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?
I have a horrible sore hole next to my stoma from leaking. I have been bagless for 6 days now trying to heal. What is the best thing to heal the sore so I can put a bag on? I am miserable!
Please help. I have been laying on dog pads and diapers catching the urine.
Tracy, that sounds like a difficult situation. Do you have access to a stoma nurse? I find that skin can heal very quickly (24-48 hours) when given the right environment, even with a wafer on. But if left untreated, it may just continue to get worse. This hole you describe might be the cause of the leaks, so that needs to be addressed and a stoma nurse should be able to assess and treat that sort of thing. I truly hope that you’re able to find a solution soon.
There are no stoma nurses here anywhere. I went to Birmingham, 2 hours away, and she did not help either.
I echo what John suggests, and in addition to that, ask whether a telenurse would be an option for you.
You may also want to contact your national ostomy association: http://www.colostomyuk.org/
They may be able to provide you with additional support and assistance with finding a nurse.
I am an new ostomate has surgery 3/18/2019. It has been extremely difficult preventing the leaks. We know exactly where the spot is. So we put the hollister thin rings on the area but still get leaks. I have many crevasisis in that are so we use the puddy to make it flat but still no results. I have been recommended to get convex which I have but I have notice a lot of debris behind the wafer when I remove it. Just seen if I can get any recommendations this is preventing me living a normal life because of been afraid if leaking in meeting or event. Please help anyone thank you
Hi Andy,
Convex wafers will likely be the solution or at least a step towards a more consistent experience. If you have access to a stoma nurse, I would highly suggest scheduling an appointment with them to assess your situation and come up with a game plan.
Good luck!
Hi Andy, I have had the same problem. What is working relatively well for me is a combination of a convex wafer, either a one piece or two piece with adhesive, rather than the snap in place type connection, and some paste, all around the skin around the stoma. The stomadhesive or brava paste work for me, but the eakin paste does not. And the rings don’t help me. I get leaks every time. I also use the curved bracket things to secure the wafer in place, at least on the one piece appliances. I’m still pretty new myself, but that is what seems to work for me. Liza
Kscarver34-Welcome! Just as John said, take a plastic bag,tuck it into the waist band of your britches when you do a pouch change. This helps spare your clothing. It is a great catch all for trash too,tie and toss. To keep the skin as dry as you can in a change, Eric recommends wrapping some non sterile gauze around the stoma changing as need be. You can often find it in a bulk package, ask a store manager they may bring it in for you. Barrier Rings can be softened by the heat of your hand and manipulated to be made thinner, wider, or a different shape or to fill in a dip if you have one. I never liked the stickiness of it on my fingers so I have done this between kitchen plastic wrap. Several years back I had a stubborn area that did not want to heal around my stoma, so I used the baby diaper rash cream Penaten and using a q-tip placed a thin layer on the area and then the stoma powder. This worked fabulously and I had it on hand. I have resorted to it a few times since. Rest assured that eventually the skin toughens up, swelling goes down and you figure out your own tips to share here. All the best to you both. It is always great to hear of another supportive spouse in action! Keep up the good work, you found the best site available here and any questions or concerns you may have, just log in, say so or feel free to create your own forum. All the best! ‘;D.
Hi Skcarver, welcome. Take waste bag a tuck into the waist band of the shorts open out and I works a treat. It sounds like your husband needs a convex wafer, the skin will only be properly healed when the leaks are stopped. It sounds like it’s not a stoma nurse who is dealing with this and they would best placed to measure and suggest a suitable appliance. The stoma so soon after surgery is still changing and needs to be measured to get a good fit for the wafer.
I wonder if you are talking about Mercuricrome…something like at in Canada. It comes in a little bottle with a glass probe that has a ball on the end. An antiseptic and is bright red. You paint it on the wound. My friend just asked his phone for Mercuricrome and it came back Merbromin. My Mother always had one in the bathroom medicine cabinet. Interesting informtion miguel ig…Thank you.