The 9 Most Common Incontinence Mistakes
Many people with incontinence make common mistakes when it comes time to things like choosing products and seeking treatment. Don't worry, we're here to help.
Just like with any health condition, there's a lot of myths and misinformation floating around about incontinence.
We're here to help you sort through all that and find what really works for you or your loved one on this journey.
So, we've put together a list of the 9 most common mistakes people make with incontinence. It's all about helping you avoid these pitfalls and make your day-to-day life as comfortable and smooth as possible!
1. Choosing the most expensive products
We often think that higher prices mean better quality, but that's not always the case!
Most of the good quality continence products out there are pretty similar in how much they can absorb and how well they work. Since buying these products can get pricey, why not look for a brand that does the job just as well but at a lower cost? You could save a bunch in the long run!
So, definitely take some time to shop around and find brands that suit your needs and your wallet.
Here at Invizi, we're all about offering you competitive, affordable prices on our European-made, top-notch incontinence products like pants, pads and slips.
2. Thinking menstrual pads work for incontinence
This is a big misconception!
Menstrual or sanitary pads aren't really up to the task when it comes to bladder leaks. Menstrual pads are designed to absorb blood, which is thicker than urine, so they need a different kind of absorbency. Plus, they're usually smaller and not cut out for handling a lot of urine at once.
It's much better to go with pads made specifically for incontinence to avoid any saggy, soggy or uncomfy bits. Check ours out here.
3. Putting a pad inside a pull-up for 'better absorbency'
All incontinence pads (unless it’s a booster pad) are designed to keep urine from soaking through to the other side.
If you're hoping a smaller pad will act like a booster pad, you might be in for a surprise. If there's any overflow, the smaller pad has to soak it up first, and then the excess has to find its way around that pad to reach the larger one outside. This can lead to leaks and be pretty wasteful, since you might end up wearing two products when one with better absorbency would do the trick.
Need a hand figuring out which absorbency level is right for you? Give our friendly team a call at (+33) 0801 27 20 02 or try our online Invizi Fit quiz.
4. Wearing an incontinence product for too long
A lot of people think they need to use their incontinence products to the max, leaving them on too long between changes. But that's definitely not a good idea!
Even though most disposable products now have absorbent gel for higher absorbency (this gel absorbs and swells when it gets wet) and are made to keep moisture away from the skin, wearing pads, pull-ups, or slips for too long can still lead to skin irritation and problems like incontinence-associated dermatitis.
5. Automatically buying the highest absorbency products
It's easy to think that picking the highest absorbency product will give you the best protection against leaks, but that's not always the case!
Here's why bigger isn't always better: First, if you go for a more absorbent product, you might fall into the trap of wearing it too long, which can lead to skin and other health issues.
Second, using a super absorbent product can be wasteful and more expensive than you need. It's all about finding the right balance!
6. Not applying pads properly
You'd be surprised how many people accidentally wear their pads inside out, not realising the absorbent side should be against their skin! And sometimes, if the pad isn't positioned just right, it can lead to leaks.
We also recommend folding the pad part of your incontinence aid in half lengthways, then cupping your hands back and forth over the pad to activate the leak guards and to help it fit snugly to the body. Then once it's on, make sure the leak guards are standing up.
It'll help you make sure you're as comfortable and leak-free as possible!
7. Using toilet paper or towels as makeshift incontinence products
Using materials that aren’t made for absorbing urine is pretty much asking for leaks!
That super absorbent gel-like materials in disposable continence products (like the ones we talked about in point 4!) can hold a heap more liquid than its own weight.
It then turns that liquid into a solid gel, so even if you give it a squeeze, nothing spills out. This is why our range of pants, slips and pads are such a game-changer!
8. Cutting up or modifying pads
Some people try to customise larger pads by cutting them down to the size they think they need.
But this usually doesn’t work out too well. The absorbent gel inside the pad is likely to leak out through those cuts, which means you won’t get the absorbency or leak protection you were hoping for.
9. Letting product supply run out
Just like with anything you use every day, running out when you need it most is no fun at all.
For incontinence products, not having them when you need them can really throw off your day. Plus, rushing to the store and finding they don’t have what you need is super stressful.
That’s exactly why we came up with our Never Run Out subscription service! It saves you 10% on your orders and automates your purchases.
We keep track of your supply, so we can send a new batch to your door before you ever run low.
About the Author: Gabriella Del Grande
Having begun her career as a journalist, Gabriella has been weaving words to create engaging and educational content for over a decade. Gabriella loves to write insightful pieces that empower readers to take control of their health and wellbeing so they can live their lives to the fullest. Along with crafting articles, Gabriella has an eye for design, producing and overseeing visual content from short-form Instagram reels and TikToks to long-form brand campaigns and video series.