Help Needed - Macerated Skin from Ostomy Leakage

Help, I am very new to the ostomy. My skin is so macerated due to constant leakage. Please advise on what you use for your skin.

First place for help:

An ostomy nurse or doctor to evaluate your peristomal skin.

Do you have an ileostomy or a colostomy? How often do you change your flange?

Changing the flange too often will tear up your skin. Use medical adhesive remover spray or wipes to gently remove the flange. Don't pull the wafer off. After applying remover, gently lift a tape edge and use a finger to carefully push down the skin. Take your time. The goal is to have the flange fall off.

Ileostomy has acidic, liquid-type output. Leakage can occur easily. The flange needs careful preparation for maximum skin adhesion. Warming up the flange with a blow dryer set on low for 30 seconds is recommended. Skin must be dry and clean.

Colostomy has thicker output with little acidity. This is what I have. I rarely have leaks. Output does not irritate my skin. I change my flange every 7 days.

What is your current setup, barrier spray? Mouldable seal?

As Beachbody said, go straight to your stoma nurse. You don't have to tolerate this; get the assistance you are entitled to.

Agree with what everyone else said. Also, how are you cutting your wafer? When you cut it, you don't want to have any skin showing or any gaps. You want it a snug fit (not tight).

You need to get a handle on the leaks. As long as they are happening, you are going to have skin issues. If you have an ileostomy, it is even worse because of the frequency and liquid nature of the stool. Everyone above has given good advice. The biggest point, for me, is attaching to dry skin and making sure the adhesive on your wafer is warm. The latter can be done by blow dryer as suggested by Beachboy or pressing a hand over the bag for ~5 minutes after application. And as Beth said, your wafer cut should be snug but not tight. If it is tight against your stoma, it is not going to get a good seal and it will leak.

Are you using a flat wafer or a convex one? If your stoma is at all recessed, you should look at convex if you are using flat. Even if it is not, you may benefit from a convex wafer.

A little more information would be helpful. Do you have an ileostomy or colostomy? How long has it been since your surgery? What products have you tried? Are you using a stoma ring or stoma paste? There are many ways to get a good seal and not everyone is the same. Lucky ones like me can attach a flat wafer to dry bare skin and not worry about changing it for 4-5 days or even longer. I am able to stay away from things like adhesive spray or powders unless I have been careless with my seal and end up with a leak.

Success with a stoma can be like what I always told my kids about driving. Good habits make for good drivers. The same is true with an ostomy. :-)

Daniel

Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

I used to get sores, sometimes weeping ones, when I had leaks. I started using 3M Cavilon Barrier Film on my skin and have had no more sores! I have recommended this product in answers to other questions so it may sound like I work for the company, but I don't. I'm just so happy not to have sore, itchy skin anymore! And it doesn't sting when I put it on an existing sore.