Unicharm Launches 'Lifree All-Night Comfort Dry Pad Skin Condition Comfort Night' with Proprietary Technology to Address Leakage Concerns in Overnight Care Amid Staff Shortages

Unicharm Corporation (President and CEO: Gokkyu Takahara) announces the nationwide launch of 'Lifree All-Night Comfort Dry Pad Skin Condition Comfort Night' in mid-June 2026, as a professional-use product for hospitals and care facilities. This new product, launched under 'Lifree'—Japan's No.1 adult diaper brand in care facilities for 14 consecutive years (2011–2024)—is designed to support caregiving environments facing critical staffing shortages.

※1 Structure where a low-friction sheet and cover sheet are placed on the skin side of the rear part of the product, allowing the cover sheet to slide over the low-friction sheet, following body movement and reducing displacement force.

※2 No.1 nationwide market share in the adult diaper category from 2011 to 2024.

Source: National Brand Ranking Survey (Volume) of Special Nursing Homes, Elderly Health Service Facilities, and Hospitals with Long-Term Care Beds, conducted by Hanbai Shoukin Kenkyusho Co., Ltd.

'Lifree All-Night Comfort Dry Pad Skin Condition Comfort Night'

Background of Launch

Unicharm has previously launched 'Lifree All-Night Comfort Dry Pad Skin Condition,' a product developed with proprietary technology※1 focused on skin gentleness, which has received high praise from many caregiving sites for reducing operational burdens. However, staffing shortages in caregiving facilities have worsened annually since the product’s initial release, with night-shift workloads becoming a major challenge. A survey reveals that over 90% of caregiving facilities require night-shift caregivers to work approximately 16 hours—a 'long working hour' situation—and more than half (65%) operate with only one staff member on night duty※3.

Against this backdrop of severe staffing shortages, the proportion of caregiving facilities continuously using the same pad for over 10 hours is increasing annually. A newly identified issue is 'leakage due to seepage,' where urine leaks from the gathers due to postural changes during prolonged use, leading to actual leakage incidents.

Therefore, Unicharm is launching 'Lifree All-Night Comfort Dry Pad Skin Condition Comfort Night,' building upon the original 'Lifree All-Night Comfort Dry Pad Skin Condition'—retaining its core functions of reducing skin troubles, leakage, and odor during long-term use—while adding proprietary features specifically designed to further enhance leakage prevention for hospitals and care facilities.

※3 Source: Japan Federation of Medical Workers' Unions, '2025 Survey on Night Shift Conditions in Care Facilities.' The rate of single-staff night shifts is calculated per staffing unit.

Product Features

(1) Patented 'Barrier Side Gatherer'※4 reduces seepage leakage and dampness

・A uniquely developed film-laminated structure thoroughly suppresses seepage leakage even in side-lying (lateral recumbent) or seated positions, where body pressure easily compresses the gathers. Users can remain confident even during extended use.

・A moisture-permeable film that allows humidity to escape reduces dampness, supporting a comfortable wearing experience even during long-term use.

※4 Structure where a liquid-impermeable film with controlled moisture permeability is placed on the product backsheet, aligned with the 3D gathers.

(2) Patented 'Leg-Fit Absorber'※5 conforms to users’ body shapes

・Focusing on the unique uneven contours of elderly users’ inner thighs, a new shape has been developed by applying insights from 'origami engineering'※6 using 3D scanning technology. The 'Leg-Fit Absorber' fits snugly into the leg areas prone to gaps, reducing the risk of leakage.

※5 Structure where, in the narrowed part of the absorbent pad, the area from the edge of the absorbent core to the outer edge of the pad near the front leg area is larger on the front side than on the back side.

※6 Method of converting 3D-scanned objects and 3D CAD data into 2D unfolded diagrams.

(3) Antibacterial Sheet※7 suppresses bacterial growth on the pad surface, maintaining cleanliness

・In addition to the antibacterial polymer action inside the absorbent core, the sheet layer in contact with the skin now also features antibacterial functionality. This suppresses the growth of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus on the pad surface, maintaining a hygienic environment even during extended use.

※7 Only suppresses bacterial growth in treated areas; does not inhibit all bacteria.

Pack Size and Price

Launch Date

Available nationwide from mid-June 2026 as a professional-use product for hospitals and care facilities.

Related Information

Lifree Hospital and Facility Website:

https://jp.lifree.com/ja/procare/home.html

FAQ

Q1. How is the newly launched 'Lifree All-Night Comfort Dry Pad Skin Condition Comfort Night' different from the previous pad?

A1. 'Lifree All-Night Comfort Dry Pad Skin Condition Comfort Night' is designed for caregiving sites where staff shortages have led to extended night-time care periods. It adds proprietary leakage-prevention features. Key differences include the patented 'Barrier Side Gatherer' preventing seepage leakage during side-lying, the 'Leg-Fit Absorber' using 3D scanning technology for better body fit, and the antibacterial surface sheet maintaining hygiene during long-term use.

Q2. Why does urine leakage frequently occur during night-shift care, and what are the countermeasures?

A2. In night-shift care settings, staff shortages often lead to extended pad usage intervals. Postural changes cause urine to seep from the gathers, creating leakage risks. This product features a 'Barrier Side Gatherer' with a moisture-permeable film that thoroughly prevents seepage even under body pressure in side-lying positions. Additionally, the new shape, designed to match users’ inner thigh contours, follows body movements and reduces leakage risks.

Q3. Where can 'Comfort Night' be purchased?

A3. This product is a 'professional-use item' for hospitals and care facilities. Distribution will begin in mid-June 2026 at hospitals and care facilities nationwide. For product details and introduction information, please visit Unicharm's official 'Lifree' website for hospitals and facilities (https://jp.lifree.com/ja/procare/home.html).

Contribution to the '17 SDG Goals' through the Launch of 'Lifree All-Night Comfort Dry Pad Skin Condition Comfort Night'

The launch of this product contributes to the following goal among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015.

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Moving forward, we aim to contribute to solving environmental and social issues and achieving the SDGs through our business activities, including product and service provision.