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Panty liner

To prevent garment staining as a result of occasional non-menstrual vaginal discharges, it is common practice to use a thin, disposable absorbent product known in the trade as "panty liner" which is fastened to the undergarment of the wearer to capture and retain the body exudate. Typically, a panty liner is constructed in the same fashion as a sanitary napkin. Flexibility is necessary so that the panty liner conforms to the perineal configuration, particularly as the wearer moves. Flexibility is important particularly at the peripheral edges because of the possibility of chafing which may result from the roughened edges contacting the tender skin in the perineal area. More specifically, it has a thin absorbent core confined into an envelope including a top, liquid-permeable layer and a bottom, liquid-impervious layer. The absorption body is usually made from cellulose pulp. It can be supplied in the form of rolls, bales or sheets which are dry defibrated and transferred in fluffed form to a pulp mat, occasionally with the mixing-in of so-called super-absorbent, which are polymers with the ability to absorb many times their own weight of water or body fluid. The purpose of the top layer is an absorbent product of the above type is to lead the liquid into the product, prevent rewetting and in this manner form a dry surface against the skin of the user. A dry surface on the part of the product which lies against the skin of the user is important for comfort and to prevent skin irritation. The bottom layer is manufactured in a liquid impermeable material. This is to prevent the leakage of liquid from the underside of the absorbent product. The bottom layer can be made of all types of material which fulfill the criterium of liquid impermeability and which have sufficient flexibility for this purpose.

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