A Mini Guide to Ostomy Supplies: Stoma Collars (w/ video)

Stoma Collars

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Mini Guide to Ostomy Supplies: Stoma Collars
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What Are Stoma Collars?

Stoma collars can be used to help prevent ostomy output from getting on your skin. For people who have leaks, this product may help as an alternative to barrier rings.  

Because Salts Healthcare dominates this product category with their Dermacol brand, I will focus the information based on what they offer.

Salts Dermacol
Salts Dermacol (in a 5 pack)

How Stoma Collars Are Usually Sold

These are usually sold in boxes of 30, but several Canadian suppliers I’ve used have sold them in boxes of 5’s as well.  

Because these collars can’t be adjusted (like barrier rings can), you do have to buy the right size for your stoma.

Currently, Salts offers sizes between 17mm and 41mm (pretty much accommodating all stoma sizes)

In Canada a box of 30 collars sells for around $177 (June 2017), so they are a bit cheaper than some barrier rings; my insurance covers these.

**If you can’t find Salts products in your country (they are hard to find in the US, try the Nu-Hope “Stoma Hats”, as they are a similar product and several US suppliers carry them).

Purchase on Amazon

You can purchase stoma collars on Amazon Canada (affiliate links): CANADA


How to Use Stoma Collars

It’s crucial that you get the right size collar for your stoma – too loose and it will defeat the purpose of keeping effluent off your skin; too tight and it can use a blockage.  Salts includes a measuring guide to help find the size to get – I’d suggest requesting samples, as they’ll include a measuring guide in the box, but you can use your regular stoma measuring guide (that come with your wafers) to get an idea about your measurements.

There are two ways to apply a stoma collar: either directly to your skin before putting on you wafer or directly onto the wafer.  Either way will work, you might want to try both methods to see which works best for you.

Salts Dermacol on skin
What the Dermacol looks like around my stoma.

Removing the product is easy, and it will come off when you detach your wafer.


Tips When Using Stoma Collars

  • The collars can be cut to accommodate shorter stomas, although you shouldn’t cut too much or it won’t work right.
  • You should also keep in mind that if you have a recessed stoma or one that is flush with your skin, the collar may not work at all.
  • If your output is thick, like mine tends to be, these collars may not work well.

Are Stoma Collars Vegan-Friendly?

I’ve been in contact with Salts Healthcare to find out if the Dermacol products contain animal ingredients, but I haven’t received a reply yet.  

When I do, I’ll be sure to list it HERE, along with other products that do/do not contain animal ingredients.  The alternative Stoma Hats by Nu-Hope are free of animal ingredients.

More information on Dermacol can be found on the official site: http://www.salts.co.uk/

Nu-Hope products can be found at http://www.nu-hope.com/

20 thoughts on “A Mini Guide to Ostomy Supplies: Stoma Collars (w/ video)”

    • Thanks for trying, Melody. The “like" button would be part of YouTube, so their website or app (if you’re viewing the video from there). But don’t worry, my views on “likes" have changed since the video came out and it means much less to me now – all I value is whether the information was helpful or not :)

      Reply
      • @veganostomy   lolol…so I give you a like anyways! I would prefer that here it meant  “read"   verses “like".  It does help me keep track of where I’ve been when dealing with the post concussion issues. A " support"  area would be nice also. 

        Reply
    • I think it would be difficult to get samples of Salts products in Canada, unfortunately. I suggest contacting Salts directly to see if they have any dealers in Canada who offer samples, or they may even be able to send them to you directly. Good luck!

      Reply
      • @veganostomy So I checked into it, and there’s a Canadian distributor who is sending me samples. They also sent a pdf of their brochure via email. Apparently they recently took over from another company.
        They are Westech: https://www.westechhealth.com/
        I also talked to the British Columbia rep on the phone. She was super helpful.
        Also found out that in BC, they are covered under BC Pharmacare as they are considered a barrier ring. I haven’t ordered any yet to put it to the test yet, waiting on the samples, but that’s what my stoma nurse told me when I asked.
         

        Reply
        • @tim That’s fantastic! Thank you for letting us know. I’m not familiar with Westech, but I appreciate knowing about more companies in Canada who can supply other Canadians, especially with harder-to-get brands like Salts. 

          Let me know how it goes if you decide to try them. It’s wonderful that they will be covered.

  1. This is great info–thanks! The photos are really helpful, too! I contacted Salts in the U.K. and they told me in no uncertain terms that no one in the U.S. distributes their products. Hmmm. Any suggestions on who might carry them in the U.S.? I’m wondering if the person who replied to my “Contact Us" email might not know that someone here is selling them. :)

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • In the US, these are very hard to find. Easier in Canada, but shipping costs may be prohibitive. For US residents, I do suggest looking at the Nu-Hope Stoma Hats instead, as they are much easier to find and work pretty much the same as the Salts products.

      Reply

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