There is no single answer for the best way to manage incontinence, but many people find that a combination of adult disposable diapers and incontinence pants provides comfort, security, and freedom.
Adult disposable diapers are made in a wide variety of shapes, styles, and sizes ranging from flat to contoured to fully shaped and fitted. The flat or contoured styles, which are the most common and easy to find, are variations of an absorbent pad which is wrapped around the body and fastened with adhesive tabs.
Disposables are also available as fitted pull-up briefs, which look very much like ordinary underwear. The outer layers of the garment are waterproof, and some brands feature a cloth-like non-woven layer on the outside for a more “normal” look and feel.
Some disposable diapers are designed to incorporate the use of a special absorbent pad, which can be removed and changed as necessary.
Advantages of disposables
One of the major advantages of disposables is that they’re easy to find almost everywhere. Major brands are carried by most grocery and discount store chains, and many chains also offer a “store brand” disposable. Disposables are also generally very affordable, and they give many people an opportunity to try using an incontinence product with a minimum of expense.
The convenience factor is a huge advantage for many people. Being able to simply dispose of a wet garment makes changing when not at home much easier, and this has literally given many people freedom to work, to travel, and to simply enjoy everyday activities.
Disposables are generally designed to provide protection for light to medium incontinence, and they are not designed for extended wear. However for some the use of an additional absorbent pad or liner inside the disposable works well; not only does the additional material help prevent leakage, the pad can be removed and changed without changing the entire garment.
Wearing incontinence pants over disposables can greatly diminish the possibility of leaks.
Disadvantages of disposables
For some people, comfort is an issue. Disposables may be bulky, and the absorbent disposable interior can be abrasive and irritating to the skin, especially when wet. The interior material also has a tendency to pull away from the waterproof outer layer and clump in the crotch area, especially when wet or during extended wear. This is not only uncomfortable, it greatly diminishes the level of leak protection because it leaves little or no padding in the front or back.
Putting on disposables that are fastened with tape can be very difficult or even impossible for people with limited mobility. Tapes may also fail, which results in a leaky, ill-fitting garment.
Pull-up protective disposable underwear solves those problems, but they are generally thinner than standard disposables and may not provide enough leak protection even when an additional liner product is used, especially if frequent changing is impossible.
