Private necessities in the personal care aisle

When it comes to life’s more personal necessities, products designed to calm diaper rash and compensate for leaky bladders are among the items some bashful or discreet customers would prefer not to discuss. They’ll be looking for them, though, whether for infants or older people. So it’s a good thing that pharmacy shelves stock a variety of offerings to suit a range of needs.

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Diaper rash

Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Diaper Rash Cream (Johnson & Johnson) is designed to help reduce the severity of diaper rash. Formulated with zinc oxide that both treats and prevents diaper rash, it creates a protective barrier to prevent further irritation. Among its other ingredients, colloidal oatmeal serves as a skin protectant and helps restore skin’s normal pH. It also helps to lock in moisture and prevent dry skin.

Triple Paste Medicated Ointment (Summers Laboratories Inc.) is prescription-strength medicated ointment that soothes raw, irritated skin. Recommended to prevent recurring diaper rash, it is gentle enough for daily use. Ingredients include zinc oxide (12.8%), petrolatum, cornstarch, anhydrous lanolin, stearyl alcohol, beeswax, water, and glycerine. The formula is fragrance-free and hypoallergenic, and contains no preservatives.

Burt's Bees Diaper Rash OintmentBaby Bee Diaper Rash Ointment (Burt’s Bees) is formulated to treat and prevent diaper rash by creating an emollient layer that shields babies from wetness that can irritate their skin. Caregivers are instructed to apply the ointment with each diaper change or as often as needed. Baby Bee’s formula contains zinc oxide (40%) and sweet almond oil. Described as natural, it has no phthalates, parabens, petrolatum, or sodium lauryl sulfate. (Product image courtesy of Burt's Bees)

Avalon Organics Baby Protective Zinc Diaper Balm (Swanson Health Products) treats and prevents diaper rash, prevents chafing, and protects against wetness, with ingredients that are 70% organic, including zinc oxide (21%), sunflower seed oil, safflower seed oil, olive fruit oil, jojoba seed oil, aloe, and chamomilla recutita. The hypoallergenic formula is fragrance-free and contains no synthetic fragrances, sulfates, or parabens.

CeraVe Baby Diaper Rash CreamCeraVe Baby Diaper Rash Cream (Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America) is recommended for general care of baby skin and is also formulated to treat skin that is eczema-prone. According to Valeant, CeraVe is the first brand to offer a full line of skin-care products that contain an exclusive combination of three vital, scientifically identified ceramides to moisturize the skin. Active ingredients include dimethicone and zinc oxide. The cream is recommended for skin that is either normal-to-dry or dry-to-extra-dry. (Product image courtesy of Valeant Pharmaceuticals)

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Bladder leakage

Poise Impressa Bladder Supports Sizing KitPoise Impressa Bladder Supports Sizing Kit (Kimberly Clark Corp.) helps manage stress urinary incontinence. Its bladder supports don’t absorb leaks, the manufacturer states - they prevent them. The product comes in three different sizes, and the sizing kit helps users find the most effective and comfortable internal fit. Each kit contains six bladder supports. (Product image courtesy of Kimberly Clark Corp.)

Tena Serenity Active LinersSCA Hygiene Products offers several TENA brand products designed to address leakage problems of men and women including the following:

TENA Serenity Active Liners Regular. These liners are designed to combat very light leaks resulting from pregnancy or childbirth, prescription drug use, laughter, coughing, or simply aging. The manufacturer says that this product provides better protection for very light leaks than a regular pantiliner would. Thin and discreet, the Active Liners contain a pH-balanced system to help prevent odors and an adhesive strip for security. (Product image courtesy of SCA Hygiene Products)

TENA Women Protective UnderwearTENA Women Protective Underwear Super Plus Absorbency. These pull-on panties are designed to feel like regular underwear while providing total coverage for women with heavy leaks. The product is constructed with a wider fit and core width between legs to allow fluid to move away from the body. Body-hugging fabric helps the panties stay in place and includes advanced odor protection. (Product image courtesy of SCA Hygiene Products)

TENA Men Protective Guards - Level 1. According to SCA, an estimated 3.4 million men experience unexpected leaks. The Level 1 Guard is a secure, ultra-thin, cup-shaped product designed to provide discreet protection. The product features an absorbent core for dryness and leakage protection, adhesive strips for added security, and advanced odor protection.

TENA Men Protective Guards Level 3TENA Men Protective Guards - Level 3. SCA calls this the most absorbent protector in the TENA Men’s category. Suitable for overnight use, this product has two cores and adapts discreetly and comfortably to the male anatomy. As with the other TENA products, this one provides advanced odor protection, adhesive strips for added security, and a cloth-like outer cover for comfort. (Product image courtesy of SCA Hygiene Products)

Attends DermaDry Briefs/DermaDry Stretch Briefs (Attends Healthcare Products, Inc.) are for heavy and severe urinary and/or fecal incontinence in both ambulatory and sedentary users. Soft and flexible stretch panels make for an individualized and comfortable fit, with a breathable fabric for comfort, interior leg cuffs for additional leakage barrier protection, and embossed channeling to direct fluid away from the skin.

Attends Underwear Complete is for heavy and severe incontinence. The product contains a triple-layer core for dryness, breathable fabric for added comfort, and interior leg cuffs for extra barrier protection against leakage.