Incontinence Pants and Products - What You Need to Know Before You Buy

Modern technology is providing an ever-increasing selection of incontinence pants and incontinence briefs, along with protective pads, adult cloth diapers, odor removers, and other adult incontinence products and supplies. More choices makes dealing with adult incontinence easier, but it's important to buy the product that really suits your needs.

Millions of adults of all ages suffer from incontinence, which can be a difficult and life-disrupting condition. For most people, incontinence pants used either alone or in combination with pads, diapers, and other incontinence products can provide both security and comfort.

Choose the products that match your needs

Whether incontinence is a minor occasional problem or a severe permanent condition, there are products that can help. But getting the maximum benefit depends on selecting the ones that match your needs best. Some of the factors that should be considered include the following:

- The severity of the problem  Most incontinence pants and briefs are designed specifically to address the needs of a particular level of incontinence severity.

- Mobility   Incontinence can be particularly difficult to manage for people with limited mobility, for whom standing or pulling standard briefs up and down is difficult or impossible. If mobility is a problem, look for drop-front styles that allow for removal and changing of pads with a minimum of effort.

- Skin sensitivity  Keeping the skin as dry as possible is absolutely crucial for people with sensitive skin, who may develop rashes or skin conditions if exposed to wetness. This may be a particularly important factor for people with limited mobility. Look for products that use removable, disposable pads that can be changed frequently and easily.

- Time, place, and situation  For maximum efficiency, protection, and comfort, consider using different products for different situations. For example, many people find pull-up briefs with either a permanent or removable pad best for day wear, while a combination of briefs and waterproof pants provide maximum security overnight or at any time when access to toilet facilities is limited.