pad dermatitis assessed by a gynecologist. The test sanitary pad was “LAURIER-F®” (Kao Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, commercially available in Japan) and the control was each subject’s favorite sanitary pad. This was a crossover clinical usage study over the course of two menstrual periods. The diagnosis of eruptions and subjective symptoms was assessed by a gynecologist during two menstrual periods using each type of sanitary pad and between those menstrual periods (Control phase).
Results: Although we previously evaluated skin eruptions with sanitary pad usage after the end of the menstrual period, it is well known that sanitary pad dermatitis recovers rapidly after the end of the sanitary pad use. Due to the diagnosis of skin eruptions during the menstrual period, the preventive effects of “LAURIER-F®” on sanitary pad dermatitis were clearly detected by a doctor’s evaluation. The results suggest that sanitary pad users realize skin care effects of “LAURIER-F®” because their subjective symptoms also showed a similar tendency.
Conclusion: The tested “LAURIER-F®” sanitary pad did not cause a serious sanitary rash. Its surface is soft with good blood absorption. The gynecologist assessed collectively that the “LAURIER-F®” sanitary pad is highly effective to reduce sanitary pad dermatitis compared with conventionally used ones. It is considered that the characteristic features of the “LAURIER-F®” sanitary pad, such as softness, low-irritancy and high absorbency, are important factors to exert its efficacy
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