Airports can be stressful at the best of times. From endless lines at the check-in queue to accidentally leaving a liquid in your hand luggage, the pre-travel experience isn’t the most relaxing.
Add in excessive heat, and it becomes the stuff of nightmares. Especially if you get stopped at security for ‘swamp crotch.’ Hear us out.
Earlier this month, a US traveller shared a bizarre experience on Reddit. She revealed that, while going through security at her local airport, the security scanners flagged her crotch. Then it happened again, at her final destination.
She explained: ‘I’m a midsized adult woman and was wearing bike shorts and normal underwear. I don’t have any medical devices or piercings, but I do have a uterine fibroid.’ These are benign (noncancerous) growths that develop in or around the uterus.
She noted that she had nothing in her pockets and couldn’t figure out why the alarms went off.
Immediately after posting the query, many suggested the problem could be sweat. ‘Were you sweating?’ one person asked, as another recalled a similar experience: ‘Last time I flew out of my home airport of Tampa, I got searched too, the guard said something unnerving like “swamp rot” or “swamp crotch” or something similarly embarrassing.’
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While the original poster said the pat down didn’t bother her — she was just curious as to why the scanners flagged multiple times in the same spot — ‘swamp crotch’ has now become a talking point.
So, what exactly is it, what causes scanners to flag the area, and how can you avoid it?
What is ‘swamp crotch’?
Metro got the lowdown from Dr Claire Merrifield, GP and medical director at Selph.
‘Swamp crotch is a term to describe excessive sweating in the groin area. It tends to be very common in the summer months when temperatures are higher,’ she explained.
As for what causes it, Dr Merrifield said heat, humidity, tight clothing, or physical activity are the main contenders.
If left untreated, it can also pose potential health risks from skin irritation, fungal infections, and bacterial infections.
Why can ‘swamp crotch’ set of airport scanners?
Transportation Security Administration Shawna Malvini Redden told Reader’s Digest that sweat is the ‘weirdest thing’ that sets off airport scanners.
Apparently, it’s to do with the millimetre wave technology, and how these waves bounce off water.
On Reddit, others offered their two cents. One person revealed that the scanners don’t scan the inside of your body, which is why they won’t pick up medical metal or implanted devices like pacemakers or insulin pumps.
They said: ‘The waves pass through clothing and reflect off skin. They also reflect off any non-clothing items. By measuring the returns, the machine is able to tell the difference between skin and non-skin reflections. That’s all it basically does – it alarms on any non-skin reflections.’
The user then added that there are a few ‘innocuous’ things that can cause said non-skin reflections. These include heavy clothing, jewellery, external feminine hygiene products, folds of flesh, and of course, heavy sweat.
And, now that summer is here, the latter will likely be more common.
Ultimately, ‘swamp crotch’ is the tongue-in-cheek nickname for an uncomfortable (and in this case) perhaps potentially degrading experience.
The good news is that small changes to your daily routine can make a big difference. Staying dry, choosing the right clothing, skipping underwear at night, and using products safely and externally can help you feel fresh, confident, and healthy all summer long.
Not just when you’re at the airport.
How to avoid ‘swamp crotch’
Whether you’re heading to the airport or looking for ways to cool down in this heatwave, Dr Merrifield shared her top tips for avoiding ‘swamp crotch.’
‘Some things you can do to prevent it include wearing breathable natural fabrics like cotton or silk as undergarments,’ the doctor noted. There are certain specialised sports wear that have moisture-wicking properties and vents/mesh which can help keep you cool.
Additionally, you can also use anti-chafing powders or sprays, which will help to reduce skin friction and moisture buildup.
Finally, Dr Merrifield said that if you are prone to sweating in these areas a lot, try washing the armpit and groin area at least twice a day with a fragrance-free moisturiser or just water and dry thoroughly.
‘Change and wash your clothes regularly, and use antiperspirants containing aluminium to reduce excessive sweating,’ the GP concluded.
