If you’re looking to enjoy a day of swimming or water sports but are on your menstrual cycle, you don’t have to let that ruin your plans. All you have to do is reach for the best period swimwear for teens, providing protection and comfort, so you won’t have to worry about leaks or seeps.
Most period swimsuits look and feel the same as traditional bathing suits, however, the major difference is that the styles are designed to be leak-proof, featuring built-in liners that work to absorb blood quickly. Popular period underwear brands like Ruby Love and Knix carry period swimsuits in sizes XXS to XXL. They also offer a range of styles, from one-piece suits with adjustable straps to two-piece sets that include high-waisted swim shorts and bikini briefs. However, in terms of their features, it’s far more advanced.
“The top layer of the line is designed to feel super comfortable against the skin, while the second layer is highly-absorbent and rapidly traps about three teaspoons of blood (or the equivalent of three tampons). [Lastly]the [final] layer–or body fabric—is waterproof and keeps the water out and the blood from the middle layer,” said a Knix spokesperson in an interview for Teen Vogue.
While it is safe to swim in period swimwear while experiencing your menstrual cycle, experts suggest adding a menstrual cup or tampon as backup on your heavy flow days. Ultimately, though, it boils down to personal preference. It might even take a few wears to determine the best method for you and your cycle.
So if you’re looking for the best period protection for swimming (we’ve got cute plus-size swimsuit pickstoo!), look no further. We’ve picked out 10 of the best period swimwear styles for teens.
What to Look For in Period Swimwear?
Anyone who is menstruating can benefit from the best period swimwear for teens. However, when you invest in a brand like Knix, which features an ultra-violent protection factor (or UPF), you set yourself up for added benefits.
UPF protection indicates how much UV radiation (both UVB and UVA) a fabric allows to reach your skin. For example, a UPF 50 fabric blocks 98 percent of the sun’s rays and allows two percent (1/50th) to penetrate, reducing your exposure risk significantly.
Furthermore, you want your one-piece swimsuit or period swim bottoms to alleviate the need to use period products and instead hold up a minimum of two tampons worth of blood. In turn, this provides peace of mind and benefits all teens and tweens, whether it’s their first period or when dealing with heavy days.
