Posted by: Shawne

has anyone used a Karaya wafer by hollister?

Karaya has been around for a very long time - but they no longer list it on the Canadian or US website, so I don't know if they're still offering them. 

Most people who've used it will say that it was more gentle on the skin, but it wasn't as durable as more modern adhesives.

Can you write a list of the products you've tried and maybe we can offer up some suggestions for stuff you haven't?

I have used convetec convex both the esteem and mouldable and Natura  surefit,hollister with the ceramide and without convex they do not have a product with convex that has no tape at all.  Coloplast mio convex.  Salt with Aleo Vera that I am using now but have on a sample without the Aleo Vera.  Tried b. Braun in the past but only for a couple days and found them heavy.  Also tried the cymead product this spelling is incorrect but the product is just like a piece of tape you peel off the cover and apply around stoma very difficult to handle.  Expect if it is an adhesive would react eventually.  I seem to get a full day out of a product and then it cause an itch around the edges and moves inwards.  

Posted by: Shawne

 I seem to get a full day out of a product and then it cause an itch around the edges and moves inwards.  

Is that typically what happens with all of the appliances you've tried? If so, this might not be an allergy as I've experienced it before under certain situations. I have an idea about what it could be.

Do you feel comfortable posting a photo of what your skin looks like after a few days of wearing an appliance? 

Hi Shawnee,

I had a series of red rashes at the edge of, and going under my wafer. Finally just went to a real dermatologist. He diagnosed it as numanal eczema and gave me some foamy kind of stuff ( came in a thing that looked like a small can of shaving foam). It didn't leave any oily or slippery stuff either so my wafer stuck fine. That fixed the rash after three days.

I am not saying you have the same thing, but it maybe time to go to a skin specialist. 

And good luck. Let us know how its going.

If I can stand the itch long enough before I have to take it off by the second day it is always uncomfortable in the top right corner often wondered if it was a nerve but then by morning it feels warm and itching all over.  After two days of the salts with Aleo Vera when I took it off this morning the skin looks reddish all over and along the edges where the wafer stops you can see the outline of the wafer. After I wash it off just with water there is immediate relief.  This time I used calimine under the ring and sprayed Cavilon twice over the whole area I usually do not use that product as I have found in the past it interferes with the stick.  Used a salts without Aleo this time.  So far so good if I make it to morning it is a bonus.  I will send a picture if I have to remove it before three days and there is a reaction.  What is your idea as to what be the cause?  Thanks for your interest. I was using Convatec for the past year and a half but always found by the end of the second day it would be itching under the tape part finally it started to show an actual red rash which was painful more than itchy would clear up if I cut tape off and used calimine after a few days the dr gave me a steroid cream which worked within two days hard to get paper tape to stick to that for sure and can not continue on that path.

I think a dermatologist could give you a better idea. I thought I had contact dermatitis  , where the appliance or something I was using was causing the irritation. But he pointed out that the redness was BOTH under and not under the wafer at though it was eczema  I even thought it might be a fungus?? I am not a doctor though. This sounds like a pain in the you know what to figure out, and it seems some professional help might be in order.

You want to protect that skin.

Thanks for your reply do you remember the name of the product.  Would like to see a dermatologist if we had one on PEI 😩 but will have to get a referral to one in another province and wait a year if lucky.  Might have to go that route but since I can clear it up with steroid for a couple days then when I apply a wafer after a day it starts up.  To see a ET nurse her it is a week or more and by then I have it cleared up again very frustrating.

Posted by: Shawne

What is your idea as to what be the cause? 

If it's only along the edges, it could be caused by the skin stretching under the adhesive and becoming irritated. It happens a lot when someone changes their appliance sitting or laying down, and when they stand the skin pulls and becomes irritated. 

But if the redness is under the entire wafer, then it could be one of many reasons and should be investigated by a stoma nurse or dermatologist. 

Shawne,

Its a prescription product ( so you will have to see a doctor) and I think ( but don't know) its just for eczema. He did call it the 'nuclear option' and it did work for THAT condition. It is:

OLUX-E

(clobetasol propionate) foam, 0.05%. Made by Prestium Pharma

Eric's advise  ( above) is very good.  I hadn't considered the pulling and stretching of the skin. Just the pressure from a convex wafer could be an irritation.

Dona, what is this med. called? Thanks. 

Off to my Dr. apt. 

Hi Shawne, When putting on a new wafer blow out yer tummy and lean back. it helps stretch the skin and make better contact. As Eric said may not be the cause but its tip to help

Thanks everyone.  I apply my wafer while standing in front of the sink. Not sure that it is pulling as it does not feel as if the edges are tight but who knows. I know I do not stretch it in any manner while putting it on. What would be the solution?  The itchy feeling with the convetec  the rash started under the tape and eventually moved under the durahesive.  With the salts there is no tape but is under the edges it is red and uncomfortable and feels hot under it all.  Do not want to get in the position where the skin is opened up.

Thanks John will give it a try am using a one piece now had always used a two piece so find it awkward.  Sort of pull up a bit on the area above the stoma so I can see the far side of the stoma while looking through thru the little window once you place that sucker on the ring it ain’t moving so you better get it right the first time lol

Shawne, if you have a bunch of leftover samples, cut squares out of the adhesive and put them on the opposite side of your abdomen with some space separating them. Usually, you would cover them with a tape or something you know is safe for your skin, but the idea is to see which ones are causing a reaction and what type of reaction are they causing. 

This is often how skin allergies are identified and it may give you a clearer picture of what's going on. 

If you do this, make sure you aren't using any other skin products with it, like barrier wipes. You don't want to complicate things. 

Some things doin that skin harm, if one of the earlier wafers you where wearing has caused harm and you have sensitive skin it going to take time to heal. That's not giving you a chance to know if the new wafer is working better. (hope that makes sense) could shaving round the stoma be a factor and one more thing the bag when its getting full could be pulling at the wafer. some folk wear a belt to help support.

So TRUE !!!!!!! I think  that I will try this with my left overs.. Got to give your skin to reset itself, and by Eric's idea, This could take a good many months of hard work- so- this way, a few weeks can answer our questions.. Thanks Eric........ 

Thanks John being a member of the female population saving is not a chore I have to contend with.  I empty often so do not think that is the problem but it could be previous damage as well as the use of steroid cream although not much could be an issue I also take prednisone which thins the skin but I only take a small dose.

Thanks Eric will give it a try although I always try new products in this manner for a few days but it seems it is after repeated exposure that the problem crops up.

Posted by: Shawne

Thanks Eric will give it a try although I always try new products in this manner for a few days but it seems it is after repeated exposure that the problem crops up.

Yes, unfortunately, our skin doesn't react right away.  This is one reason why I tend to try out products over weeks or months before doing a review - it would be unfair to judge anything after only a few days. 

And I've had it go both ways: starts off good and gets worse, or starts off with irritated skin and clears right up.

Good luck!