Keeping the skin around your stoma healthy starts with knowing what normal peristomal (skin around the stoma) skin looks like. Healthy peristomal skin should look and feel like the skin on the other side of your abdomen (belly). It should not be red, swollen, warm, itchy, painful or have a burning feeling.
How can you keep your skin healthy?
Start with good skin care habits.
The best way to clean the skin around your stoma is with plain water.
Tips for bathing and showering
- You can choose to wear your pouch or remove it when you bathe or shower.
- Water cannot enter or harm your stoma.
- Do not use oily or moisturizing cleansers or because they can make it harder for your skin barrier to stick.
- Use plain water and a soft washcloth or paper towel to clean the skin.
- Avoid soaps and baby wipes.
- If you use a cleanser, choose one that is pH-balanced and rinses off completely.
Changing your pouch
- Gently remove your pouching system.
- Never pull or tear the adhesive off your skin.
- Slowly peel off the adhesive part while keeping your hand close to the skin. Use your other hand to hold the skin in place.
- Adhesive remover wipes or sprays can help make removal easier and safer for your skin. You may consider Esenta Sting Free Adhesive Remover wipes or Esenta Sting Free Adhesive Remover Spray.
- Avoid products that contain alcohol because they can dry out your skin.
- After removing the pouch, clean the skin with water to remove any leftover products, stool, or urine.
Choosing the right pouching system
Use a pouching system that protects the skin around your stoma.
- Make sure the opening matches the size and shape of your stoma.
- Extended-wear products, such as Durahesive, may work better if you have loose stool or urine.
- Convex products may work better if your stoma is short, level with the skin or below skin level. They can also help if a flat system does not stay sealed.
- Your stoma and body can change over time which can affect how the pouching system works.
- If you notice changes in your stoma or body, skin changes, or problems with how long the pouching system lasts, you may need a different pouching system.
A good pouching system should:
- Keep stool or urine off your skin.
- Stay in place for a reliable amount of time.
- Fit your body comfortably.
When to call for help
Stomas and body shapes can change over time.
Contact Convatec me+ if
- You have skin shape changes around your stoma.
- Your pouching system is not staying in place for as long as it should (this can vary from one person to the next).
Our me+ support team will review your stoma and abdomen information to make a new product recommendation. Please measure your stoma and have a list of your current products available.
Contact your health care provider if
- You notice redness, pain, swelling, itching, or burning around the stoma
Treating minor skin irritation
Crusting technique
- Clean and dry the skin.
- Apply a light layer of Esenta Stomahesive Powder
- Brush away any extra powder.
- Gently dab (don’t wipe) over the powder with Esenta Sting-Free Skin Barrier Wipe or spray over the powder with Esenta Sting-Free Barrier Spray
- Note you can repeat this again if needed.
- Let it dry before applying your pouching system.
This can protect irritated skin and support healing.
Notify your health care provider if the skin irritation does not improve within a few pouching system changes.
Reference:
Ratliff CR, Goldberg M, Jaszarowski K, McNichol L, Pittman J, Gray M. Peristomal Skin Health. Journal of Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nursing. 2021;48(3):219-231. doi:10.1097/won.0000000000000758
AP-82430-USA-ENGU-v1