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What Are Protective Sheets?
Protective Sheets are used to create a physical barrier between your skin and the wafer in order to allow skin to heal better. This can come in handy if you’ve experienced irritation or skin allergies that have been difficult to manage.
How Protective Sheets Are Usually Sold
These products are usually sold in square sheets, but some brands offer them in rectangles or oval shapes.
You might find these in boxes of 5 or 10 individually sealed sheets, but I’ve also been able to purchase them individually from my local medical supply store.
Because these sheets are quite expensive (over $8 / 4″x4″ sheet), it’s worth checking to see if your insurance covers them before ordering a bunch.
Purchase on Amazon
You can purchase protective sheets on Amazon (affiliate links): USA | CANADA
How to Use Protective Sheets
Because these sheets can be cut to work in several scenarios, instructions will vary, but for the most part, I’ve been advised to use them pretty much like a wafer: Measure a hole, so the stoma fits in the center of the sheet, and apply to skin; then apply your actual wafer on top of the protective sheet.
Coloplast Brava Protective Sheet 4″x4″ sqaure.
Coloplast Brava Protective Sheet with stoma hole cut in it.
Coloplast Brava Protective sheet around the stoma
Coloplast Brava Protective sheet under wafer
Coloplast Brava Protective sheet under wafer and picture framed with medical tape.
This product should be used to correct temporary issues, but if you continue to have ongoing trouble, it’s best to have a stoma nurse assess your situation thoroughly.
While these sheets do have an adhesive on them, many people (including me) find that these sheets aren’t as secure as ostomy wafers, so applying a wafer extender or medical tape may help to keep everything together.
Tips When Using Protective Sheets
- Protective sheets are not designed for extended wear, and should be replaced within within a few days.
- Some ostomates will use sheets over other prep (barrier wipes, barrier rings, stoma powder, etc.). While there is no set rule, “less is often better” is a principal that I use. It may require that you use LESS supplies to correct a skin problem you might have.
Are Protective Sheets Vegan-Friendly?
I have confirmed at least one brand that carries animal-free protective sheets. You view can them, as well as others, listed on my vegan/non-vegan product page found HERE.
Additional Info
There are two brands of sheets that I’ve used: Coloplast Brava Protective Sheets and ConvaTec Duoderm Extra Thin Sheets.
The Duoderm, while not advertised as an ostomy protective sheet, can be used as such for small areas (like around the stoma ) and the Brava Sheets can be used under my whole wafer.
They are both slightly different, so speak to your stoma nurse for guidance on which one to choose.
Convatec Duoderm Extra Thin custom cut to fit around my stoma. The blue you see is from the marker I used to trace the hole.
Convatec Duoderm Extra Thin cut out and around stoma.
Hi Bob, Welcome to the forum. A few questions, Are you measuring and getting a good fit around the stoma with the wafer. Also is your stoma at skin level or does it protrude. If it’s level a convex wafer May be useful.And do you have access to a stoma nurse. Getting a routine and the right product can be tricky, but when sorted you will see results and yer confidence will grow.🤗
Sorry for late reply-
Yes, good fit- The ostomy protrudes about 1 1/2 inch or so- The hollister barrier just does not stick well or absorb effluent like the brava barrier seal does-
I was able to get 4 days out of one brava sheet- and i probably could have gone another day but it was time i think to change- then i put another sheet on, and put my pouch over it like usual- tried to go three days- but after the 2’nd night, i woke up in morning and had a huge mess- The seal between the hollister barrier and the brava barrier seal did not stick Well enough to stop the contents from going between the two barriers, and who knows how long it was leaking- but it broke out during the 2’nd night at some point.
The brava barrier sheet is really sticky on one side- the side that goes against the skin- but the other side is almost waxy feeling- not sure how the hollister barrier is supposed to stick well to that side? But the first several times i used the brava barrier, the two stuck really well- the time it didn’t- it was disastrous and i dont know why it didn’t stick well-
Been using one piece hollister drainable pouches with no other things except stomahesive paste to keep the skin right aroudn the ostomy clear from damage=- I can only get 1 day before it starts to leak under the seal too much to push for antoehr day’s wear- I tried coloplast barrier sheet and wow!- gettign much better adhesion, and i coukld have pushed for 2 days but got nervous as I’m new to them- gonna try to go 2 days startign tomorrow- I think it will work ok- woudl be nice to get at least 2 days- the sheet swells up/melts as liquid contacts it, whereas before the output from ostomy woudl work under the holister seal and woudl eat away the stomahesive past after a day- Be aware though that it was quite hard to get the brava sheet off- so have soemthign like alcohol or a barrier spray remover to work it off the skin- I got it off without such stuff, but it was hard to do-
would this sheet allow a wound under the bagging system heal if the sheet is applied between the wound and the bag?
Hi John,
That is one of the use cases for this type of product.
However, I find that it will not work well with large or weeping wounds, since the adhesive won’t still well under those circumstances.
Hi Eric,
Thanks a lot for your informative posts..they are really helpful for new ostomates. My mom has undergone illeostomy recently and is having frequent leaking issues leading to skin excoriation. We were thinking of using duoderm under the wafer/ baseplate to protect/ heal the skin. But you have mentioned that it’s better for using around the stoma. Any issues if it’s used under the wafer like the Brava protective sheet?
Hi Jainy John,
Duoderm could work as a full protective sheet, but practical speaking, I’d only consider it if they were covered by insurance or provided free. Over here they’d be way too expensive to use as a full protective sheet.
Good luck!