Do Panty Liners Cause Yeast Infections?

 Do panty liners cause Yeast infections?

Well, who here hasn't wondered about that? Pantyliners are used by women for a variety of reasons, such as light bladder leakage and menstrual flow. But if you suffer from recurring vaginal infections and notice that your yeast infections tend to occur more often (or exclusively) on the days you wear panty liners — there may be a connection, or not.

Feel free to read the article below for more details on the topic

What's a vaginal yeast infection?

Every woman experiences vaginal yeast infections at some point during her life. It feels like burning, itching, redness, and white discharge from the vagina and vulva. Infections like these are caused by a fungal body (yeast) in your body called candida. Candida is a type of yeast.

Yeast that is in balance with the body's ecosystem will not cause any harm. But when the balance is disturbed — it leads to a yeast infection.

Vaginal candidiasis or vulvovaginal candidiasis are the alternative names for the yeast infections of the vaginal.

Yeast infections in the vagina are actually in fact vaginitis, which is a condition that causes the vagina to swell, become painful, and discharge. There are several types of vaginitis, each with similar symptoms. One of the most common types of vaginitis is a vaginal yeast infection.

What are Panty Liners?

Panty liners are small, thin pads consisting of an absorbent surface layer (‘‘top sheet’’), a spongy core, and a waterproof back layer (‘‘backsheet’’) that safeguards the undergarment and attaches to it by a gluey strip.
The top sheet of a panty liner grips and pulls fluid into the absorbent core. Top sheets may be made of materials including perforated polyethylene films, polypropylene-based copolymer fabrics, polyethylene-based or, or combinations from it. These are just names of different types of complicated chemical compounds. You may ignore the names.
However, the material (chemical) does affect your skin whenever you put a sanitary pad or panty liner down there.

The Truth About Using Pantyliners

Pantyliners are smaller versions of sanitary pads that can be worn on the underwear to absorb the discharge. Some researchers believe that the use of pads and panty liners may increase the risk of urinary tract infections by transferring intestinal microbes. Pads may transfer some degree of microbes to the vaginal walls.

The most common health effect of panty liners is skin irritation. Delayed contact hypersensitivity—which means a delayed reaction from the use of an allergen (pantyliner material) that is applied to the skin, can also occur.

Certain areas of the vulva are more permeable to chemicals than others because of differences in skin thickness. But, the ingredients used in panty liners have a long record of safe use, and their fixed toxicological profiles are relatively harmless.

Prolonged wearing of panty liners can result in the below consequences:

Dermatological effects

• Skin irritation ( Different forms of rashes like vesicular and papular eruptions, erythema, or edema)
• Skin condition (Increased doughy moisture secretion)
• Induction of allergic contact hypersensitivity 

Gynecological effects

• Vaginal discharge (odor, appearance, consistency)
• Change in vaginal pH
• Dermatitis or infection
• Pap smear

Effects on vaginal and vulvar microbiology

• Microbial isolation and colonization of microbes on the vulva
• Vaginosis (vaginal inflammation due to bacteria)
• Vulvovaginal candidiasis (vaginal inflammation due to yeast - fungus)
• Discomfort
• Dryness

How To Prevent Vaginal Yeast Infections With Panty Liners

Vaginal yeast infections are common. But they're certainly not something you want to deal with. Fortunately, a few simple lifestyle changes can help avoid a yeast infection down there.

1. Keep it clean

Wiping from front to back is the best way to prevent vaginal infection. It's important to practice proper hygiene to reduce your risk of infection. It's commonly known that wiping front to back is the most suitable way to prevent urinary tract infections so that the rectum microbes don’t get accumulated near the vaginal area.

2. Get out of your wet clothes as fast as possible.

It’s important to change out of wet clothes as soon as possible to avoid the growth of yeast. When wet clothes rub up against the vulva and vagina, it creates moisture which promotes the growth of yeast—the same thing happens when you wear wet bathing suits for extended periods. This especially applies to underwear. Not only does it spread the yeast infection, but it leads down the road to UTIs and vaginitis.Do not wear thongs or tight underwear

3. Do not wear thongs or tight underwear

 Thongs and tight underwear can cause vaginal rashes because they trap moisture and cause your natural pH balance to get out of whack. Tight clothes also increase friction and chafing of your skin, which can lead to a severe infection. Wearing cotton underwear and avoiding tight clothing—particularly thongs are some of the best practices to keep your vagina happy and healthy.

4. Be careful with panty liners

If you wear liners too long without changing them regularly, you could get a yeast infection. Swap out your liner every 6-8 hours—even overnight if you go to bed early enough to keep the risks of infections low while enjoying the benefits of wearing panty liners. This way you'll never be caught by surprise with a stanky situation again!

5. Prohibit using perfume soap to clean the sensitive area

 Soap is for washing your hands but not for washing your genitals. Many women use scented soaps to clean around the vagina, but there are better options out there. It's actually possible to develop a vaginal infection from using soap. Thus, it's important to make sure you're using something that's safe and won't irritate. That's why doctors recommend V-wash or equivalent cleanser instead. These vagina cleaning formulas are free from parabens and sulfates and are made to not disturb the natural pH of the vagina.

 The best way to prevent yeast infection is through following good hygiene practices. It is necessary to have an understanding of yeast infections and how these infections are acquired by women in order to observe the warning signs that may indicate a yeast infection. By making use of certain recommendations like cleanliness, sexual abstinence, avoidance of vaginal deodorant, wearing loose clothing, and taking a regular bath will help you minimize the risk of contracting a vaginal yeast infection.

CONCLUSION

While there is little to no evidence for the causal relationship between panty liners and vulvovaginal infections — it does not appear that there is a need to worry. In other words, if you're using panty liners, it doesn't hurt to continue doing so without having to worry too much about whether they could cause infections. The claims that they seem to trap microbes and may be linked to certain infections or skin types. So, you should avoid using pantyliners for a prolonged period of time and should choose breathable liners.

Also, not forget that you must consult a doctor in case you are feeling some sort of discomfort while using panty liners every time.