What it is
A cellulose fibre made by dissolving wood pulp in a solvent (traditionally viscose) or a closed-loop solvent (lyocell/Tencel) and re-spinning it into thread.
Highly absorbent and cheap; the dominant fibre in mainstream tampons and pads for decades.
Modern manufacturing has largely eliminated the dioxin residues that plagued early rayon, but the chemistry chain remains longer than that of raw cotton.
Why it matters
The historical connection to dioxin — a byproduct of chlorine bleaching of wood pulp — is why chlorine-free (TCF) processing matters so much in this category.
Rayon absorbs more per gram than cotton, which is why conventional tampons blend the two. That absorbency is also linked in older literature to a higher TSS risk profile — a reason usage guidance (change every four to eight hours) exists.
For readers who prefer to shorten the list of processing unknowns, 100% organic cotton is a defensible upgrade even where modern rayon is well characterised.
Common uses
- Absorbent core of most mainstream tampons
- Absorbent layer of many disposable pads
- Baby wipes and mainstream personal-care textiles
Safety considerations
- Modern rayon in mainstream tampons is considered safe by regulators and tests below detection limits for dioxin.
- Follow use guidance regardless of fibre — change every four to eight hours, use the lowest absorbency that suits your flow.
- If you have a history of skin sensitivity, an all-cotton alternative simplifies the ingredient list.
Where you'll encounter this
- Bathroom — conventional tampons, mainstream pads
- Nursery — mainstream disposable wipes
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Frequently asked questions
Is rayon unsafe in tampons?
Modern rayon is not, on current evidence, unsafe. The reason many households prefer 100% cotton is that it removes a whole processing chain — and its associated unknowns — from the picture, not because rayon has been shown to be dangerous.
What is the difference between rayon, viscose, and lyocell?
Rayon and viscose are essentially synonyms for the traditional solvent-spinning process. Lyocell (Tencel) uses a closed-loop solvent recovery process with a much smaller environmental footprint. All three are cellulose fibres.
Is there a link between rayon and TSS?
Older literature identified higher-absorbency rayon-blend tampons as more strongly associated with TSS than lower-absorbency cotton products. Modern products carry firm usage guidance — change every four to eight hours and use the lowest absorbency that suits your flow — for this reason.
Editorial references
- FDA — Tampons and asbestos, dioxin & toxic shock syndrome (TSS)
- CIRS — Regulation of regenerated cellulose fibres in the EU
Last updated 2026-07-20.