Hair Removal - Area Around the Stoma

Hey OstoMates! I have a question for the men of this site that I'm hoping someone may be able to help me with!

My body is fairly hairy, in particular my abdomen, which is obviously where my stoma is located. Obviously, this can affect adhesion of the bags to the skin.

Do any of you have experience of having to remove hair around your stoma? I'm trying to figure out the best way to do it. I don't really like using a razor that close to my stoma as I am worried about potentially cutting it. I have considered hair removal cream, but when I mentioned this to my stoma nurse, he said this can cause irritation and his advice would be to avoid this method.

Surely there are certain hair removal products out there suitable for sensitive skin?

G'day Leeds, I reckon a good quality electric razor for the outer perimeter, then a normal razor to get a close finish. As for next to the stoma, I normally pluck them out with tweezers, and yes, it can bring tears to your eyes, but after plucking them, they take longer to grow back. I bought a pair of really good tweezers as cheap ones don't grab the hair well enough. Regards, IGGIE

Thanks, Iggie - really helpful advice. I didn't consider tweezers for the ones closest to the stoma, but I may give this a try next time I change my bag!

Razor, danger is my middle name ⚔️

And tweezers went right on the edge of the stoma.

Some use an empty cardboard toilet roll center or such, put it over the stoma to protect it and shave away.

Hiya Leeds

You could always try putting a top, e.g., shampoo bottle cap/top, and shave with the razor. Xx

How to Manage Ostomy Leaks with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

I shave with a razor with no problems (so far).

Clio Bikini Shaver is what I use.

A grooming tool. They sell them by the shaving cream and by the hair dryers. Battery operated, not much danger of cutting anything but hair.

You can use a StomaGenie to cover your stoma and shave away. The StomaGenie also captures any stoma output during the time you are shaving.

https://stomagienics.com/

Stop pinching your GF's razor 🪒 lol 🤣 xx

I shaved for many years, but ingrown hairs became too much of a problem. Just use a bog-standard toilet roll to protect your stoma, but to be honest, once you've shaved a few times, you will just whiz around without worrying about it. One of my stoma nurses advised me to use hair removal cream. She was very experienced. She said to try it on the opposite side of your stomach a few days before; if your skin has no reaction to it, it will be okay around your stoma. It did work really well and had no problems, just too much hassle fussing about for my liking. So, for the last 10 years or so, I just spend a few minutes each bag change and pluck a few hairs out with tweezers. My nurse said the best hair removal was threading, but you would never get anyone to do it around a stoma. I remember a member in the past saying they used their hunting knife. I wouldn't do it that way myself, but it's another option.

For around the stoma, I use a pubic hair electric shaver. Gentle and doesn't pull. For close to the stoma, use a small precision scissor. To cut the hairs at the bottom of my stoma, I gently bend my ostomy upward to see the stoma bottom. I don't do any hair cutting looking in a mirror.

I do have full use of my hands and excellent dexterity.

Thanks, everyone, for all your tips! I'll stick with using a razor for now with a bottle lid or something to cover my stoma. I'll probably use tweezers for the hairs close to the actual stoma site.

LOL. Guys can have bikini lines too. 😯🤭

I was going to suggest doing a bikini wax around your stoma. You can buy the Nair strips (pretty cheap on Amazon) and the results last around 4 weeks. Over time, the hair no longer grows in as fast.

Just test it on a less sensitive spot of your body to make sure you won't get any irritation.

It can be tricky, but some options can make it easier. First, using an electric trimmer is a great idea. It’s gentle and helps avoid any nicks or irritation. You might also want to check out some hair removal creams that are specifically designed for sensitive skin. Do a patch test first to know how your skin reacts.
Also, keeping the area clean and moisturized can help a lot. It might seem small, but it makes a difference. If you’re worried about irritation, try using a barrier cream after trimming or removing hair.
By the way, if you ever feel like you're struggling with protein, check out these tips on how to fix protein overload it—they can help you find balance!

I have too much gray in my hair. 😊

Anybody try laser hair removal?  I was told that was an option