I had my colostomy Dec 1 2017. I have tried everything that’s been suggested to me and have been to wound treatment center. It is now Oct 2018 and my area around stoma is still red and raw looking. I hope this is not what I have to look forward to from now on. Anyone have any suggestions?

I put some orabase ointment on the sore bits but then the bag wouldn't stick to the skin. Did I do something wrong? I am trying sudocrem next.

Hi Kathleen, those sore bits can be quite weepy and the orabase when applied can spread further than needed. Make sure the area is really dry and use sparingly. also I found that a little dust of stoma powder on top of the paste before the wafer helped. Any additional products always apply as little as possible.

john68 - Thank you for those tips. I will have another attempt and see how we go.

Hi Sandra, Their are a lot of reasons for the raw skin and its a matter of trying to trouble shoot and work out why. https://www.veganostomy.ca/healing-skin-around-the-stoma/

https://www.veganostomy.ca/ostomy-leaks-tips/

Hi Sandra, I'm sorry you've been having ongoing issues. That's definitely far too long to have to worry about your skin.

When you see a stoma nurse, what do they say? When you remove your wafer do you see any stool that seeped into the inner circle? How long are you wearing your appliance for? Have you tried other brands?

Troubleshooting skin problems isn't easy, which is why a stoma nurse should always have a look - the problems can be caused by so many things, but there is a cause, and the answer is out there for you.

Hi Sandra, I want to reply because I have had ongoing skin issues for more than 2 years. I have had my colostomy since 2013. In August of 2016, my peristomal skin started itching. (I won't go into every detail, I can hardly remember all of it anyway, since my mom and sister were both terminally ill and died during that 2 year period). Suffice it to say, I saw the WOC nurses many times, each had a different idea for me and none of the ideas helped. Early this summer, I just couldn't take it anymore, so I went to my dermatologist. Long story short, I was eventually referred on to a specialist about 3 hours from my home. Her theory is that I used something around the time of the onset of the itching that I had an allergic response to and my skin has never had a chance to recover since it is constantly dealing with the insult of ostomy products. So, even though I have tested negative for an allergic response to the products I currently use, I have continued to have itchy, rashy, red peristomal skin. I hope this is making sense.

Please ask me questions if you want  more details, because there is a lot more to the story and I'm not in the clear yet. My encouragement to you is, don't give up! You shouldn't have to live with angry skin. 

Marci

Hi I am new to this my surgery was four months ago can anyone tell me how I can slow down that white spongy discharge that builds up on the wafer it builds up so fast it covers my stoma and I have to constantly change my bag almost every day. I tried using the ring but it still comes out and covers the hole. I don't know what I am doing wrong any help would be greatly appreciated . Thanks

Posted by: Gladys

white spongy discharge that builds up on the wafer

Hi Gladys,

I'm not sure what discharge you're referring to, but it does it look like your wafer is "melting"? Are you wearing a barrier ring as well? 

Hi Gladys, does the output in the bag look normal, As Eric says it sounds very like the wafer is breaking down. Maybe discuss a different system with your stoma nurse. 

Am Kriss my ileostomy has been discharging whitished flerm, and too much liquid ,so i change the bags 2times a day, my skin is now making sore , any help

Hi Kriss, I would suggest making an appointment to see a stoma nurse who can identify the white discharge and reason for the leaks. It sounds like mucus, but that's not something you'd normally want to see coming out of your stoma - there's an underlying cause that needs to be addressed.

Best of luck.

Gladys and Kriss...I would strongly recommend that you both make a doctors apt. and ask if what you are seeing is a fungus. This can happen under the plate and it can spread. This is not a diagnoses, just a suggestion. It can be treated. It can be ended. Welcome to this site, and good luck, let us know what the results are and what the doc says. All the best! Heal and heal well.

I find that to get rid of rashes I pour isopropyl alcohol directly on the stoma area and then follow up with A LOT of peroxide (cheap and simple) I let it bubble out and then because I have extremely oily skin I repeat the alcohol. It may burn a little but your rash will disappear. I have had my ostomy since 1981 (it seems like forever). I have been doing this forever--almost my whole life.

Posted by: vicky denno

I find that to get rid of rashes I pour isopropyl alcohol directly on the stoma area and then follow up with A LOT of peroxide (cheap and simple) I let it bubble out and then because I have extremely oily skin I repeat the alcohol. It may burn a little but your rash will disappear. I have had my ostomy since 1981 (it seems like forever). I have been doing this forever--almost my whole life.

Hi Vicky, 

I wouldn't be brave enough to try that with my stoma, but I'm happy to hear that you've had success with it. 

Have you ever found out why you get the rashes in the first place?

I was allergic to most wafers. I ended up in the convatec durahesive with no tape barrier and with a hollister cera ring and nuhope adhesive, I get 7 days between changes. It took a long time to figure out what would work. The cera ring was what stopped my itching.

Sugar does work for prolapsed stomas.

Posted by: Laura Lang

Sugar does work for prolapsed stomas.

Hi Laura,

It certainly does help! For those who are interested,  check this out for more info on this:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3604428/

A good tip my nurse gave me,when the skin is irritated I use merbromina (this is the name in Spain) is a red antiseptic liquid used for decades but now not so popular as betadine.
I use it before cavilon spray and then the waffer,after the first use I saw the results

I wonder if you are talking about Mercuricrome...something like at in Canada. It comes in a little bottle with a glass probe that has a ball on the end. An antiseptic and is bright red. You paint it on the wound. My friend just asked his phone for Mercuricrome and it came back Merbromin.  My Mother always had one in the bathroom medicine cabinet. Interesting informtion miguel ig...Thank you.