Photo: Scott Olson / Getty Images News / Getty Images
A woman passed through a metal detector to go on a flight and was flagged at her groin during the security scan. She had no piercings, medical devices, or anything in her pockets, so the only thing it could possibly be is her sweaty crotch?!
When the lady posted her experience on Reddit, she quickly found out that other travelers had similar stories, saying that “swamp crotch,” was the reason.
Apparently , TSA’s detector doesn’t just detect metal, but responds to anything that disrupts the signal, which includes moisture. Sweat can trigger an alert because of how the waves bounce off water, and that isn’t the only thing that can set the detector off. Feminine products, snug clothing, or even a person’s body shape can trip the scanner, so people with a fuller figure can get flagged.
Other countries have decided it’s not worth the hassle, and have moved away from this type of scanner, but the U.S. hasn’t followed. So, for now, if your thighs are sticking together when you reach security, you may want some powder or moisture-wicking underwear to not raise alarms.