We Put Our Pads Through a Clinical Study. Here's What 30 Women Found.

Most sanitary pad brands tell you their products are gentle, breathable, and hypoallergenic. Far fewer put that claim in front of a dermatologist and let independent testing decide whether it's actually true. We did — and given the growing scrutiny South African consumers are (rightly) placing on what's in their sanitary products, we think the results are worth sharing openly.

Why We Did This

Skin irritation from sanitary products isn't a fringe complaint — it's one of the most common issues women report with pads and liners, and it's often just accepted as "part of using pads" rather than something a product should be tested against. With regulatory attention on the sanitary care category increasing locally, following the National Consumer Commission's investigation into several South African brands after a University of the Free State study on the topic, we think brands should be able to back up their comfort and safety claims with real clinical evidence, not just packaging copy.

So we did exactly that.

The Study, in Plain Terms

The study was conducted at Vilnius University Hospital's Centre of Dermatovenereology, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Matilda Bylaite. Thirty women used Gentle Day pads and liners over a three-month period, with researchers assessing skin reactions, comfort, absorbency, and odor control directly — and comparing the experience to the conventional products participants had used before.

This matters because it's a genuine before-and-after comparison within the same group of women, not a one-off snapshot or a self-reported survey.

What the Study Found

• 81% of participants had experienced irritation from conventional pads and liners before the study. That's a striking baseline — it suggests skin irritation from sanitary products is closer to the norm than the exception for a lot of women.
• 0% reported irritation, rash, sensitization, itching, or redness while using Gentle Day pads and liners over the three-month period.
• 96% experienced no side leakage, and 100% reported no unpleasant odor while using the products.
• 100% found the pads and liners more comfortable than other brands, and rated them as maintaining shape well through the day.

The researchers' own conclusion was straightforward: Gentle Day pads and liners are hypoallergenic, suitable for sensitive skin, and performed well against the products participants had used previously.

Why the Source of a Claim Matters

There's a meaningful difference between a brand saying "our pads are gentle" and an independent dermatology centre saying "in a controlled study, these pads caused no irritation in any participant." The first is marketing. The second is data, from a named institution and a named clinician, that can be checked and stands behind the product regardless of what's written on the packaging.

That distinction matters more right now than it has in years. As scrutiny of sanitary product safety increases across South Africa, the brands worth trusting are the ones that can point to independent, verifiable testing — not just the ones with the most reassuring packaging language.

What This Sits Alongside

The clinical study isn't a standalone claim — it sits within a broader certification portfolio we've built over nearly two decades, including Oeko-Tex Standard 100 (testing for harmful chemicals), Made for Health® certification, vegan/no-animal-testing approval, and materials free of chlorine, dyes, added fragrances, and heavy metals. Individually, each certification covers a specific piece of what "safe" actually means; together, they're meant to give a fuller picture than any single claim can.

A Note on What This Study Doesn't Claim

It's worth being precise here, because we'd rather be accurate than oversell a good result: this study assessed comfort, skin tolerance, and product performance — it wasn't designed to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any gynaecological condition or infection, and Gentle Day pads and liners aren't classified as medical devices. If you're dealing with recurring irritation, infections, or pain, that's a conversation for a doctor, not a pad — but a pad that doesn't add to the problem while you sort that out is exactly what this study set out to verify.

Why This Should Matter to You

If 81% of women in a clinical setting had experienced irritation from conventional sanitary products before switching, it's reasonable to assume a lot of that discomfort has simply been normalised rather than solved. Choosing sanitary products backed by real, published testing — rather than adjectives on a pack — is a small decision with a fairly direct payoff over years of monthly use.

Gentle Day pads and liners are available at Checkers, SPAR, Wellness Warehouse, Faithful to Nature, and pharmacies nationwide.