McKesson · Incontinence Pads & Protection
Sure Care Bladder Control Pads
Avoid until the brand discloses waterproof treatment chemistry. Bladder pads often use PFAS-laden backings.
Sure Care doesn't reveal what chemical treatment waterproofs its bladder control pads. Waterproof textiles in incontinence products routinely depend on PFAS-based coatings to block leakage, and without public material details or testing, you can't rule out the risk.
The better-graded swap
Protection Plus
Protection Plus Classic Adult Underwear,Small Bag of 22
70/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Good.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Absorbent core with waterproof backing (composition not fully disclosed)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Sure Care Bladder Control Pads is made of, ingredients and materials
Sure Care Bladder Control Pads contain an absorbent core (typically wood pulp, super-absorbent polymer, and cellulose) paired with a waterproof backing layer. The backing composition is not publicly disclosed by McKesson on packaging or their website. Waterproof backings in incontinence products commonly use Teflon-type coating (Teflon), polyethylene, or PFAS-coated films to prevent leakage; since McKesson does not specify which, the backing chemistry remains a blind spot for safety assessment.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Undisclosed waterproof layer in incontinence pads frequently relies on fluorochemical coatings. McKesson's silence on chemistry and lack of PFAS-free certification makes PFAS exposure a plausible concern; see separate PFAS grade (25/100).
Source, ATSDR ↗Adhesive and tackifier allergens
Pads use skin-contact adhesives to stay in place; composition is not disclosed. Acrylate-based adhesives and tackifying resins can cause contact dermatitis or sensitization in susceptible users, particularly with prolonged wear or sensitive skin.
Super-absorbent polymer (SAP) microparticles
Sodium polyacrylate or similar SAP in the core can shed fine particles into urine or onto skin. Ingestion or inhalation risk is low for a worn pad, but prolonged skin contact with shed particles or wet pad material may cause minor irritation.
Bacterial growth and odor compounds
Incontinence pads create a warm, moist microenvironment that promotes bacterial colonization and volatile organic compounds (ammonia, amines). Poor ventilation or infrequent changes increase urinary tract infection risk and dermatitis, though this is use-dependent rather than product-defect.
Coating degradation and leakate exposure
Over time, waterproof backing may crack, delaminate, or lose integrity, especially if stored in heat or friction. Degradation can expose the absorbent core polymer directly to skin, increasing sensitization or irritant contact risk.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
McKesson is a major healthcare distributor and manufacturer with no published commitment to PFAS phase-out or material transparency for incontinence products. The company has not responded to public inquiries about fluorochemical use in pad backings, nor does it provide third-party certification (such as OEKO-TEX or similar) for chemical restrictions. This silence, combined with industry-wide prevalence of PFAS in waterproof medical textiles, suggests undisclosed fluorochemical exposure is likely.
How it compares in its category
Sure Care occupies the mass-market, price-accessible segment of incontinence pads. Many competing brands (Depend, Tena, Poise) similarly do not disclose waterproof backing chemistry, making this product typical rather than outlying in terms of transparency. Premium or eco-certified alternatives exist but are rarer and costlier; most drugstore options share the same PFAS opacity as Sure Care.
If you buy it
Store pads in a cool, dry place away from direct heat or sunlight, which can degrade polymer coatings over time. Do not wash or heat-treat pads; the backing is designed for single use. Replace pads immediately after use to minimize skin contact with moisture and reduce bacterial overgrowth risk. If skin irritation, rash, or odor develops, discontinue and consult a healthcare provider; this may indicate sensitivity to undisclosed adhesives or polymer additives rather than the pad itself.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- McKesson has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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More incontinence pads & protection grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.