"Polyisoprene condoms": Is Lifestyles deceiving its customers?

[elfs]

The other day, I went shopping for condoms. The store where I usually buy my Avantis was sold out, but the woman behind the counter pointed me to Lifestyles Skyn, which claimed to be made of "polyisoprene," approved by the FDA, and "superior to polypropelyne".

I don't know about the superior argument; I've never had a problem with polypropelyne condoms; I rather like them more than latex. But I decided to give them a try. And my first reaction when using one was that it felt a lot like latex.

That's because latex is polyisoprene. As the Department of Polymer Science at the University of Southern Mississipi puts it, "One of the most well known natural polymers is polyisoprene, or natural rubber."

Several companies have developed purely synthetic forms of polyisoprene, which means that the material made from it lacks many of the allergenic proteins found in latex made from natural rubber sources. It's also possible to make polyisoprene without some of the curatives used in processing natural rubber, so materials made with polyisoprene may be free of other non-latex allergens usually only encountered when using latex products. Some of these companies tout their products as "synthetic latex polyisoprene", whereas others claim it is "non-latex polyisoprene."

None of this is clear on the Lifestyles packaging and branding. Until Lifestyles clarifies what it means by "non-latex polyisoprene," I consider the packaging deceptive, defective by design, and will not be buying any more. This is no different than juice companies removing "sugar" from the list of ingredients and replacing it with "cane juice concentrate."

Comments

[blaisepascal]

You've found "cane juice concentrate"? I've usually had to settle at snickering at "evaporated cane juice".

I wasn't aware latex was polyisoprene.

[dr-memory.livejournal.com]

Based on my experiences with them (including all-too-nearly becoming a daddy at age 18), it's debatable whether Lifestyles' products satisfy the criteria for being called condoms.

[darrelx.livejournal.com]

Lifestyles condom 12-packs are frequently available at the So.Cal. "Nothing over 99-cent" chain of discount markets.

Somehow, buying condoms that are 12 for $0.99 doesn't seem very smart.

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

Doubleplusuncool. It does feel somewhat different than "natural" latex.... but that kind of doublespeak.... grrr. I'm glad for the info; it doesn't affect any of my current plans, but were things different, it could have.... and turning a playmate into an unwitting guinea pig for Lifestyles, Inc, is VERY not cool. GRR.

Re-posting, and this time hopefully I'll remember to attribute...

[elfs.livejournal.com]

f you try to go directly to the Wikipedia page for Polyisoprene (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyisoprene), you get: Natural rubber (Redirected from Polyisoprene)

So busted.

[resonant.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the warning. I have a friend with serious latex allergies, and he does not need to have a bleeding rash in a certain place.

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you, I've been having my latex allergies back on these condoms and was wondering why. LD

it really depends on why you are objecting to latex...

[(Anonymous)]

there are broadly two kinds of latex allergy

the first, and less common type, is a type I hypersensitivity. This is the kind where you get itchy hives, and can get anaphylaxis. ie. drop your blood pressure, get asthma-like constriction of your airways, even die.
this reaction is a reaction to the proteins from the plant latex is derived from. Synthetic polyisoprene has never beeen near any of these plants and their proteins - although it is a polymer made up of the same monomers as natural rubber latex. Essentially, it's latex without the proteins. So no type I hypersensitivity.

the second type (s) are delayed hypersensitivity (type IV) and various forms of dermatitis. These can be due to other constituents of latex, the chemicals involved in making them, or even wearing a condom at all (might find the same problem with other sorts of condoms). So these forms of hypersensitivity are possible - I suspect no-one really knows what the cross reactivity rate is here.

So the question is not "is polyisoprene = latex" but rather "why are you keen to avoid latex?". Personally, I'm a doctor who after many years of wearing latex gloves has developed a type I hypersensitivity. So nitrile gloves at work, and neoprene or polyisoprene condoms for sex, work for me. Your mileage may vary...

Re: it really depends on why you are objecting to latex...

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you for that clarification. I have had the 2nd kind of reaction in the past and had suffered a bleeding reaction more recently - from an ultra sensitive latex. I was wondering if the Skyh condom prevents the transfer pf STD's? Does the new natural rubber need more research or has it been tested already in that regard?

"Polyisoprene condoms": Is Lifestyles deceiving its customers?

[(Anonymous)]

Just an FYI, polyisoprene can also be reproduced from synthetic materials. Lifestyles is correct in claiming that their "Skyn" product is non-latex. Medical supply companies have offered polyisoprene gloves for years--
http://www.cardinalhealth.com/mps/brands/gloves/selection/choices_mothernature.pdf

mileage

[(Anonymous)]

further reading may be required on the subject. i aquired a mild reaction to latex thru wearing latex gloves while tattooing. itchy hands was about it, and it came over time. have been using nitrile gloves for some time, past 4 years. 10% of the n amerian pop. has a mild to severe reaction to latex. if its that big of an issue i would suggest using a nitrile condom. as the topic would suggest that lifestyle's "SKYN" condoms packaging might be misleading, if it doesnt work for you dont use them. everyones different and if you are in the 10% mentioned earlier find a safer alternative for yourself.
further reading into SYNTHETIC POLYISPRENE will lead you into finding that its been around for quite some time due to rising costs in natural rubber. and has recently been able to have been used in the manufacturing of condoms
yee ha
this might be a lesson more in making it past the first google search page than what condom not to wear
and if ya know your that allergic to latex wear nitrile or use lambskin, or what the hell wrap some plastic wrap up on that and secure it w a twist tie or a rubber band ( which, for the most part, have been made from synthetic POLYISOPRENE snce the early 90's)
best of luck

Re: mileage

[(Anonymous)]

Only for all to understand!!!
The PI condoms which Lifestyles make are Rubber or Latexfree!!!
This is a synthetic product!!!
And a manufacture make this not for the price of Latex!
The Standardcosts for a PI Condom are much higher then a normale natural rubber condom!!!And it is much more difficult then normal latex production!

So if you have a Type 1 or higher allergy you can use this condoms!
If you have then still a allergy then is latex or PI not the reason for your reaction!There is also a possibility that you have a powder or lubricant allergy!

Re: mileage

[elfs.livejournal.com]

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[(Anonymous)]

The major problem here is a misunderstanding of a few organic chemistry concepts. Natural rubber latex is just that, a polymer that is found in nature. A polymer is made up of many small sub-units (monomers) linked together to create a long chain. By studying the monomers found within the polymer structure of natural rubber (and other elastomers), we have developed methods of 'copying nature', if you will. It starts with chemical synthesis of the monomers, and is followed by polymerization (in which bonds are created in a chain-like fashion, one-by-one linking together the monomers). BANG! Now you have a compound that looks just like natural rubber latex... but IS it? No. The semantics issue comes up because we name compounds according to their chemical structures. Synthetic polyisoprene rubber, indeed, mimics the structure of natural rubber latex which is also comprised of isoprene chains (a.k.a.- polyisoprene). However, it is not the same. I know, it sounds quite dichotomous even as I type it. Perhaps taking a few organic chemistry courses would help your understanding (unless of course this post just bored you half to death).

[(Anonymous)]

I have used latex condoms for years and just recently I i started developing an delayed allergic reaction to the latex. I switched to the Skyn condoms and it was the same thing! does this mean i am allergic to all condoms or just latex and the polyisoprene condoms. the reaction was so bad i am afraid to try any other condoms.....

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