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?
If anyone is interested in reading more about it, this is an easy to read study that was done on this treatment. However, you have to register and pay 8 bucks. for the privelidge https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2230.2000.00711.x
For those interested, sometimes private citizens can simply ask the authors for a free copy of the full texts. Being that this is an older study (from 2008), I’m not sure how easy it would be to get in touch with them.
Ask your stoma nurse if they can share any insight into the use of this product if you are having such problems.
@veganostomy Thanks for the tip about requesting a copy!
Margaret, has anyone suggested using a powder with silver in it? I don’t have skin issues very often, but I do find that silver powder clears it up quickly. It’s expensive, but you only need a small amount. Best to check with your ostomy nurse – I agree with above comments – don’t give up on getting answers from the experts. Good luck.
Laurie
Hi Margret, Yes I do believe that marathon is not to be used on deeply broken skin. Getting an idea of why the skin is badly broken would be a big start. Is it leakage, wafer cut to snug or to tight or maybe the convex is too deep causing a pressure sore. The hernia belt may be fitting to tightly as well. Stoma powder and barrier spray to crust and build up a dry surface is a great help to healing . Eric suggests leaving the wafer off for a time to give the skin some air time. Measure your stoma, powder and crust and apply a barrier ring. I wouldn’t give up on a stoma nurse helping, keep trying until you get the attention you need go to a Doctor. Nasal spray contains steroid and that’s why it helps, steroid treatments do help but long term use can cause thinning of the skin. Other helpful posts will follow 👍
I have an ileostomy and its not my skin that stays sore. Its the stoma itself. When I think I am leaking and change the bag, its not leaking. Something is causing a painful stoma. I wish I knew what the problem is. I’m thinking about a stoma guard? Maybe that will take the pressure off my stoma because of my clothes? I don’t know. All I know is it is very uncomfortable.
Hi Anne,
I’m sorry to hear about your stoma pain. There could be several causes, but I do suggest speaking with your stoma nurse or surgeon to identify the cause.
A few things come to mind that you might want to double-check:
1) Are you cutting the hole of your wafer too small?
2) Is there any impact or friction on the stoma? This could be from clothing, pets, tables, etc.
3) If the stoma itself hurts, does it appear swollen or bruised?
Good luck.
I am having the same issue. Feels like the stoma is squeezed inside. I dont THINK it is but we’ll see what my surgeon says. 6 months post op now. I guess it could be nerve ends acting up? Makes me wince so much so that people are asking if I am alright. Frustrating for sure.
Hi Therese, A few questions, has their been any leaks, also are you sure the patient needs a convex as it may be putting too much pressure on the stoma site. Also could it be that the wafer is being put on sitting and then pulling on the skin when standing. Then there is the possibility of a reaction to the appliance. I find that calamine lotion is makes a great crust when let dry. Eric also suggests leaving the appliance of for a few hours. But all this said it may be a case of getting the hospital to have a look..