Stoma Paste - Necessary or Not? What's Your Experience?

Hi! Is everyone using stoma paste? I started out using it because my stoma nurse told me to but after a while I stopped just due to it being so messy and I didn’t really think it was doing anything. I watched countless videos with folks who didn’t use it and have never had issues. Your thoughts??

Hi Karliegirl33,

You've come to the right place for advice! This community is full of people who are more than willing to share their experiences and tips.

Regarding stoma paste, it's really a personal choice. Some people find it essential for preventing leaks, especially if they have uneven skin surfaces. Others, like you, find it messy and unnecessary. If you're not experiencing leaks or skin irritation without it, you might not need it. It's all about what works best for you and your comfort.

With thousands of members here, you can use the search feature to find others who might be nearby or share similar experiences. Connecting with someone around your age might also make you feel more at ease. Good luck!

Hi Karlie, I used to use paste as I have a slight dip around the bottom of my stoma, and it was the same when my stoma was on the right side. But now I just use a Coloplast Brava thin ring and my wafer on top of that, and it's good for 3 days and I change in the morning of the fourth.

Hi K,

Most don't use it. Its primary function is to fill in uneven or irregular skin to give the barrier a flat surface to stick to. If you don't need it, don't use it. Think of it as caulk for filling in gaps, since that's what it does and is just as messy. It also breaks down faster than the ceramide your ring and barrier are made of if it comes into contact with moisture. It definitely has its place and helps people with skin irregularities, but it's not needed if your skin is relatively flat.

;O)

I have never tried it. I use a Salts ring with aloe, the best I found. I get 10+ days before I change out. I also use a skin prep. Sometimes I find a little seepage but my skin is in good shape.

35 very lucky extra years living with an ileostomy and never used paste once in all that time. I have a dip all the way around my stoma from the wound opening up after surgery, but it never caused any problems with bags sticking. I have nothing against paste; it's a very good product and makes a big difference to those who need it, but sometimes less is best. If you don't need something, don't use it.

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Ileostomy for 33 years. Using paste is what I was taught by my ostomy nurse at John Hopkins.

I use it around the round wafer cut out.  

Where do you use the paste?

I used paste once - because that's the number of times I will usually try almost anything. That then gives me the experience I need to know whether or not I will use it again. In the case of paste, the answer was a definite NO!.
Paste was far too messy for my taste.
Best wishes

Bill 

Thank you for your input, Ron. I have never tried a Brava thin ring. Might need to look into that.

Thanks for your comment Bill. I did use it last wafer change due to seeing a tiny dip on one side of my stoma.  Took ten minutes and a ton of hot soapy water to get it off my fingers.  I’m pretty sure that’s the last time for me. My skin is in good shape.

Thanks for your comment. I'll have to look up Salts Ring. Haven't heard of that before. You reminded me I need to order some skin prep. All these supplies, geeze!

Hello! I was taught to use it around my stoma to prevent ridges that invite infection. I used it religiously for a few months and then just got tired of the mess. 

Thanks for your comment!

Never been anywhere near paste, +1 on the salt rings 👍 I've tried others only to come back to them.

Hi K........don't bother. Salt's products aren't available in the US. Those UK folks get all the good stuff!!

;O)

What's a Salts ring?

You are correct! I don't use the Stoma paste adhesive either because the few times I used it, it didn't consistently make the proper seal to the skin as expected. I use the available ring instead, and it is doing a great job.

I am new to the stoma game and am still figuring out what works for me. My stoma opening seems to have tucked itself into my belly, and I have been struggling with skin breakdown. The ostomy nurse told me that this will likely continue but to try using a powder/skin barrier combo for trust. It's helped.

Also, the rings kept breaking down, and I was getting pancaking, making the irritation even worse. I switched to the paste and tried some diuretics for a looser consistency. The paste made a huge difference! I use gloves and a little bit of water to manipulate the paste into a thin protective layer, let it dry, and apply the wafer.

Note on diuretic: use the prune juice sparingly! What a mess!

I love stoma paste! I’ve never had a mess, I’ve never touched it and I haven’t had a leak since I discovered it about a year ago.

About 15 months ago I was horrified to wake up with a surprise colostomy. In addition to being appalled at the 1930’s technology of colostomy appliances, I had an ostomy nurse who was nearly useless. All he did was show me how to cut the hole in the wafer and put the ring over the hole. The answer to all questions was, “It’s different for everybody …. you’ll figure out what works for you.” I wanted to punch him in the nose, at the time, but in a sense he was right. It just wasn’t the advice a new ostomate wanted to hear!

After numerous leaks, blowouts and other disasters, I started to experiment. I ended up with what works for me. After cutting the hole in the wafer to my stoma size, I put a bead of ostomy paste around the edge of the hole (like dmo101 was taught) and set it aside to semi-harden. After stretching the ring to my approximate stoma size, I cut it with scissors. (This sounds counter-intuitive, but trust me.) Starting at the bottom, (use a mirror) I put the ring right up next to the base of my stoma, all the way around, and overlap the ends at the top. I attach the wafer over the stoma and hold it in place for 3-5 minutes.

I get 5-7 days between changes. When a friend called in tears, because her new high-output ileostomy was leaking consistently, I taught her this method and she got 3 days without leakage the very 1st time.

So Karlie, ostomy paste is not necessary, but many of us use it to great effect!

I've tried it, but it was messy. I've found that if I cover my stoma with balled-up tissue, use the blow dryer on the area surrounding the stoma, and then also on the wafer before removing the film, I never have a problem.
When I first started all this about 3 years ago, I tried everything and found all of it difficult to apply and remove.

I agree. Actually, I hated using it.

It is a sticky ring that goes under the flange. Salts is the company that makes them.