The ideal appliance will fit in a way that protects your skin while also providing a durable, and secure fit. Unfortunately, not every ostomate can achieve this balance so easily, so many will experience a breakdown of skin around the stoma.
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This happened to me a short while after getting my ostomy, as my new stoma was still shrinking down from its swollen state.
I was quite inexperienced, so rather than change my appliance more often, I’d try to get 5+ day wear time, which meant that as my stoma became smaller, it left room for my output to eat away at my skin.
As you can see from the photos below, I had fairly deep erosion of the skin, and it hurt a lot. At the time, I had used the “crusting technique”, which involves putting stoma powder on the exposed, raw part of my skin, dust it off and apply a barrier using either barrier wipes or cavilon spray.
You do this a few times to build up protection on the skin, and to allow the wafer to stick to something other than the powder. This technique does work for many people, but it worked very slowly for me.
More recently, as I’ve been in between wafer samples, I began to get more breakdown of the skin.
I attempted to remedy this using the crusting technique, but I wasn’t getting the results I wanted; so instead, I opted to simply use a barrier ring without any powder or barrier wipes.
The results impressed me, and my skin has probably never looked that good around the stoma.
And here’s another example of how quickly this method can heal damaged skin:
Now, I continue to use a barrier ring when I notice more breakdown of the skin. I may continue to use them more regularly, but they are quite expensive and I’m not done trying new appliances that might offer a better fit.
Here’s a video showing how I change my appliance, including how I use barrier rings.
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Caution: Before you change your routine, you should check with your stoma nurse first, unless you’re willing to experiment on your own.
INFO: If you’re interested in the “crusting technique” for healing peristomal skin, check out THIS article.
QUESTION: What techniques have you tried to heal up your skin?
Hi Folks, For any redness I will use Nivea post shaving balm. It doesn’t contain alcohol and is non greasy so as long as you let it dry it will not effect adhesion.
I have just started experimenting with a homemade marigold (calendula) cream. Its too early to say but I noticed some positive less itchiness and it hasn’t effected the adhesion of the wafer as long as excess is wiped off and the stoma is allowed to air for as long is possible. calendula is a long used skin healer ( weleda do a calundula diaper cream?) and avoids the steroid or cortisoid creams which I never do well with!
The recent warm weather has for me and my Stoma nurse tells me others, caused more skin problems.
It reminded me that professional cyclist get sore butt problems and use nappy creams mainly lanolin to reduce the soreness and chaffing from the clothing rubbing over their sweaty butts, ( girls stay calm here :lol: ) lanolin is very greasy though.
I have noticed and others have reported skin problems from Omeprazol (Drugs.com list itching, skin rash) as a side effect. Its worth noting.
Rosmary, Let me add the most important thing that we have done to heal my daughter’s skin. We always got to Ostomy RN, Dermatologist, and internist first to discuss what we are doing. And because of COVID we have isolated since March 2020. Most of our med. appointments are video where we share photos of my daughter’s stoma….
We work with the medical professionals to confirm which creams, sprays, methods we should use. But across the board, they all recommend giving the area “air" for healing the skin. We now call it the stoma’s “spa" treatment. Air, followed by creams (sprays whichever the doctor’s…advise with our input as to what seems to be working or not), her shower and then putting on her appliance (sometimes with the aerosol steroid prescription b/c it dries quickly first) for the rest of the day.
We also named her Ostomy in 2015 during recovery from her surgery – It is Olliie Ollie ileostomy. So we really say we are giving Ollie his spa treatment. It has helped us in discussing all the issues that have arisen in the last 5 years.
But we keep learning every day. We watched Eric’s videos on every issue multiple times.
If you want photos, please email me
Can u use a convex wafer if you like how they fit can they cause damage to your ostomy
Hi Shazzon, I suggest speaking with a stoma nurse to determin if a convex appliance is appropraite for your needs. They CAN cause damage if used incorrectly or when not necessary. Pressure sores can also occor if you are using a convex appliance that is too “deep’, too stiff, or has too much pressure on it because of a support belt.
Hi Rosemary,
I don’t think you have many options if you are in that much pain. I do suggest going to the hospital and seeing if there is any help available. I trust that the hospital you had surgery at has a stoma nurse.
When my skin is very raw and sore, I often will leave my appliance off for hours at a time to give it relief and then I will use a barrier ring when I put my appliance back on. But the success of this method really depends on what’s causing the irritation. I think in your case, a stomas nurse needs to see how your appliance is being put on, how it’s fitting, and if your skin is having a reaction to the product itself.