Using Sucralfate for Peristomal Wounds and Skin Irritation

Has anyone who has had peristomal wounds/skin irritation or weeping excoriated skin around the stoma ever tried sucralfate to treat it?

When I was in the hospital the nurse applied it once but she also said that it might affect the adhesive of the wafer. I was prescribed Sucralfate as well to take home to consume orally but she also said I could use it topically which I have not tried by myself. I use gentamicin sulfate salve on the wound, leave for 1 min and clean then proceed to apply Stomahesive powder and paste (on the wafer) from Convatec to treat the wounds and it works but very slowly. 

I googled it and found several Medical researches that proved it to be effective but I want to hear it from fellow Ostomates 😊

Thank you!

The sucralfate I mentioned above is a suspension, like a syrup. It is an antacid to reduce stomach acid.  If applied thinly it will dry and form a layer sort of like a skin barrier.

I agree that our skin will heal itself but mine takes longer due to chemo. 

Btw how do you scrape stuff off your skin with anything rough?? I cant imagine doing that when it is already so sensitive!

As I understand it, you aren't getting leak problems, but you have pre-existing skin damage that isn't healing well due to being on chemo.

I researched this a bit after reading your question. I have an open wound due to a drain catheter through my skin. Until the drain comes out, the skin cannot completely heal. The drainage getting on my skin through the opening seems similar to ileostomy output, which is a very long-winded way of saying, I could use all the wound healing help I could get!

I think you should try it. First, try it on undamaged skin away from your stoma. Check how it feels when it dries. Try placing an appliance over it and see if there are obvious problems.

If the test goes well, I'd give it a try over the stoma. Maybe add flange extenders for extra safety (these are U-shaped pieces intended to go around the outside edge of your wafer). Do it on a day when you're staying home... just in case.

I think it has great potential to work. The fact that the formulation is a suspension and not a cream makes it seem more likely to work. I'd think a cream would definitely prevent wafer adhesion. But a suspension may evaporate, leaving only the medicine on the skin. Double-check that the suspension does not contain alcohol... that could hurt.

Please let me know if you try it. I'll call my doctor and get some if it does.

Susan, you have got it 💯correct! 
I am very keen to try the sucralfate as I saw the nurse applied it once and when it dried on the skin it became transparent layer almost like powder but better 🤔

I just ordered a barrier extender online so just waiting for it to be delivered 😊

I just checked the ingredients for the sucralfate syrup that I have - no alcohol 👍🏻

Hi. Welcome. No I have never heard of what you are using but it does  like a good second option for some.

In November - 2 months ago I had what you are talking about. Weeping skin. Blood. Open tiny wound holes.

Used nystatin. A white powder.  Need a script for it.

It was magic. 1 week cleared skin. 2 weeks better.. so there is that medicine as well as what u suggested.

Stoma powder is not for healing skin. It's a protectant. 

I use that now since skin is healing..and I leave the appliance off while walking around with a well placed cup- container under it.  Air...will help heal that skin too..

Thanks for the suggestion. Stay with us!

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

I looked up Nystatin and actually I have it but it is an oral suspension called Mycostatin that my doctor prescribed to me when I was suffering from dry mouth and ulcers due to chemo effect! It did work very fast on my mouth ulcers and I was very pleased with it - it was a nightmare having so many ulcers and unable to eat when I was supposed to eat more! 
Couldn’t find powder version of this med. I do wonder if it might work just as well as sucralfate when applied topically 🤔

Nystatin is an antifungal med though specifically to treat candida. I’d have to consult my doctor to see if it is suitable for my problem. Thank you for your suggestion though!

I wish I could walk around and just air it out like you said but with ileo it is not possible right now, and I had mine in late Nov so the output is still watery sometimes. There have been many moments of cursing and what not when during change of appliance a gush of watery output comes out and I have to start the process of cleaning it all over again 😔

I may have misspelled the powder name, perhaps?

I'm looking at the bottle. It just says Nystop top powder.

Spell check is doing its thing here too.

Yes, I understand that watery output. I'm an ileo for 8 years.

You are going to see the output eventually get thicker over time, even years maybe. You can eat binding foods too, which does slow down output.

I've been trying... don't laugh... gummy-formed Metamucil fiber gummies! 🤭

Whoa! Holy fudge, Batman! 👍

I never thought I'd be walking around with a cup under the stoma. I also heard these erupt like Mount St. Helen, so my hack would be a hot mess for those trying it.

I just googled Nystop and it is Nystatin - same ingredient, but I can't find the powder version somehow, just tablets and oral suspension.

My ileo is a temporary one due to ovarian cancer and has spread to a digestive organ. After chemo, I am supposed to have a reversal, then continue with radiotherapy.

Actually, I just changed my pouch just now and less than 2 hours ago I ate marshmallows as others have suggested. Seems to be reducing liquid output and solidifying it a lot? While changing, some liquid still came out but not as much as it used to. Might be a coincidence 😅

Then a funny thing happened: My husband, who always helps change my appliance, forgot to pull the film off the wafer. A few minutes after it was placed, I was confused why it would not stick!! The right side of the wafer was just gaping and very stiff, and that was when I noticed the flap from the film at the bottom 😆

No harm done though, lucky I noticed it right away.

I applied sucralfate on the weeping skin and the skin around my stoma. Did not use Stomahesive powder - I want to see how effective it is. I still apply Stomahesive paste on the wafer as usual…

You have a lot of output. Me too. At night, almost like clockwork, every two hours. Can't sleep much. It sucks.

I was not aware I had a fungal thing going on. Eakon O ring did this to me.

Cera ring and Nystop fixed it.

Sorry you're having so much trouble. That reversal looking good for you.

Didn't know about the cancer.

Once you get an idea about your running output, changes will be easier. I also eat oatmeal raisin cookies. Got tired of marshmallows. Apple sauce and banana 🍌 help slow output. They work for me.

How well are you staying hydrated?

I actually read one of your comments on people with ileo prone to having kidney problem due to dehydration, so I upped my water intake. On top of that I also drink tea, as well as this specific milk to gain weight. I get freaked out when I see my urine gets dark so this is enough to make me drink more water.

My output can be watery and can be semi solid depends on what I eat; rice, banana, weetbix usually good to solidify it. I have also started taking loperamide at night as I think it helps too.

I used to set alarm at 2am and 5am specifically to drain my pouch but it caused me so much stress because I lost sleep over it so now I just wing it and my body adjusts itself that I’d check my pouch automatically whenever I get woken up at night. If it’s ok I go back to sleep. Usually I’d get woken up around 4.30-5 am and I’d empty the bag and go back to sleep 😆

I ❤️sleeping! Even more now because when I sleep I forget about the chemo pain and everything 🥲

Sleep is so good for a body. You recharge, reboot—if I can get away with using computer speak to make my point.

In my opinion, I feel lying down actually causes more output.

I'm up every two hours after midnight. Haven't had a decent night's sleep since my surgery in 2016. The witching hour is 3:30 a.m. though.

Exhausting.

Re: CKD - Chronic Kidney Disease.

Water is just not enough for some, but I see you mix it up. Gotta have a variety of fluids though—beneficial fluids with low sugar and some vitamins. Electrolyte. This Liquid I.V. works for me, plus other drinks.

We are indeed more prone to kidney disease than most.

Glad that thread helped.

Carry on...👍 Drink on.😊

Mine is the exact opposite. At night when I sleep my stoma would fill about half of the bag and around 4:30-5am I’d have to force myself to get up and empty it. But I do empty it as well before bed, sometimes twice. I’d prefer an empty bag before I sleep because it is hard to get into a comfortable position so usually I’d roll around several times until I find a good position and fall asleep.

Soon as I am awake either at night or from a nap, the stoma gets into full production, I’d have to empty it 2-3 times in one hour 😭