Hi everyone, I am new here, and I am the caregiver for my wife who has a colostomy. It is still very new, only a little over a week post-surgery.
Can anyone tell me what type of body wash they use that is oil and lotion free? Every bottle I read ingredients, but I don't know what to look out for.
It is usually recommended that you avoid oils right around the stoma where you are trying to adhere the pouch. I use "water only" baby wipes in that area.
Hang on though, others will have more suggestions. You might like those more.
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Ivory soap, or any other pure soap, with no creams or oils added. Make sure to rinse the area really well after soaping up. That is key.
Terry
I use Cetaphil soap when showering "naked"... stoma exposed.
When showering with the bag on, I use Yardley London Oatmeal and Almond soap.
For the first year, I showered with my pouch on using Dial soap. For this past year, I have used Irish Spring. When I change the appliance I thoroughly wash that area with Medline rinse-free foam cleaner. After wiping off the soap it is rinsed with warm water, dried with Viva signature cloth towels and the new ring, flange, and pouch are installed.
Can you give me any links to those items? I've never heard of them before.
Medline and the Viva towels.
Hi there,
I use Dial Antibacterial Gold Bar. Since day one, it rinses clean, leaves no residue, has no moisturizers or perfumes, and I clean around the stoma with it. It's good to have the antibacterial.
I use this with a loofa thingy…
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After using that and rinsing well, I then use Head & Shoulders Classic Clean for skin care.
G-Day Jwilson,
It's best to use a soap with no perfume, but I have been using Head & Shoulders and it works great; the stoma loves it. Just be careful that you dry everywhere after 100%.
Regards, IGGIE
Hi, I'm new here. I have had a colostomy for 5 years. I was told that for care, you should clean the area well with wipes when you change your bag. If you go "naked," you could have an accident. So, every 3 days I change my bag and while it's off, I use wipes to clean well, and every now and then I use Ivory soap and a face cloth to give it an extra wash.
Go jump in the shower with no bag on and enjoy, it feels good and getting air to your skin is great.
I get all my ostomy supplies from Byram. The ring, flange, and pouch are Hollister. The Viva paper towels come from Amazon. The Signature style is very soft and extremely absorbent.
I shower bag-free. Normally in the morning when Vesuvius is still asleep. I wash the stoma area with Pears soap. It is a pure glycerin soap...no oils. I then pat the area around the stoma with a paper towel and use an adhesive remover wipe to get rid of any lingering adhesive. Then rinse and wash again with Dexidrin (an antibacterial soap that is non-prescription, but behind the counter here in Canada). Rinse thoroughly and start to dry the area very thoroughly. I was advised, a couple of years ago, to use water only. To be honest, that really didn't cut it. The idea of using Head and Shoulders bears some merit as the zinc in the product removes any fungal problems that might be developing. If you go this way, wash and rinse thoroughly.
At first, I only showered with a bag on. Decided to try "naked" after reading many of our fellow ostemates' experiences. It is the way to go. Makes cleaning the stoma itself easy with a wet paper towel. Stoma and peristomal skin get fresh air.
Water and proper soap won't hurt your stoma. Remember, a stoma has reduced "feeling." Be careful you don't drop a bar of soap on it (ask me how I know 😉). And watch out when drying off with the towel. You don't want to rub your stoma with the edge of a towel.
I use dove pampering. I just make sure I wash it off really good. But it doesn't hurt my stoma or the skin around it. Often times I just use a baby wipe to clean my stoma, one with out perfumes or lotion in it. I use a huggies wipe. Scent free.
Dial Gold bar is what I suggest. And I also heat up the flange with a hair dryer to make the adhesive stickier. Good luck!
Medline is a medical supply company. Beachboy & Wef are right on. Cetaphil comes in a tube. I bought it at Walgreens. Viva Signature paper towels are available at your grocery store (HyVee). One side is rough like all brands. The other side is smooth and soft. Your peristomal area will like it. Avoid alcohol; it dries out your skin and burns. Avoid any oils, or your flange will leak.