I have been having this problem for going on 2 years. My skin is so irritated and red all of the time. It even gets dry and peals under my wafer. I use soap to clean my stoma area and it's free of any perfumes, etc...I feel like no matter how much I try I'm getting more leaks and changes every day or every other day. I started to think it was because I had gained 5-10 pounds in my stomach area. I think that I need a good cleaner and also want to know more about eakin seals. I think I will by some of those to try. It's frustrating because my skin used to be so much better and not irritated all of the time. I'm pretty active, basketbal, snowboarding, and especially biking alot. I have managed so far by changing alot, but would sure love something to make my skin get better (heal). I'm afraid after using some cleaners that my stoma won't stick.

Any suggestions. I've had my ostomy for 29 years.

Terry

Hi Terry,

What system are you using? It could just be that you have become allergic to your present system. Have you tried other brands/types? I have really good success with Convatec's moldable wafers. They are durahesive as opposed to stomahesive and much better suited to the high acidic output of an ileostomy. I never had much luck with eakin seals but there are plenty of people who swear by them so give them a go.

I shower without my wafer on change days and aim the shower head at the skin around (not on) my stoma for about 10 minutes and find that this helps to stimulate the blood flow to the area and keeps my skin in really good condition. If I have any excoriated areas of skin (very rare since using the moldable wafers) I dry well after my shower and then sprinkle some stomahesive powder over the weepy area and then brush off any excess. Then I dab over the powder with a no-sting barrier wipe and allow to dry before I apply my new wafer. Usually by the time I change wafers again the skin has healed nicely. I think this is also because the moldable wafers have similar healing properties as eakin seals.

I hope this helps. I'm sure there will be others along soo with more suggestions.

Good luck.

Shell

Terry,

Stop using soap for awhile. Just use warm water and a soft-sided washcloth. Be gently with your skin. I recently had trouble under the tape area of the wafer and stopped using soap. In fact, one really doesn't have to use soap at every change, just warm water will do.

Caty

What works really well for me is the 3M No-sting skin barrier. It doesn't have the annoying burn that the Convatec ones give.
And I find that concave wafers help the wafer stay on for a really long time which will help the skin heal. It helped mine a lot!

I don't specifically soap the area around my stoma. I let the shampoo and soap from the rest of my shower do the work for me. Eakins are a must for me and I'm sure they will help. If you have gained weight, even a little, you might be getting some irritation from the bag itself resting against your skin differently. I'm pregnant (only gained 4 lbs so far) and each week my skin is getting more irritated right at the place where the paper tape starts. I know it is the plastic of the bag starting the irritation.

Trying a new system is a good idea too.

Hi Jill,

Try putting a cotton baby's bib under your bag. Tie it around where the wafer attaches to the bag. Or if you find that a little bulky you could do like I did. Using a bag as a pattern I cut out some backings for the bag using those disposable cloth wipes. I just threaded the bag through the hole in the middle and it provided a layer between the bag and my skin. Hopefully it will stop you getting that sweat rash as your belly gets bigger.

Shell

It sounds like you chage it too often. That is tough on your skin. Try going a little longer. I used eakin rings and loved, loved, loved them!! They were so easy and allowed me to not deal with paste. I was also told to only use water to clean with, nothing else. Good luck.