It sounds like you are one of the many women who experience irritation of the vulva and/or buttocks from menstrual pads. Since pads are made up of many layers of different materials including adhesive (glue on the bottom of the pad that allows it to stick to underwear), it’s not unusual to have a skin reaction (often referred to as “contact dermatitis”) to one of these materials. This is especially true if you have sensitive skin. Friction from the pad (moving back and forth) while you are walking, running or playing sports, also contributes to irritation.
You may wish to consider using: a different brand of pad such as an organic “unscented” kind, or tampons, a menstrual cup or period underwear instead of your current brand of pads. You may find relief from irritation by soaking in a warm tub for about 20 minutes. Most of the time, discomfort associated with irritation improves in 2-3 days. If it doesn’t seem to get better, make an appointment with your health care provider. Your HCP may prescribe a topical cream (medicine) to help with the healing process.
Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.