Incontinence Specialist
Gary Hirsch realized the need to design and produce quality incontinence care products during...read more
- Adult Diaper Disposal: Environmental Awareness
- Final Words of Wisdom: Buying Adult Diapers Online
- Buyer Beware: Tips for Buying Incontinence Products Online
- Deciphering Adult Diapers from Protective Underwear from Briefs
- Adult Diapers: Pads, Liners, Inserts & Guards—Oh My!
- Disambiguation Part 1: Adult Diapers vs. Adult Briefs
- Disambiguation Part 2: Deciphering the Incontinence Care Product Aisle
- Let’s Talk Diapers: What Goes Into an Adult Brief?
- How Long Should a Longer-Lasting Adult Diaper Last?
- Managing Incontinence: Your Guide to Personal Comfort
Incontinence
Deciphering Adult Diapers from Protective Underwear from Briefs
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In my last few posts, we’ve touched on the differences in product names and functionality for various incontinence products. In this entry, I want to discuss the product differences between the two most absorbent types of adult incontinence care garments: protective underwear and adult diapers.
Protective Underwear: The New Kid on the Block
These pull-on or pull-up products are highly absorbent core pads with breathable, form-fitting elastic waistbands that conform to the person wearing them. Some models come with standing leg cuffs, a feature that protects against leakage around the legs. Protective underwear is one of the most commonly used products for highly mobile incontinent people who need moderate to heavy protection, as the product line offer four to six hours of constant protection. The form-fitting elastic in the waistband and at the legs ensure a snug fit and discreetness underneath clothing.
Protective underwear is often marketed under the brand names Depend Underwear, Attends Underwear, Secure Plus Protective Underwear and Tena Protective Underwear.
Recently there has been a push for a more absorbent, longer-lasting protective underwear product line, led by the Tranquility All-Through-the-Night Protective Underwear product. I’ve developed the X-Plus Overnight Protective Underwear, which is my answer to the need for longer-lasting, overnight protective underwear, and I am sure that there will be more products developed by others in the coming months.
Adult Diapers and Briefs: The Old Standard
As I’ve mentioned before (and we’ve had a great discussion about this in past posts), the mainstay of the adult incontinence care product market has been the taped, fitted adult diaper—aka the adult brief (you say “to-may-to...” ). No matter what you call them, following are some common features shared by most brands:
- Tape-on construction (versus pull-on)
- Absorbent core and wings
- A visual wetness indicator (perfect for caregiving situations)
- Standing leg cuffs to prevent leakage
- Re-fastenable tape tabs
- Extra polymer in the core for greater absorbency
- Stretch waist bands to ensure maximum comfort.
- Multiple re-wetting absorbency features
Each brand of tape-on adult diapers usually has two or three levels of absorbency. The most common brands on the market are private label pharmacy brands (usually lower absorbency rated) on up to Depend, Attend, Tena, Molicare, Abena and, of course, Secure. “Regular” or “Standard” absorbency usually denotes less absorbency whereas terms like “X-Plus” or “Extra-Absorbency” refer to briefs and diapers that have an increased capacity for absorbency. Stay tuned for my next posts in this corner as we tackle more incontinence aisle issues!
Until then, be well.
Your partner in comfort,
Gary
Learn everything about adult diapers by visiting Everything About Incontinence.
Posted in Everything about Incontinence, Incontinence, Incontinence: Gary Hirsch COMMENTS
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Hello,
I have read this column with interest, and this post touches on something I’ve wondered for a while now:
In my experience, a widely-available fitted diaper such as store-brand, or depends tend to leak after as little as one wetting unless supplemented.
I have not tried pull-up types simply because I cannot imagine how they could fit snugly enough to prevent leaks, compared to a taped diaper where I can absolutely fit them to my exact dimensions, unless you bought them a size too small or supplemented them with plastic pants or something.
Do people really find that pull-up, elastic diapers/briefs/whatever really work better for “mobility” situations than taped/fitted variety without leaking any more?
Or, is the increase in clothlike and pullup style pants a marketable way to move away from the perception that “it’s still a diaper”?
Personally, I have not had any problems with “mobility” or “activity” in even my overnight diapers. But that may simply be my frame. Sure, I might have a little more waddle, but it doesn’t stop me from hanging wallpaper or running cables in my house, for example.
I don’t mean to start some flame war or anything. I am genuinely curious about people’s real experiences with the pull-ups versus taped/fitted, without having to break down and buy-and-try myself.
P.S. Mr. Hirsch, thanks very much for these posts, and for your work on the Secure X-plus. They are a great product and well worth the price. I hope they are selling well for you and will be available for many years to come. I really don’t like wearing anything else, now.
Hello Allen,
Thank you very much for your insightful comment and questions - I appreciate them!
Let me respond to your great questions with this answer: each person’s experience in adult diapers - whether clothlike and elastic in construction or tape-on and plastic-backed - is completely different for each individual. That “standard” response being said, many people tend to wear elastic, form-fitting Protective Underwear for “mobility” reasons based on the fact that they are often more concealable underneath clothing. Some, like yourself, have no problem with mobility issues with the tape-on style (and sometimes bulkier) versions of these adult diapers, and so they choose to wear them for their often-better absorbency.
I am not quite sure if I would go so far as to say that the prevalence of Protective Underwear on the market is merely a way to disguise the product as “not a diaper.” Rather, I would say that these products are great for mobile persons who need moderate-to-heavy protection (4-6 hours at a time) and who want something snug and secure. They are, after all, excellent adult diapers whether they’re labeled “Protective Underwear,” “pull-on adult diapers” or otherwise.
I hope this answers your excellent questions, and I again thank you for your insightful commentary!
Your Partner in Comfort,
Gary
[…] I’ve talked about the difference between adult diapers and protective underwear and how to decipher the incontinence care aisle at your local supermarket or drugstore, but now I want to focus on another interesting marketplace: the virtual one. Over the next few posts, I’ll discuss what the smart incontinence care product shopper should be aware of when shopping online. Let’s start with one of the most important factors…I bet you’re not going to guess what it is! […]
Hi, I had a quick question and would very much appreciate an answer to it (from anyone):
Is there a pull up brief/diaper/ that uses plastic backing like the tape on diapers? I can’t seem to find any anywhere. If you know of a brand, I’d be most obliged. Thanks.
Hi Bob,
Thanks for your comment.
I’ve looked around the diaper industry and I have not found a product that uses similar plastic backing to the plastic tapes. Frankly, plastic doesn’t stretch very well, and that’s why most pull-on style undergarments (i.e. Protective Underwear) are made with stretchy cloth-like non-woven.
I hope this comment helps!
Your Partner in Comfort,
Gary