If you have visiting nurses they should help if not did they have ostomy nurses at the hospital or doctors office? Whoever trained you how to put on your appliance should be able to help you. Also your doctor should be able to help if no one else.

That said, I would clean it well and apply stoma powder to it before putting on the appliance. Make sure the hole that fits over the stoma fits tight so the waste won't leak onto your skin. I didn't have much of a problem with this. A visiting nurse brought me the stoma powder and it worked.

You might want to do a search on here because there are past discussions on here about this that talk more in depth about this. Good Luck.

Stoma powder and 3m barrier spray. Eat 3 to 5 marshmallows first thing in the morning. Put powder on the blow it off and then spray. do this 3 times powder/spray, powder/spray, powder/spray. then put on your wafer. Now the key is making sure you are getting a good fit. It is hard in the beginning because the size changes. all the ostomy supply companies wills end you free samples. My biggest life saver were the nurses at the companies who will talk to you and find out what your needs are and will send you sample free of charge. Call them. They will be glad to help you find a product that will make your life better. Convatec, Hollister will be glad to help you. Make sure you get the 3m barrier spray. It sprays more evenly and dries really fast making it easier for you. Make sure you measure yourself to get the right fit. Some Hollister models allow you to use the paste but put that 3 layers of powder spray on first to prevent burning.