Why Does This Even Happen!

"During your period, your groin area is moist. The accumulation of sweat and bacteria as well as the rubbing of the groin area with the sanitary napkin can cause an inflammation or a fungal and bacterial infection," says Dermatologist Dr. Satish Udare.

Could It Be My Pad?

Yes, it could.

Gynaecologist Dr. Kiran Coelho explains how pads like your "ultra thins" can cause a rash. "The outer sheet of ultra thin sanitary napkin have some chemicals on them. If you have sensitive skin, your skin, with all the sweat and blood, can react with the chemicals on the pad. This can cause the painful rash."

But it isn't only ultra thins that cause rashes; normal pads can cause rashes as well. If you use cloth, it won't ever be dry. Also reusing cloth is not hygienic.

 How Often Should You Change Them?

Dr. Coelho says that all pads, whether normal ones, or the ultras, should be changed after every three hours.

"Sometimes you change the pad only in the night, if you haven't had much bleeding. But the bacteria in the vaginal area, when reacting with sweat, can cause infections. This happens because ventilation is reduced when you are wearing a pad and the friction between the pad and skin irritates the gentle skin," she says.

You may think if you wear a tampon, you do not have to worry about friction as the tampons go inside the vagina. But Dr. Coelho says that tampons, if not changed every three hours, can also cause rashes and Toxic Shock Syndrome.

Also Read: Tampons Can Cause Toxic Shock Syndrome

The friction between the tampon and vaginal canal can cause rashes in the vaginal canal.