So, for the past few months, I've been experimenting with something. Now, I've done this in the past, but have been more consistent lately and I'd like to share my results. I know some of you have trouble with the edges of your wafer peeling or not sticking well. There can be quite a few reasons (I wrote an entire article on the topic HERE), but one thing that needs to be 100% is your skin needs to be dry and clean. The problem is that "dry and clean" doesn't matter if your skin is naturally oily, has soap residue on it, or is sweaty. What I've been doing is taking 50% rubbing alcohol and applying it to a gauze pad to clean the skin around my stoma. I wrap my stoma in dry gauze so that the rubbing alcohol doesn't touch it at all. Doing this before I shave helps to raise some hair up and off the skin to make it easier to shave, but the rubbing alcohol removes any residue, oils, and leaves the skin dry for the wafer to adhere better. In doing this, I haven't had any issues with the edges peeling up on my (something that was happening more often, which prompted me to start using the rubbing alcohol), and I thought I'd share my success in case any of you wanted to see if it works. I haven't tried 70% alcohol, but have used it in the past. It does dry a little more but also stings a little more if you use it after shaving or plucking hairs. If you guys try it, let me know how it goes - but please don't get this stuff on your stoma. Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate. I suppose that would be an issue for some. My hubby was very hairy & when he worked out he did swet all over his back & tummy & arms & even his legs!  I wear a Fentanyl pain patch & because even simple bandages just don't stick to my skin anywhere, for added protection to prevent the patch from rolling up inside my pant leg,..it happened 1ce & try getting it replaced, yikes lol ! Since then, I cover it with a hand size sheet of tagaderm. We have all had that tagaderm on over our I.V. needles & it has a tendency to peek up at the edges, I use a 70% alcohol to wipe my skin with now, but I also learned to prevent the rolling edges I stretch the edges & corners. They've never curled up since! Yay for alcohol !! Linda Eric, or anyone, please advise me. After using the alcohol to clean the skin around , should I use something else to clean off the alcohol ? ( I sound stupid). Will the alcohol damage the barrier ring or base of the 1 piece pouch ? Last night I got leakage all the way through the barrier and base of pouch and came out. My pyjama and duvert have the output on it. This is the first time happen to me like this and I really didn't know what to do and scare. Finally, the first time I use shower to rinse off the output from my body (but I just use water, no soap). May I also know, when you all do the naked shower, do you use soap? I always hesitate because the hospital nurse said ONLY use water to clean. (My output always quite watery. Therefore I need the barrier ring. But seems like the output can go under the barrier ring. Seemed the ring cannot work as its purpose for, ie - to avoid output go under the barrier ring and protect the skin.) I'm not sure is it due to my skin becomes oily after all the 8 months just use water on gauze to clean. Plus it's summer, sometimes I do sweat although I'm not sure that part always covered by the pouch base has sweat or not. Thanks in advance for all guidance Hi Stella, I use a barrier ring and change every 3 days, usually. At that time I always find that there is a very small amount of output that has got under the ring on the right side, which is the “low” side of my rather lopsided stoma. I have thought of leaving the barrier ring off and using just the plate, cut smaller/closer to the stoma - in theory, that right side might not retract to under the height of the ring. One of these days I will try that. The adhesive on my flange loosens sometimes. When it does I patch with a little piece of tear-off surgical tape. This works well. I shower with the whole system on sometimes. I only use the tape patch once the plate is completely dry, at least an hour after showering. If I shower on a change day I use Dial antibacterial foaming soap. I rinse well, and after the skin around the stoma is dry I use a tissue to blot. If I do a change without taking a shower, I use only water to clean the area. And I always use a tissue to blot, last thing before applying the ring and the plate. So, for what it’s worth, that’s how things work for me! LL Colostomy 4/30/18. Hi Stella, Using alcohol won’t do any harm to the product but it does sting. There are lots of adhesive removers which don’t contain alcohol and make removal and cleaning easy. Getting a really dry clean base will give better security. Wrap your stoma in a gauze while cleaning. I warm any ring or wafer I use before applying. I use a shower gel called Sanex (UK) which is not sented or oily. Yes sweating can cause problems, maybe look at changing a day early. A leak shakes confidence but take a Deep breath and also no such thing as a stupid question 👍 ileostomy 31st August 1994 for Crohns After using the alcohol to clean the skin around , should I use something else to clean off the alcohol ? ( I sound stupid). Will the alcohol damage the barrier ring or base of the 1 piece pouch ? All you need to do is make sure that it's dried. It doesn't leave a residue, so your skin will be clean. I've been using 50% alcohol, but 70% dries faster/better since it contains less water. If you do end up putting your wafer/barrier ring on while it's still wet then you may have issues as alcohol can break down those adhesives. Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate. I got my illiostomy in January 2021. I use hollister's new image formaflex wafer. I tape the wafers perimeter with 3m micropore medical tape 1". Works great. The tape adheres even if the skin is moist. Also I don't use skin prep, my skin is very sensitive and I've found I get a better stick without it. I do use zeasorb antifungal powder, this help dry the skin especially if it's weeping. Hope this helps. When driving a vehicle with a seat belt I use a large chip bag clip to keep the belt off my stoma. @ryan Thanks for the tips! And welcome to the forums :) Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~
I love the smell of coffee in the morning. It smells like .... victory.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~
Community Forums
Notifications
Clear all
Tips and Tricks
9
Posts
6
Users
9
Reactions
1,226
Views
Topic starter
July 8, 2021 1:20 pm
July 19, 2021 7:20 am
VeganOstomy reacted
August 15, 2021 4:19 pm
August 16, 2021 12:09 am
VeganOstomy and john68 reacted
August 16, 2021 1:50 am
VeganOstomy reacted
Topic starter
August 16, 2021 9:18 am
September 7, 2021 7:19 pm
VeganOstomy reacted
Topic starter
September 8, 2021 2:20 pm