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)”

    • Posted by: VeganOstomySo how did it go – three days later? :-P Hoping that you’re still wearing the same appliance! 

      I am! Going to see how tomorrow goes too because, currently, I have no signs that I should be changing it. So far im pretty excited and impressed. Changing every 5+ days instead of every 1+ days makes SUCH a difference on my mental state about this thing.  Im sitting in disbelief right now because I tried so many things and just kept on failing.  This funny thing is that I’ve had these collars sitting with my extra supplies for a year.. I ordered the samples last year but have always felt they were too small to try.  I only just tried them now out of complete frustration. Knock on wood it’s worked great twice inn a row. :) 

      Reply
  1. I used the largest salts collar. It was pretty tight but got me 5 freaking days! For the last year and a half I’ve only done 2 days at best. I could have gone longer too I think. Anyway.. I just bought a 5 pack to try and see if it wasnt a fluke. I have one on now – hitting the two day mark right now – and hopefully it will work. If it does I’ll write a post of what I do because it might help someone who is in the same situation I am in.I’m not getting my hopes up however, because I’ve been let down so many times before.Anyway.. if it does work, it’s a pretty exciting moment in my life I’ll tell ya. Game changer.

    Reply
  2. Hey all. Anyone know of a stoma collar or alternative for a stoma collar that is 45mm in diameter?  Salts is limited to 41mm.  I squeezed one on today, but Im concerned with the obvious potential constricting.  I had a couple samples sent to me a year ago and finally decided to try them.  I stupidly put the first one on top of the wafer after I put the wafer on because I use an eakin ring and thought that this might work better.  I have no idea how long it actually lasted, but I noticed it swimming in may bag the second day for sure.  I dont know if it was just knocked off due to the large size of my stoma, or if the effluent degraded  the adhesive.Anyway, I have pretty liquid output and am getting 1-2 days so, in between resigning to the situation, Im grasping at straws…Anyway.. specifically curious is any other collar options are known.  I think nuhope are the size of a pencil and salts are 41mm.  Anything else?

    Reply
    • Hey Chris, see if your supplier can get the Nu-Hope “Stoma Hat" in the size you need. They should be similar to the Salts stoma collars but might be available in a larger size.

      Reply
  3. I am wondering if there is anything you might recommend for a stoma whose opening has been pushed more downward closer to skin level due to a parastomal hernia above the stoma. The output is mostly liquid so it continues to cause leakage. I am wondering if the stoma collar might divert that liquid output more into the bag rather than just come straight down onto the barrier seal? Currently using a convex wafer from Hollister that is somewhat rigid and have been trying more flexible convexity of late.
    Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

    Matt

    Reply
    • Hi Matthew,

      You can certainly try the stoma collar for that type of stoma – if your stoma is protruded enough, the collar may be able to divert it away from your wafer. If you do try it, please let me know how it’s worked.

      Reply
  4. Hi,
    I have an illiostomy about 14 years ago, I really didn’t have any problems but recently about 2 weeks ago my flanges let loose after the first day. The edges start raising from the edges and before you know it,the whole flange is hanging loose, I have to use tape to hold it back in place. Please I need some advise as to what to do to solve this problem. Thanks in advance.

    Reply
    • I’m sorry to hear about your problem. If the wafer is coming off starting on the edges, perhaps wafer extenders might be an option to try: https://www.veganostomy.ca/guide-to-ostomy-wafer-extenders/

      If you have access to a stoma nurse, it might be worth the effort to have them look at your skin or appliance change routine to make sure there isn’t something that could be affecting your wafers adhesive. If you’ve been using any new products on your skin, tray to skip them for the next appliance change to see if that helps.

      Good luck!

      Reply
    • Wajad…are you moisturizing your skin around your tape at all?  If so, this has caused similar problems for me. I use a non-greasy lotion when I need one and I also use the Coloplast Ostomy Tapes all the time now. I had many leaks on my clothing and due to some tummy skin being numb, I could not tell if I had a leak. So, I started using these tapes. They are stretchy and comfortable to wear. I like to garden,  so I do a fair bit of bending and stretching, the tapes hold the outside edges of the plate in place.  They are C shaped and come in a box of 20. I also live in a hot in summer climate so edges would roll up for me. Not any more. I hope you can solve your problem.Matthew…welcome t this site. Are you a brand new ostimate?

      Reply

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