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.
Video
By playing the above video you agree to YouTube's Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
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.
By playing the above video you agree to YouTube's Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
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?
I am a home health nurse and I have a patient who has a fairly new ostomy. I was able to get his ostomy to fit properly, using a convexity appliance. He just came home from the hospital and literally, two to three inches all around his stoma are large opened pores weeping. I have gently cleansed the site and created the crusting, as before, used an Eakin seal and within seconds, it just lifts up due to the weeping. Any suggestions?
@Theresa Holmes, RN I echo John’s sentiment and double-check that the convex appliance isn’t being worn too tight (common if your patient uses an appliance support belt).
Open pores that are weeping will present a huge challenge, unfortunately. Depending on why the skin is that damaged, it’s hard to say what to do next.
Do you have a colleague or have access to a wound/stoma nurse? They would have received specialized training to handle wounds like that.
Yes
I am putting the cream under the wafer and its not affecting the wafer sticking. On changing the wafer I rub a thin coating of the cream around the stoma, on the skin that goes under the wafer. I allow it to soak in first, for as little as 5 mins, its amazing how fast the skin soaks it up I them wipe around with a cotton pad to mop up any built up cream. I had notice my skin can get dry, flaky and shiny. I’m thinking this is a result of the inability of air to reach the skin enough.
This is a homemade cream with only natural ingredients, not sure how commercial creams might compare since they may add preservatives etc to lengthen the shelf life
@chrisandbagpus That’s fantastic! I’m glad it works so well without any issues!
Are you putting that under your wafer? Does it affect the wafer’s adhesion at all?
The marigold cream is working well for me.
By your post I think your trying it as well.
Mine is a home made cream but several companies produce a commercial product weleda will be a more natural product than some (read the labels)
be interested in how you get on.
chris
Hi Marie, I’m afraid that kind of help is beyond the scope of this forum. I do suggest speaking with a mental health professional to guide you through steps you can take to help care for someone going through depression or mental health challenges. Your family doctor, or the family doctor of the person you are caring for, should be able to make that referral.