Are Always pads safe? Women share disturbing claims of chemical burns and irritation

Always pads have been a part of many young girls’ period journeys. From school health classes to TV adverts, the brand was practically shoved in our faces, promising protection, comfort, and confidence.

For decades, girls grew up associating Always with reliability, sometimes starting their period experience with little more than the pads in hand and the brand’s marketing plastered everywhere, in classrooms, on billboards, and in magazines.

But now, women are speaking out, saying that this trusted staple may be causing unexpected pain and harm.

Women globally are raising concerns following numerous viral TikTok videos alleging that Always sanitary pads are causing painful burns and skin irritation.

The clips, which have racked up thousands of views, include complaints of itching, rashes, and what users describe as chemical burns, skin damage caused by contact with irritating substances.

In one widely viewed post, @ratqueen910 described the pads giving her “the worst chemical burns ever” in the groin area.

“When I looked at the burn with the flash on it, it really looked like my skin was gooey! I was scared af,” she told commenters.

She added that she had been using Always pads since sixth grade, like many of us, so she suspects a recent formula change caused the reaction.

Other users reported similar experiences, specifically with Always’s Flexfoam pads. One woman wrote, “The whole area that the pad touched gave me a chemical burn after only a few hours. It was the Flexfoam.”

Another user, Ritah Mia, shared her shock after inspecting a brand-new pad under light, revealing what looked like dirt and debris inside despite the pad appearing clean at first glance.

When I checked mine out, see what I found.” As she held up the pad under the light, she added, "Guys, look at this."

She explains that the pads weren’t lying around somewhere in a dirty garage, but it was a brand new packet. And what’s crazy is, when it meets the eye, it looks clean, but once you’ve put it under a light, you can see all the nastiness.

Sanitary pads are supposed to protect, not harm. Burns, rashes, and irritation in sensitive areas can lead to infections, discomfort, and long-term skin problems, especially while you are literally bleeding.

Women experiencing these reactions may delay treatment or blame themselves, unaware that the product could be the culprit. Because these pads are used daily during menstruation, repeated exposure increases the risk.

Lebo Lion SA, also known as “the voice of marketing,” weighed in on the issue from a marketing perspective.

“You want to make sure that when you are on your menstrual cycle, that everything around you is super clean, especially the products that you are using,” she said.

She added context about Always as a brand, explaining that Procter & Gamble (P&G), which owns Always, has built its reputation on hygiene, innovation, and empowering women.

From its early campaigns encouraging confidence during menstruation to its push for educational initiatives worldwide, Always has long positioned itself as a trusted companion for women’s health, which makes these recent complaints particularly concerning.

“If these videos are true, then they've got a big problem on their hands because they are not really standing to the values of what they say they offer as a corporation that houses these products,” Lebo Lion said.

She added, “I think a lot of companies have struggled to traverse from old-school marketing to the new-school landscape where the customer is the other stakeholder. When they experience a product in a negative way, they are going to share it online.”

The situation is made even more concerning by the company's silence so far. While the brand has consistently produced strong marketing and campaigns promoting confidence and hygiene, these recent complaints suggest a disconnect between the product experience and the promises made in its advertising.

"Independent Media Lifestyle" has reached out to Procter & Gamble for commentary, but no response has been provided at the time of publication.