Yes, there is something you can do to alleviate it.

Ilex Protectant Paste.

I had my Stoma for many years without issues, the odd leak but never any soreness or burning around the actual Stoma.

My temporay loop illeostomy was a whole different story, leaked often and the skin around the Stoma was red raw, oozing, burning and excruciating painful.

I tried evey cream, powder and concoction to relieve my pain and discomfort but to nothing worked that is, until I discovered, well recommended; ilex protectant paste.

I got instant relief the moment I applied the ilex paste to the sore skin around my stoma; within 2 to 3 days the skin around my Stoma was healed.

I continued to apply the ilex psste after every flange/base change as a preventative measure; which worked, as not once, whilst awaiting takedown, did I experience sore or damaged skin around my Stoma ever again.

Now I use the ilex paste to treat butt burn, although I rarely experience the butt burn, the moment I feel the slightest itch or burning, on goes the ilex.

I also found it useful to use Salts Stoma collars around the stoma, which prevents output from seeping under the flange/base plate.

Hope my solutions works for you.

Could it be an allergic reaction to something you're using?  I recall a horrible itching which ended after they figured out I was allergic to karaya powder (I believe that's what it was, anyhow). 

GinLyn, I agree it sounds like an ingredient that you're allergic to, or at least sensitive, and Ilex is great. If you can, lay down with lots of soft cloths available (I like the Swiffer dry cloths) and let your skin air out. I had skin stuff early on and I figured I was an expert and dismissed my visiting nurse early. Then I started to leak  You'll get to the bottom of this. Do you still have access to home care? Given your geographic situation, ask if this can be ordered now. It's still early.

Hi, GinLyn!

I posted the following several weeks ago.  I just copied it here for you and I hope it helps relieve your irritated skin around the stoma.  It always worked for me.  Best wishes!   CeCe

Irritated (or worse) skin around the stoma.....here is what worked for me years and years ago:  After removing the wafer and appliance I stood in the shower and let warm water wash over my stoma and the surrounding skin.  I washed the area gently with my fingertips and Ivory soap.  When out of the shower I dried the area with a hair dryer set on cool.  ****Then.....I applied the thick, white liquid from a bottle of Mylanta (generic is fine) after soaking a cotton ball with the solution.  I dried the area with a hair dryer set on cool/warm.  I brushed off excess Mylanta from the skin around my stoma and repeated the procedure two more times.  Then, I brushed a solution which is made to assist sticking of the wafer to the belly.  (Can't remember name of product but an ET nurse would know.)  I placed the wafer on my belly, around the stoma and kept my hands on it in order to help the seal take effect.  Then, I added my bag and fastened an ostomy belt to the entire setup to give it extra support.  This procedure yielded in my bag, etc. lasting at least 7 days.  I changed it all every 7 days whether it needed it or not.  ****The night before changing everything turn a bottle of antacid (like Mylanta) upside down and let the thin liquid rise to the top of the bottle (which is really the bottom turned upside down).  In the a.m., before beginning the change, as described above, carefully pour out the thin liquid from the bottle of antacid and stop when the liquid begins to thicken.  You are only going to use the thick white stuff!  Good luck!

Whatever is causing it, whether an allergic reaction or not, clean and dry affected area best you can and apply ilex paste over the affected area; if skin has broken and is oozing, no need to dry, just heavily smear the paste over affected skin and apply Stoma appliance as normal and forget; that is, until appliance requires changing or has leaked again.

Trust, me you'll be surprised by the results and applying the ilex paste is so much easier.

Gin,

So sorry that it is not going well. 

I remember that every time that they moved my stoma, I would have the same problem...I had to wear a flage for 6 post op each time and I would welt, swell, raise a rash, itch like crazy (you cannot scratch! it only makes it worse!)

Two things that you can do to get immediate relief.  One is soak a cottom pad in cider vinager...(it may sting a bit but the relief is pretty quick...it kills the bacterial responsible for the itch)...and gently swab the area...if you can stand it then just sit the cotton pad there for a few seconds to a few minutes...done regularly it will help a lot. It toughens the skin and makes it less sensitive to the humidity and bacteria that develops there.

The second thing is a sun (uv) lamp. When changing the flange after cleaning the area well put the lamp onto it (shine it for 2-5 minutes each time)...it dries out the skin a bit and helps to kill those nasty bacteria.

My dad taught me the vinager trick...my mom taught me about the sun lamp (they used to put them onto women who had had episiotomies to help dry them out, promotes healing and prevent the itch).

Keep an old towel over your sheets and a blue pad under the sheet to protect your mattress. 

I had a trick when I had my 1st k pouch and was leaking like a faucet...I would wrap a pampers around me and attach it in back or use a belt to hold it on...that way when I leaked, I just had a small mess to clean up.

Hugs 

Sharon

Thanks, all. I ended up having another leak that day and the skin underneath the wafer had open sores and blood, so I phoned the doctor. He managed to get me in with the stoma nurses at the local hospital (I will be transferred there after my post-op appointment anyway). Between the swelling and positioning of the stoma, things just weren't working right. I now have a convex wafer and some aloe powder -- the sores were almost completely healed up within 24 hours! No leaks since, just soreness around the base (stitches), which is normal. The itching is gone and everything looks great again.

Thank God for stoma nurses!

Gin

I am fairly new to this stoma situation.  So....  I do know if you feel a burn and you don't have any issues you have a leak.  Sometimes...   I found that out the hard way.  By letting it go and the skin being raw at change time.  But I did have the itch thing to the major degree!  I just didn't scratch.  But mine was on the outer tape not the wax seal.  

I do find getting in the shower neeked... Hehe.... Without the bag and cleaning it well there and outside the shower helps.  Leaving it off for a half hour or as long as it behaves is good too.  This is just my experience in the very short time I have had it.  But I have had minimal problems.  I had the raw skin and stitches at the start but stoma powder helped that.  It is all that I have used. 

As for the itchy part.  It still does get itchy but not a constant anymore. 

Good to hear it has been better. 

I get the burn feeling almost everyday but it's not leaking. 

I know it because I just had it the past couple days and changed and no leaks. 

I just hope it's part of the toughening up of the area. 

I don't know.  I have only had it three months.  

My two cents for what it's worth.... 

Richard 

GinLyn, thank goodness for convex wafers! They solved my similar early on problem, too. I'm so glad for you....

Richard, it does get better. I'm a year out and definitely much better than during the first few months.

I am doing a lot better than I ever expected. 

I can change in 15 minutes.  Not  afraid to... And at the beginning I couldn't.  Never ever thought I would get here so soon.  I am in a good place.  And I do think over more time it will get even better! 

Richard. 

Burning and itching for me usually meant I wasn't getting a good seal and stool was leaking under the wafer. One thing that made a huge difference for me was using the convex wafers. I also used one of those sticky rings (can't remember the actually name of them) to help it stick to my skin. Barrier cream and stoma powder help protect the skin from getting raw just don't use to much or the wafer won't stick. As far as the itching I would sometimes put ice packs over it and it actually helped me a lot so you could try that.