Q. What is superabsorbent material?

Superabsorbent material is widely-used in personal care products to absorb fluids. It comes in the form of large particles, about the size of table salt, that are enclosed in the interior of the product, and helps to keep skin healthy and consumers comfortable. Superabsorbent material can absorb 100 times its weight in water.

Q. What types of products contain superabsorbent material?

Superabsorbent material is used industry-wide in diapers, training pants, adult incontinence products and external feminine hygiene products. It is estimated that nearly nine out of 10 babies in the U.S. use disposable diapers. In addition, millions more use adult incontinence and external feminine hygiene products containing superabsorbent material.

Q. How long has superabsorbent material been used in personal care products?

Personal care products containing superabsorbent material have been used on a daily basis by tens of millions of consumers worldwide for over 15 years.

Q. Has this material been tested and confirmed safe for consumer use?

Absolutely. Superabsorbent material is safe for consumer use. It has been extensively tested and proven safe time and again by top doctors and scientists. In fact, there are over 450 studies that confirm the safety of superabsorbent material in personal care products.

Q. How does superabsorbent material work?

Superabsorbent material, like starch, is made from molecules that are banded together with millions of identical units. It forms an absorbent gel when in contact with moisture, keeping skin dry and healthy.

Q. What are the benefits of using superabsorbent material in diapers and other personal care products?

Superabsorbent material offers numerous health and safety, convenience and cost advantages. This material is used to lock-in wetness and keep it away from the skin, which minimizes rash and irritation and provides consumers with comfort, convenience and peace of mind.

Q. What is the medical community saying about the use of superabsorbent material in personal care products?

Studies have appeared in medical journals such as The Journal of the American Medical Association and The Journal of Pediatric Health Care concluding that the use of personal care products containing superabsorbent material helps reduce the incidence and severity of diaper rash. These studies also found that superabsorbent material helps prevent infection and diarrheal disease, can minimize the potential for transmission of gastrointestinal tract disease and improve overall skin health. From pediatric physicians to nurses, the medical community agrees that keeping skin dry helps maintain healthy skin.

Q. Are personal care products containing superabsorbent material safe for the environment?

Yes. The use of superabsorbent material has enabled manufacturers of personal care products to make thinner products that require less packaging, thereby reducing solid waste. Baby diapers, training pants and adult incontinence products represent one to two percent of municipal solid waste in the United States.
Additionally, researchers have confirmed that superabsorbent material poses no risk to soil, groundwater, organisms or plant life and can be safely incinerated, serving as a fuel source without any adverse effect on boiler operations or stack emissions.