More Ostomy Tips and Tricks

Tips and Tricks—Ostomy Tips from Ostomates...
Reviewed By Our Local WOCNs, 2012
Courtesy of the Metro Maryland Ostomy Association’s Thrive

Stoma Care:
1. If your car seat belt rides over the stoma, use a small cushion/pillow between you and the belt, or try placing a clothespin at the top of the belt in order to wear the seat belt more loosely
without losing the safety of the belt.

2. Sometimes the stoma moves in and out—this is called peristalsis and is the natural movement of the intestine.

3. Almost impossible for a stoma to get infected. The natural coating of mucus keeps bacteria from sticking.

4. Don’t be afraid to take a shower without your pouch. Soap cannot hurt the stoma. Rinse your skin well. Hold a cold compress over the peristomal skin for a few seconds (closes the pores), then apply your appliance.

Skin Care:
1. Common causes of skin irritation are: leakage from effluent onto the skin, allergic reactions to the adhesive material in a wafer or tape, or improper hygiene.

2. Cleanse, rinse, and pat skin dry between pouch changes

3. Avoid oily or fatty soaps (e.g., Dove) that can leave a film interfering with proper adhesion of the skin barrier. Also, Ivory soap is too dry for the skin.

4. If correctly applied, a wafer will usually prevent leakage.

5. If your skin is uneven due to scarring or indentations, use paste, barrier rings, or strip paste to fill in
the depressions to make a smooth pouching surface.

6. If the skin under the wafer becomes red, open, or blistered—remove the wafer, clean the skin and
apply skin barrier powder followed by a non-alcohol skin sealant until the redness/open areas clear up.

7. A pinpoint red rash under the wafer is usually a yeast infection (quite common) and must be treated with antifungal powder.

8. Use a hair dryer on cool setting to dry a rash/open skin—never use a heat lamp which might burn the stoma and the surrounding skin.

9. Avoid skin creams and ointments under your wafer as this will interfere with the adhesion.

10. When removing the wafer, do not peel it away from your skin. Push the skin away from the adhesive.

11. For itching under the wafer or tape, mix 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts water; apply gauze sponges, soak the skin for 5-10 minutes or use the solution in a spray bottle. Dry the
skin well before applying the wafer.