I have a stoma and my skin stays raw red and sore. What can I do

Hi Linda, it could be a number of things. Are you having leaks, a reaction to the wafer, are you using something while cleaning that’s causing trouble. Have you seen a stoma nurse 

just started with wafer again. using stoma power and paste. nothing different. no leaking either.

I had issues with pancaking as well. However I have found that typically the bag is flat and vacuum packed. The solution is to roll up a piece of toilet paper and wet it, then put it in your bag (do this every time you empty your bag, as well. What this does is to allow air into your bag and you will no longer pancake ever again.

My name is Robert and my problem with my stoma is it is starting to itch.

Hi Robert. I'm sorry to hear about your itchy stoma. There would be several reasons for this, but I do suggest speaking with a stoma nurse to help troubleshoot. If it's a fungal/bacterial cause then it will need to be treated. Sometimes the itchiness can come from the wafer being on too long, hair growing under the wafer, leaks, or sensitive skin.

Best of luck.

ChrisandBagpus I read your explanation of how seeping of input under the wafer can happen because of a hernia or moving in different ways, and it sounds just like what happens with me. It has been driving me crazy. I do have a large hernia, and my stoma gets much smaller and flatter when I lie down or sit back. I usually size my wafer opening to the largest size of my stoma, but when I put it on at a change, it is too big. I am using a ring around my stoma, actually up onto it, to see how that will work, and may cut my wafer hole a little smaller, as long as it has ring to cushion it. I even use paste on top of wafer to try to seal out the output. Anyway, I have been trying to figure out what's wrong, and I think you just may have hit on it. Like you said, there is no easy solution. Thank you!!!

When I first got my stoma in July 2019, it was agony! Sensitive skin, frequent leaks. My ostomy is flush so there's no stoma sticking up to mold barrier around. One really gruelling day, I had to change my wafer 7 times! My skin was raw! I wanted to die; thinking about spending the next 20+ years of my life like that was too much! They had me using the powder, liquid, barrier rings, molding strips, etc. But nothing helped. Then one day I realized that the second the powder touched my skin, the burning started. Applying the liquid on top of that compounded the problem. I then realized that ALL of the products they had me try caused itching. I decided to try it one time with nothing but the wafer and barrier ring. What a relief! Still some itching but much more tolerable. At that time, I was changing wafers every other day. I also realized that the tap around the wafer was irritating my skin, too. Then I discovered the 4" square barriers. I put that on first, then the barrier ring, wafer, and pouch. I trim the tape so it doesn't extend beyond the square barrier. It took several tries before I found one that stuck well to my skin and didn't burn.

I can now go 3-5 days without changing! Time depends on how active I am and how much bending I do.

I also apply lidocaine cream to skin before applying appliance. I spread it on, let sit a few minutes, then carefully clean skin with cool water. I agree with those who recommend airing the skin for as long as possible when changing; it really helps, though I only do it for up to 30 min.

Happy you found a solution!

I went through much the same experimentation when I got my stoma in 2915. 

In the end, what works for me is a convex wafer for my flush stoma, and a barrier film wipe over all the skin the wafer will stick to.

I go 5 days between changes, with no skin irritation.

I had a similar experience. With no Stoma Nurses available in my area a one hour car drive with a seat belt pressing on my pouch & raw skin & a car ride was not an option.

I figured out a lot of stuff on my own & I never even considered the internet for help....lol, until I stumbled on one of Erics videos!  Computers were my hubbies thing, not mine! 

I did discover that the Stoma Powder had a grainy-ness to it when I rubbed it between my fingers. I felt it was doing more harm then good & caused a burning itchy feeling on my raw skin that I do not miss since I stopped using it. Now, I just use adhesive remover spray & wipes, wash after with water only,  pat & air dry for a few min. & skin barrier spray & the wafer on my skin. If I use it now, I never use it within an inch of the stoma because I'm  pretty sure it was lending to my then ever so frequent leaks. As though it sucked moisture beneath the wafer.  I  only use the wipes for the adhesive remover because I feel even the material the wipes are made of caused skin issues for me.  The difference was amazing. I figure I had an allergy  to these products & with my sensitive skin & eczema issues, I just didn't need anything else in the way of my leading as normal a life as I have gained with my Ostomy. 

Initially I had issues with the sutures not. healing properly. Tried stoma powders, barrier ring, changing the skin barrier every day. Not happy. What worked was spending time with no skin barrier, i could do this because i was home all day every day and my output was not huge and fairly easy to anticipate.
The game changer for me was the tip i found on this site to heat the “glue” on the skin barrier with a hairdrier for about 30:seconds. Worked like a charm, I change every 3rd day and no leaks even when I have slight bouts of diarrhea.
Something I have noticed, four months on from surgery, is that my initially round stoma is settling in to an oval shape.

My husband has had an ileostomy since 1995(he was 26 yrs old). Like you he has tried numerous treatments for skin breakdown. Currently he is crusting around the stoma even when there’s no breakdown. He also uses coloplast strip paste. It is very similar to the barrier ring but with the strip paste you can control the thickness that you use. Another thing he does that helps with wafer adherence, he uses a hair dryer to heat his skin where the wafer will be. Then applies the wafer and uses the hair dryer to heat the wafer which helps it mold it to his body. I hope this helps.

I have to agree with the hair dryer tip. Been part of my changing routine from the start. Just be careful not to over heat. (Yes bald men do use hair dryers 😂)

Hello, I have had an ileostomy for 24 years and have always had problems with leaks because my stoma is small, oval and with sloped sides like a cone. Sometimes it is agonizing and I am glad to have found this excellent resource online. I too am a long-time vegetarian (but not vegan). The last time I had major problems was around 2012/2013 and there was nothing much on the web.

I have a couple of tips to offer the forum:

1. I see some mention of nasal spray. I can recommend Flovent (fluticasone propionate) in a puffer. It is a corticosteroid prescribed for asthma. Spray a puff or two on excoriated skin for instant relief and healing. It really is instant. You will need a prescription for it. (When using it, try to avoid blasting your stoma.)

2. My strategy for prolonging wear time is the following ritual which I call “caulking”. It has worked for me for most of the 24 years and although tiresome, it is simply part of my routine. Since I can’t usually go more than 16 hours without leakage, I do this twice a day. Take off the pouch, clean out around the stoma with a cotton-tipped swab, add a little powder to dry the exposed skin and insert a bead of paste (I use Eakin — cut out a small piece and roll it between fingers). Tamp down the edges of the flange with the swab. If you wish, before tamping, you can add back in some or all of the still-clean paste which you had removed, to fill in while the new bead of paste is expanding.

I hope these ideas might help some of the members of this forum. I can provide more details if anyone wants a more precise description. 

@archr Thank you for sharing those tips, and welcome to the forum!

hi i use a barrier ring and under that skin beat red n sore n buring pain i cant get it to stop i use powder and no sting spray and in a few day hurting again badly can u help me fix this

Posted by: @harley davidson

hi i use a barrier ring and under that skin beat red n sore n buring pain i cant get it to stop i use powder and no sting spray and in a few day hurting again badly can u help me fix this

Hi Harley, that sounds painful :( I suggest speaking with a stoma nurse who can look at your skin and assess why it's red and sore. There could be several reasons, and it's best not to guess or it may get worse. 

Best to you.

Hi - thanks very much for the tip to try placing the Ekin Barrier ring directly on the skin around the stoma instead of placing it on the bag. My skin was very irritated on the bottom side of my stoma and I tried your advice to place the ring directly on the skin and mold it around my stoma. The barrier ring is much more flexible than the bag wafer. My skin is much better thanks to your advice. Thanks.

Thanks archr. I’m a month in and having issues, I will try your techniques! Thanks for sharing.

Hi Lara, That technique (placing the barrier ring directly onto the skin) works well for me, too. I make sure the skin is completely dry; if it looks a little irritated I use the tiniest amount of stoma powder that I brush off lightly wish a tissue before applying the ring. I use Hollister CeraRing. LL