Pampers “Dry Max” Diapers Dropped After Thousands of Rash Reports

Procter and Gamble is dropping the “Dry Max” Pampers brand after more than a year of complaints, and lawsuits, from parents who claimed that the diapers caused severe cases of diaper rash. 

The company is revamping its Cruisers and Swaddlers diapers to be softer and more absorbent, P&G officials say, only a little more than a year after it launched its “Dry Max” line, which were supposed to be a thinner, more absorbent material.

Pampers “Dry Max” diapers became mired in controversy when a number of parents began to complain that the diapers were causing their children to suffer severe rashes.

P&G officials indicate that they are making the changes based on the input of parents, but did not say if the changers were related to the reports of rashes.

In March 2010, Proctor & Gamble released new Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers diapers using “Dry Max” technology. The diapers were thinner than previous Pampers and were touted for increased absorption and comfort. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received thousands of reports of Pampers Dry Max diaper rashes.

Many parents said that once they switched to the Dry Max brands, their children developed rashes that would blister and ooze. At that time, Procter and Gamble officials suggested that the controversy was manufactured by a group of mothers who were upset that the company had changed the way it made its diapers.

Parents on social media sites and news websites (including AboutLawsuits.com) flooded comment sections with reports of children developing rashes described as painful, often puss-filled burns or blisters which they say occurred soon after switching to the new Dry Max diapers.

Both U.S. and Canadian government officials reported that they have been unable to find any specific links between the Dry Max diapers and the severe rashes reported by parents. However, the CPSC told that parents who were concerned to stop using that brand of diaper and says it still wants to receive reports of severe diaper rashes.

Several dozen Dry Max Pampers lawsuits have been filed against Proctor & Gamble over the problems. All federal complaints have been consolidated in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati.