Incontinence is becoming a common problem, especially among the elderly. It can hinder the freedom of association, company, leisure, and enjoyment since it affects the ability to control urination.
But you do not have to isolate or live in shame when diagnosed with the condition. There are many products that can help you deal with incontinence effectively, such as absorbent underwear.
Such underwear enables you to associate with others without them knowing about the condition, nor can they know you are putting on a pad. They are discrete, perfectly fitting, and can hold fluids while preventing leakages and odors.
You can find many brands offering such underwear; hence, you must be careful about the selection.
Here are some selection guidelines.
1. Check Flexibility
Flexibility refers to the ability of the underwear to fit perfectly and stay in shape even when filled with fluids. It should not sag when filled with fluids nor appear buggy and conspicuous when you put it on. Therefore you should focus on getting perfect-fit underwear.
To get perfect-fit absorbent underwear, try different sizes until you get the right one.
Alternatively, you can use a size chart to help you understand the best size. Begin by providing details such as waist and hip sizes; the calculator will help you select sizes ranging from extra small to XXL.
Sometimes, consider a slightly smaller size, i.e., if the calculator reveals your size to be 42, you should try out 41. This can contain the fluids longer and retain shape until you change it.
2. Disposable Vs. Reusable
You can select between disposable and reusable underwear, and your selection should be based on different factors. If you have severe incontinence, you need a reusable one to save you the burden of buying underwear frequently.
The reusable ones have a cost-saving advantage in the long run. You can reuse them; hence you do not buy them frequently. Moreover, they are suitable for people from low-income backgrounds.
Another concern with reusable underwear is healthcare. You must clean them thoroughly using the right detergents and ensure they dry appropriately. Failure to observe these guidelines can lead to skin conditions and itchiness due to dumpiness and bacterial actions.
If you have low or medium incontinence, buying disposable ones in bulk is best to get discounts and other price offers. They may be expensive in the long run, but they are suitable for skin safety and more affordable than reusable ones.
3. Analyze the Cost
The cost of good underwear depends on various factors.
First is the brand; the costs may vary from brand to brand; however, they tend to be within specific market prices. The difference is in the technology integrated, quality, and other aspects unique to a brand. This explains why some brands may be slightly more expensive than others.
Size can also determine your costs—sizes such as medium and large. XL and XXL are affordable since they are readily available. Other options, such as small and extra small, can be expensive since they are rare.
Quality and capacity will also affect the prices; high-quality underwears, with high fluid capacity and usage duration, are likely to be expensive. There are different types of diapers based on fluid capacity, such as medium and high capacity. The high capacity will be slightly expensive due to usage duration, technologies, and other factors.
To ensure affordability, most brands offer different variations and types for everyone to get an ideal product. The variations can be based on reusability, fluid capacity, usage duration, etc.
4. Consider Comfort And Safety
When shopping for the best underwear, consider the most discrete and comfortable ones. Focus on the material used to ensure it is high-quality and comfortable for the skin. It should not lead to any reactions due to heating, nor should the top surface get wet despite holding a lot of fluids.
Do not buy any underwear made from polythene or plastic since they can get uncomfortable and produce funny sounds, especially when filled with fluids. The level of comfort can also be guaranteed by the type of technology integrated into the underwear.
When filled with fluids, the moisture from the fluids should not affect you or cause discomfort. This means that the core pad should be made of durable materials to retain the heat and moisture without it sipping up to the top surface.
Also, buy underwear with leak-proof and odor-proof technologies integrated. The odor-proof technology hinders bacterial action within the underwear’s core, preventing odors from the stored urine. Odor can lead to discomfort and embarrassment; hence you need the best odor-proof absorbent underwear.
Anti-leak technologies focus on adding additional layers to the core to prevent fluids from leaking around the thigh areas. Even when filled with fluids, the underwear will hold on unless you violate the usage and durational guidelines.
5. Know Absorbency And Duration Of Use
People frequently ask how long they can use the underwear before changing it into a new one. The duration of use depends on various factors, such as technology, quality, and incontinence severity.
The duration of use varies between two to six hours, depending on the brand and product quality. Brands sell different underwear with different fluid retention capacities and capabilities. Others have a higher capacity and can last longer.
If you have high incontinence, you should change the underwear frequently depending on the underwear’s storage capacity. Therefore, you should know when it is full and then change. Consider those with wetness technology that can help monitor fluid levels and guide you on when to change. Otherwise, it can be challenging to know.
Those with low or medium incontinence levels can use the underwear longer and sometimes extend beyond the recommended duration. However, due to health concerns, you should not put on one diaper for more than six hours.
6. Check For Ease Of Use
You can put on the underwear based on different styles: tab style and pull-on. The tabs style is secured sideways, while the pull-on is like ordinary underwear. These pull ones are easy to put on but can sometimes be complicated to remove. Hence you need to buy those with safety measures when removing them to avoid spillage.
The tab style can be easy to put on and remove; however, you must observe the guidelines to secure them tight to avoid inconveniences.
Conclusion
When buying absorbent underwear, there are many factors to consider; however, you should put your needs first, such as the incontinence levels and budget. Once you identify your needs, you can select from different brands. However, not all brands will offer the best products; hence you need to focus on quality, technology, ease of use, and other safety measures integrated.
