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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.
I don’t use convex products, but I would think that the protective sheets are too thick and don’t conform enough to have a convex wafer over it. The duoderm is very thin – much like skin – so you can do a lot more with it.
@veganostomyThanks Eric! I couldn’t tell by the picture that it was thicker than the duoderm. ?
My husbands stoma is retracted We are having lots of leakage issues. The waken rings below hiollister does not seem to stay on more than a day. Coloplast does not seem to stick either. Do you think this protective sheet work for him?
Hi Sam sam,
Protective sheets would not be helpful for retracted stomas. Has your husband ever tried convex wafers? They are designed to apply gentle pressure around the stoma, which usually causes the stoma to push out a bit.
I suggest that he speak with a stoma nurse before trying, since there are different depths and hardnesses of convex products, and misusing them can cause pressure sores.
He has been using convex wafers .. But i feel that the eaken ring below and the convex is lot letting the stoma push out as much as it should. And the eaken is not really sticking to his skin also. i can see things seeping in on his skin below , which is why I thought we can give these seals a try.
These protective sheets aren’t really designed to be an alternative to barrier rings (i.e. eakin rings). Eakin rings should help to prevent leaks, but if you find they aren’t sticking well or “melting", you may want to experiment with another brand of barrier ring. This one from Coloplast shouldn’t melt like the Eakin Ring: https://www.veganostomy.ca/coloplast-brava-protective-rings/
With my inverted/retracted stoma, I had to go to a deep convex nu-hope, and for liquid issues they make liquid resistant hydrocolloids. Calling them may be a good starting point if he is still struggling. Also, using the ostomy belt helps hold the bags on for this type of scenario.
Eric, do you think these protective sheets could be used along with a convex wafer? Do you think it would have a similar effect as using duoderm?Has anyone else used these protective sheets, and if so, how did the work for improving skin condition?
Hi. I am a new ostomate . My nurse wants me to use this film because of severe irritation around my stoma. She wanted me to cut 4in sheet into crescent moon shapes and place over irritated site around stoma. I hope this will clear up my issue. I enjoyed your videos for information since my surgery back in april. Keep up the good work.
I hope it works out for you, Douglas! Thanks for checking out my videos!
Thanks for your video. Do you think it is possible to use the plastic that gets peeled off from the back of a wafer as a protective sheet if you taped around the edges?
Thank you
No, and I wouldn’t as the edges of that plastic will cut your skin and it also doesn’t absorb moisture like protective sheets do.
Your products are truly excellent yet some a little complex or confusing to use. I presently am not eligible for government assistance until next year. In the meantime I have to purchase them at my expense. I am on a CPP/OAS income only. My monthly ostomy supply costs can exceed my only income. See my problem? Trust me I am not the only one thrown under the bus by MSP. Perhaps if you could drop the cost of your supplies to us seniors and others in dire need of these ESSENTIAL supplies.
I am probably dreaming to think you guys, like Hollister, will ignore this note and not lobby the government on our behalf. If it wasn’t for some donations here and there I would be truly in trouble.
Hi Christiaan,
I’m not sure if you were addressing your comment to Coloplast, but I’m just a patient like you and I also find the price of these supplies to be quite expensive.
I would suggest contacting your local or national ostomy association as they would be the ones to help lobby for more affordable supplies. Here in Canada, or at least in Ontario, we had an increase in our ostomy grant payments because of organizations like Ostomy Canada helping to fight for better access to supplies.
Good luck!
Eric